Installing an APK on Android TV lets you add apps that are not available in the TV version of Google Play, such as a phone-only app you rely on or an official app that has not been released in your region. Android TV and Google TV make this possible, but they hide the settings, and there is no built-in browser or file manager to help.
This guide shows you how to prepare your TV, three reliable ways to get the APK file onto it, how to open apps that do not appear on the home screen, and how to stay safe while you do it.
Table of Contents
- Can Your TV Install an APK on Android TV?
- Step 1: Enable Developer Options on the TV
- Step 2: Install a File Transfer App
- Step 3: Allow That App to Install Unknown Apps
- Step 4: Get the APK File onto the TV
- Step 5: Install and Open the App
- Making Phone Apps Work Well on a TV
- Common Problems When You Install an APK on Android TV
- Stay Safe When You Sideload
- Where to Find a Safe APK on Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV: What Is Different?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Can Your TV Install an APK on Android TV?
Before anything else, check which system your TV runs. Only Android TV and Google TV devices can run Android apps. Many people search for sideloading instructions for TVs that simply cannot do it.
| TV or device | Operating system | Can install APK files? |
|---|---|---|
| Sony Bravia, TCL, Philips, some Hisense models | Google TV or Android TV | Yes |
| Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, Nvidia Shield | Google TV or Android TV | Yes |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick | Fire OS (based on Android) | Yes, with a slightly different menu |
| Samsung smart TVs | Tizen | No |
| LG smart TVs | webOS | No |
| Roku TVs and sticks | Roku OS | No |
| Many Hisense models | VIDAA | No |
To check, open Settings and look for System > About. If you see an entry called Android TV OS build, your TV can install an APK on Android TV. If you own a Hisense TV, look at the home screen: a “Google TV” logo means yes, a “VIDAA” logo means no.
Step 1: Enable Developer Options on the TV
Developer options unlock the extra settings you need to install an APK on Android TV. Turning them on is harmless and does not change how your TV works day to day.
- Open Settings from the gear icon in the top right of the home screen.
- Go to System, then About.
- Scroll to Android TV OS build and press the select button on your remote seven times.
- A message confirms “You are now a developer!”
On older Android TV versions, the path may be Device Preferences > About > Build. The idea is the same: click the build number repeatedly.
Step 2: Install a File Transfer App
Your TV has no web browser, so you need an app from Google Play to get an APK on Android TV. Choose one of these well-known, free options.
- Downloader by AFTVnews: lets you type a web address or short code on the TV and download the APK directly. Best when the file is hosted online.
- Send Files to TV: transfers files from your Android phone or computer to the TV over your home Wi-Fi. Best when the file is already on your phone.
- A file manager such as File Commander: useful for opening APK files from a USB drive or cloud storage.
Open the Play Store on your TV, search for the app by name, and install it just like any other app.
Step 3: Allow That App to Install Unknown Apps
Modern versions of Android TV control unknown sources per app, not for the whole system. That is safer, because only the app you choose can install an APK on Android TV.
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Select Security & restrictions, then Unknown sources. On some models it is called Install unknown apps.
- Find Downloader, Send Files to TV or your file manager, and switch it to Allowed.
If you skip this step, the TV will usually show a prompt with a Settings button the first time you try to install. Selecting it takes you straight to the right toggle.
Step 4: Get the APK File onto the TV
Getting the APK on Android TV is the step that differs most between methods. Pick the one that matches where your file is.
Method A: Download with Downloader
- Open Downloader on the TV.
- In the address field, type the full link to the APK file or the developer’s download page.
- Select Go. If you enter a page rather than a direct file link, Downloader opens its built-in browser so you can pick the download button.
- When the download finishes, Downloader asks whether you want to install the APK on Android TV right away.
Method B: Send from your phone
- Download the APK on your Android phone from the developer’s official site.
- Install Send Files to TV on both the phone and the TV.
- On the TV, open the app and choose Receive.
- On the phone, choose Send, pick the APK from your Downloads folder, and select your TV.
- When the transfer completes, open the APK on Android TV from the Send Files to TV app.
Method C: Install over the network with ADB
If you are comfortable with a computer, ADB is the most reliable way to install an APK on Android TV and gives clear error messages. Turn on Network debugging or Wireless debugging in the TV’s Developer options, note the IP address shown, and follow our guide on how to install APK with ADB. According to the official ADB documentation, pairing-code wireless debugging on TVs requires Android 13 or newer; older TVs can use adb connect with the IP address and port 5555.
Step 5: Install and Open the App
- Select the APK on Android TV in the app you used and choose Install.
- Wait for the “App installed” message.
- Select Open to launch it right away.
After you install an APK on Android TV, the app may not appear on your home screen, especially if it was designed for phones. That is normal and easy to fix.
Finding apps that do not appear on the home screen
- Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the app and choose Open.
- Install a sideload launcher app from Google Play, which lists every installed app, including phone-only ones.
- On Google TV, some apps appear under Apps on the home screen rather than in the main row.
Making Phone Apps Work Well on a TV
An APK on Android TV that was built for phones may show a small, portrait-style window or expect touch controls. These tips improve the experience.
- Use a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard. Pair it under Settings > Remotes & Accessories.
- Try a mouse-toggle app. Some accessibility apps turn your remote’s D-pad into an on-screen pointer.
- Look for a TV version. Many developers offer a separate “TV” APK with a remote-friendly interface.
- Check storage. Streaming sticks often have 8 GB of storage, and every APK on Android TV uses some of it. Clear the cache of large apps under Settings > Apps if installs fail.
Common Problems When You Install an APK on Android TV
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “App not installed” | The APK may be for a different processor or Android version. Download the variant for your TV, often labelled armeabi-v7a or arm64-v8a. |
| “For your security, your TV is not allowed to install unknown apps” | Allow the app you are using under Unknown sources, as shown in Step 3. |
| Parse error | The download was incomplete or corrupted. Delete it and download again from the official source. |
| Split APK (.apks, .xapk) | Use ADB’s install-multiple command or an installer app that supports app bundles. |
| Not enough storage | Uninstall unused apps and clear caches, then retry. |
| App crashes on launch | The app may require Google services or touch features your TV lacks. Look for an official TV version. |
Old TV Box Too Slow for Apps?
If your TV or streaming box struggles to run apps, a newer Google TV device with more storage and a faster processor makes both Play Store apps and sideloaded ones far smoother.
Stay Safe When You Sideload
Your TV is connected to your streaming accounts, your home network and sometimes your Google account, so be as careful with an APK on Android TV as you would be on your phone.
- Download from the developer. Official websites and reputable, signature-checking mirrors are the safest sources.
- Avoid “free streaming” and “all channels” apps. Apps that promise paid content for free often carry malware and can break copyright law.
- Keep Play Protect enabled. It can scan apps installed from outside the Play Store.
- Turn unknown sources off again. Once you have installed what you need, switch the installer app back to Not allowed.
- Update manually. Sideloaded apps do not update through Google Play, so check for new versions every few weeks.
Google’s developer verification changes
Google is introducing developer verification for apps installed on certified Android devices, starting on September 30, 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand and expanding more widely in 2027. If an installer app suddenly refuses a file you used before, check Google’s developer verification help page for the latest rules. Google has said ADB installs remain available.
Where to Find a Safe APK on Android TV
The source of the file matters more than the method you use. A trustworthy APK on Android TV comes from the same developer who publishes the app on Google Play, signed with the same key. Here is how to judge a source before you download.
- Start with the developer’s website. Many streaming, VPN, media player and utility apps offer an official APK download page for devices without Google Play.
- Use signature-checking mirrors. Well-known mirror sites compare every upload with the signature of the Play Store version and reject files that do not match.
- Check the version and date. An APK on Android TV that is years old may not work on newer TV software and may contain fixed security bugs.
- Prefer the TV build. If the developer offers both a phone and a TV version, choose the TV one for proper remote control support.
- Skip anything that asks for a login first. Download pages that demand your email or payment details before giving you the file are not official.
How to update a sideloaded app
Google Play does not update apps it did not install. To update an APK on Android TV, download the newer version from the same source and install it over the old one. As long as the developer used the same signing key, your settings and logins are kept. If the TV reports a conflict, uninstall the old version first, which removes its data.
How to uninstall a sideloaded app
Removing an APK on Android TV works the same way as any other app. Open Settings > Apps, select the app, and choose Uninstall. If you used ADB to install it, you can also remove it from your computer with adb uninstall and the app’s package name.
Amazon Fire TV: What Is Different?
Fire TV devices are based on Android, so installing an APK on Android TV and on Fire TV is similar, but the menus differ. Enable Developer Options by opening Settings > My Fire TV > About and clicking the device name seven times. Then go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options > Install unknown apps and allow Downloader. Downloader is available directly from the Amazon Appstore.
If you would rather play Android games on a bigger screen with a controller, our guide on how to install mobile games on PC covers emulators that are built for that.
Bonus PDF: Android TV Sideloading Checklist
Compatibility check, settings paths, three install methods and fixes. To download it, try one free sponsored app from the list you will see (usually a couple of minutes). Everything in this guide stays free without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can every smart TV install an APK?
No. Only TVs running Android TV or Google TV can install APK files. Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Roku and many Hisense VIDAA TVs use different systems that cannot run Android apps.
Is it legal to sideload apps on Android TV?
Sideloading itself is legal. What matters is the app: installing legitimate apps is fine, while apps that stream pirated content or bypass subscriptions can break copyright law and put your device at risk.
Why can’t I find the app after installing it?
Some apps are built only for phones and do not add an icon to the TV home screen. Open them from Settings > Apps, or install a launcher app designed for sideloaded apps.
Do I need a mouse to use sideloaded apps?
Phone-only apps may expect touch input. Many work with the remote’s D-pad, but for others a Bluetooth mouse or a mouse-toggle app makes them usable.
Will a system update remove sideloaded apps?
Normally no. Sideloaded apps stay installed after updates, but they will not update automatically, so check the developer’s site for new versions.
To install an APK on Android TV, turn on Developer options, allow one trusted installer app, get the file onto the TV with Downloader, Send Files to TV or ADB, and open it from Settings if it does not appear on the home screen. Stick to official app sources, and your TV stays just as secure as before.