Amazon Fire TV sticks are one option for users who want to use a streaming device instead of the “smart” capabilities of the television itself. Up until now, Amazon supported installing apps from its official store and also as APK files from the Internet, since it was based on Android.
This meant that you could install a third-party YouTube client or any other app on the device and use it as if you’d be using it on a mobile or tablet.
This changed recently with the release of the newest Fire TV Stick HD and Fire TV 4K Select, which do not support sideloading anymore.
Amazon confirms this on the product page. When you ask the AI whether the new Fire TV stick supports sideloading, it repllies:
For enhanced security, Fire TV Stick HD prevents sideloading or installing apps from unknown sources. Only apps from the Amazon Appstore are available for download.
Means, if an app is not listed on the Amazon Appstore, then you can’t install it. Amazon claims that the change is all about security. This may sound logical on first glance: sideloaded apps are not vetted and they may introduce malware or other unwanted behavior.
However, this is also removing choice from customers. Even if you know what you are doing, you can’t install apps anymore that are not offered at the official Amazon Store. This removes choice and makes the coming Fire TV sticks a bad deal for anyone who’d even consider sideloading apps.
Amazon Fire TV alternatives
If sideloading third-party apps, custom launchers, or ad-free YouTube clients is a dealbreaker for you, you need to migrate to a device running Google TV or Android TV. These operating systems are still open, allow you to enable “Developer Options,” and let you install whatever you want.
Here are options that still work:
- Google TV Streamer 4K
- NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
- Xiaomi Mi TV Stick 4K or MECOOL
Other popular brands, including Apple or Roku, do not support sideloading.