An Android-powered TV or media field will come pre-loaded with numerous streaming shoppers and possibly a number of utilities, and there are extra apps within the Play Retailer. However that is Android, and which means you’ll be able to sideload nearly no matter you need. Nevertheless, getting APKs in your TV will not be as fast or straightforward as getting them in your cellphone. Command-line lovers can all the time use ADB, however there are easy wi-fi file-sharing instruments that make the method a lot easier. Listed here are the very best methods to sideload APK recordsdata onto any Android TV system.
Set up APKs from an Android cellphone or pill
There are a number of completely different strategies of transferring APK recordsdata to Android TV, like putting in a cloud file supervisor in your TV, or going by way of the tough technique of establishing ADB on a pc. The best technique is to make use of ‘Ship recordsdata to TV,’ an utility that sends recordsdata to an Android TV system (or the rest with Android) over your native community.
First, you will want to put in the Ship recordsdata to TV app from the Play Retailer in your cellphone and TV. To put in it in your TV, open the Play Retailer and seek for the identify, or click on the above hyperlink on a desktop laptop and set your TV because the set up goal.
As soon as the app is finished putting in on each units, open the Ship recordsdata to TV app in your TV, then choose the ‘Obtain’ choice to start out the receiver. Now, open the app in your cellphone, and press Ship. It will open a file browser — you will want to seek out the APK file and choose it.
As soon as the file switch is finished, you need to be capable to choose the file in your TV, then press the ‘Open’ choice. If all goes effectively, you need to get a immediate to put in the appliance.
Nevertheless, the switch app appears to have a problem the place the Open button does not all the time work. If that is the case, you will want to put in a separate file supervisor utility in your TV, like File Commander. In File Commander, choose ‘Inside storage’ on the primary display screen, then the Obtain folder. Any recordsdata you transferred utilizing Ship recordsdata to TV will seem right here — simply press one to open.
When you’ve got a current model of Android TV, chances are you’ll get a message that installations from unknown sources will not be allowed. In that case, choose the ‘Settings’ button, which can open a popup on the aspect with a listing of allowed apps.
You simply want to change the app making an attempt to put in the APK (both the file supervisor or Ship recordsdata to TV) to the ‘on’ place, and press again in your distant to return to the set up. You solely have to do that as soon as, a minimum of.
Set up APKs out of your PC with ADB
Like all Android units, you need to use the Android Debug Bridge (or ADB, for brief) to switch APKs to Android TV. ADB usually works over a wired USB connection, however we’ll use Wi-Fi for this course of.
Step one is to put in ADB in your laptop. It is formally out there as a part of the Android Studio SDK, however that may be formidable to arrange in the event you’re not a programmer, so it is best to make use of a third-party set up software. In case you’re on Home windows, 15 Seconds ADB Installer is a well-liked choice that has all the time labored effectively for me. In case you’re utilizing macOS, Linux, or Chrome OS, give Nexus Tools a shot (full disclosure: I made it).
After you put in ADB, attempt typing the command “adb –help” (with out the quotes) in your Terminal/Command Line utility and press Enter. You must see one thing just like the beneath screenshot. In case you get an error or different message, attempt closing and re-opening the Terminal/CMD window and take a look at once more.
Now it is time to connect with your TV. Press the Settings gear on the prime of the Android TV residence display screen, then go to Gadget Preferences > About. Scroll all the way down to ‘Construct,’ then click on Construct till you see the message “You’re a developer.”
As soon as that is finished, it’s a must to discover the IP tackle of your TV. Return to the primary Settings web page, press ‘Community & Web,’ and choose the energetic connection. The IP tackle must be one of many first particulars listed.
Now it is time to join ADB in your PC to your Hearth TV. Return to your PC and run “adb join” (with out the quotes), adopted by the IP tackle of your Android TV. It will trigger a immediate to look in your TV that you’ll have to settle for. Afterward, you need to see a message that ADB efficiently related — you may as well run “adb units” to confirm.
Lastly, now you can set up no matter APK recordsdata you need. Within the Terminal/Command Line, kind in “adb set up” (with out quotes), then an area, then drag the file you downloaded into the app window. It ought to paste the complete path to the file. Then press Enter and watch the magic.
In case you acquired a “success” message, the app ought to now be seen in your TV. If you wish to sideload extra APKs sooner or later, all it’s a must to do is run the ADB join command once more in your PC, then run the set up command for every APK.
