After Google TV was shut down a few years ago, it as soon replaced by something more advanced; Android TV. Since its introduction, Android TV has been doing quite well. Google TV lacked apps, but with access to Google Play Store, Android TV has abundance. It is easy to operate. The interface is slick and navigation is easy as it can get. Moreover, Android TV supports tons of media streaming services so there is always one for you. As the platform is adopted by numerous manufacturers, no matter what your price range is, there is always an Android TV that you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket. As I mentioned earlier, the selection of apps is great on Android TV, but factors like region restriction may prevent you from using certain apps. Fortunately, there is a way you can bypass such restriction. It is called sideloading. Like on any Android smart device, you can sideload apps on Android TV too, and the process is quite similar. Here’s how to Sideload apps on Android TV.
Sideload apps on Android TV
The first step will sound familiar if you have been sideloading apps on your Android smartphone. You will first need to force Android TV to accept the app you’re trying to install. That means you need to enable Unknown Sources. This will let you install apps that are not downloaded from Google Play Store. Unknown sources is disabled by default for a reason. It is to prevent malicious files from getting into your device. So make sure the app you are about to sideload is from a trusted source. To enable Unknown Sources, go to Settings (gear icon on the bottom of the menu) > Security & Restrictions > enable Unknown Sources. When you see a warning, dismiss it.
Now you will need to use your computer or Android smartphone to download the app you want to install. If you have a trusted site, you can download it from there. But if you do not, APK Mirror is the to go. The site is safe and has all the free apps that are on the Google Play Store. Search for the app you want and download. Now, you will need to upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive. Then, go back to your TV and download the APK from the cloud storage and install it. If your TV does not support cloud storage, you can use ES File Explorer, connect it to your drive and download it from there.
After the apps are sideloaded, you will need an app to use them. There’s an app called Sideload Launcher that lets to see and use the app you’ve sideloaded.
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