If you have a non-smart TV and want to transform it into a smart TV then Amazon’s Fire Stick is the way to go. The Android-based program allows you to enjoy access to a multitude of streaming options on your TV.
After receiving the stick, the first thing you gotta do is install apps on it. With these apps, you get access to all your favorite content, so you want to make sure you get all the amazing Fire Stick apps available.
Preparing Your Fire Stick For Apps
Buy on AmazonAfter setting up your Fire Stick or Fire TV, it’s now time to install some apps. But before we talk about the apps, you need to prep your device first so you can sideload the programs not available on Amazon.
To properly install sideloaded apps on your device: there are two changes you need to do:
First is ADB debugging. Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options > ADB Debugging and choose On.
Second is to configure Unknown Sources. You will need to allow apps from unknown sources to be installed on your Fire Stick. Head to Settings > Device > Developer Options > Apps From Unknown Sources and choose On.
Now that you’ve sorted out the basics, you can start installing apps. Below are the few ones you can start with.
Netflix
With over 100,000 hours of content and 50,000 TV shows and videos, you don’t even need to pay for anything other than Netflix. Okay, it’s not free, but it’s decent value for money.
Unfortunately, Netflix does not cut the mustard when it comes to live sports or news coverage. There are, however, plenty of free online news outlets to keep cord-cutters pleased.
Silk Browser
View DetailsSince you can sideload applications, you can install any browser you want like, including Chrome. But Silk is surprisingly more popular.
In case you don’t know, Silk is Amazon’s in-house browser and has been specially built to work on Amazon Fire devices.
It lets you access online videos and music using the Play, Pause, and Skip buttons on your remote, and provides several standard browser features such as a password manager and a history browser.
YouTube
The comeback of YouTube has been happily welcomed by users of Fire TV. It’s instantly become one of the top apps for Fire TV and Fire Stick.
The new app replicates all the functionality you’ll find on YouTube for Roku and Android TV, including interest-based searching, multi-account support, voice search, casting, and 4K video.
Firefox
One of the key reasons for downloading the Firefox web browser on your Fire TV computer used to be to reach YouTube. This was because the spat between Google and Amazon meant that the YouTube app was not available on the Fire TV platform.
Fortunately, the two firms buried their differences in 2019, which means that you can now legally use YouTube. However the browser also has some benefits—-you can use it in combination with a VPN to watch free live TV streams from other countries.
Most long-term users of Fire TV believe that there are only two browsers worth considering: Firefox and Silk. If you still use Firefox on your other machines—-or you trust open source software—-this is the browser you should install.
Downloader
Downloader is an important tool when you’re trying to upload Fire TV applications to your device.
The software lets you import APK files directly from the internet and install them on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick. This ensures that you don’t need to use a PC or network connection to move the file.
Theoretically, the downloader should not need any setup. However, it is worth a look if the JavaScript is turned on. Open the app, select Settings in the left panel, and mark the checkbox next to Enable JavaScript.
Mouse Toggle
While you can sideload just about every app on your Fire TV or Fire Stick, many of them have not been tailored to the TV screen. They still need finger taps and other movements to navigate them.
The alternative is to install a mouse pointer. Consider getting Mouse Toggle. You can open an on-screen mouse icon with a double-tap of the remote Play button. You can control it with the D-pad of your remote. To install the app, enter tinyurl.com/firetvmouse in the abovementioned Downloader or use the Google Play app.
Twitch
If you’re a Twitch regular and you want to see your favorite gamers play games, the entire experience of watching can now be moved to your Fire Stick with the Twitch Amazon Fire Stick app. When the app is installed, you can log in and you’re ready to start watching a range of gaming streams.
Spotify
Your Fire TV isn’t just about viewing videos. You can also use it to listen to your favorite music tracks, and Spotify lets you do exactly that. If you already have a Spotify subscription, all you need to do is install the app and start listening to your favorite playlists.
VLC Media Player
Not all videos have a standard file format, and your Stick is not permitted to play videos that use a very unusual format. In any scenario, VLC Media Player for Fire Stick is going to help you out. As you already know nearly all of the media formats available out there can be played using VLC, and now you can do so on your Fire Stick, too.
Private Internet Access
When linking your Fire Stick to a host of online networks, it is advised that you keep your profile safe from any malicious activity. Private Internet Access is a VPN software that encrypts your connection and also helps you to fake your IP address if you choose to do so in any of the Fire TV applications.
Want to Cut the Cord? Get the Best Fire Stick Apps
Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick helped turn cord cutting from a trend into a movement. Fire TV devices now deliver so many apps across a vast variety of genres that you will never be stuck even though you just canceled your cable TV contract.