Related
Can anyone show me how to access the files on the Fire using FTP or SSH?
Thanks a lot
If you've gotten the Android Market on there, there are a number of sshd implementations available.
If not, sideload one of the sshds from the market obtained on another phone or something like that.
The Amazon App Store seems to be pretty lacking in "technical" apps, and nothing that requires root, as far as I can tell.
So, if you're rooted, try the android market. If not, get the apk somewhere else.
Update: After testing, I found that SSHDroid works perfectly well. Just remember, if you're going to be playing with system apps, you still need to mount R/W.
thanks a lot. it works so well
Try file expert from the amazon market. Great file manager,with ftp server support, http desktop and much more
dropbear on the command line will work if you install the terminal emulator.
Hello,
There have been a log of helpful posts on the forum about what you can do with the Amazon Fire TV, but they are all in separate threads. I create this thread to put all of those guides together, along with whatever tips/tricks you can do on the Fire TV. I will try to credit where I found all the information. If the mods can make this a sticky thread, it will be awesome. I will try to update it when I find new information.
1/ BASIC
First step is to allow ADB over internet. Go to Setting ---> System ---> Developter Options ---> ADB Debugging ON
Here are 2 commands that you will need for sideload all apps in FireTV
adb connect xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
(xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is your IP address. Go to Setting ---> System ---> About ---> Network to find it.
adb install name_of_your_apk
Remember when you use adb, try to be in the same folder where the apk is located, so you don't have to type in it path. Also, make sure there is no space in the name of the apk or the install command won't work. Please note that you can also sideload apps into Fire TV if you have an Android device (tablet, phone, whatever..) Install Terminal Emulator, type cd sdcard/Download to go the Download folder where all your downloads usually located.
Also, in this guide, there is a few part that I mention reboot the device. Either follow the reboot step, or manually press both the select and the play/pause button and your Fire TV will reboot.
2/ ROOT
taken from this thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2783805)
Go to: http://towelroot.com/ and click the red button to download the APK:
Download the Chainfire SU APK from the Playstore: http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
Sideload both APKs.
Run Towelroot, hit "Make it Rain" and then your FTV will reboot.
After reboot, open SuperSU, install SU. Go to Setting and set default access to "Grant" if you don't want the prompt to appear asking for superuser for each app.
Download Busybox APK: http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=stericson.busybox
Launch it and install busybox.
3/ DISABLE FIRE TV UPDATER
Type adb shell in your terminal
Type su to ask for root (a pop up will appear on your Fire TV asking for superuser if you did not set "Grant" as default)
Type pm disable com.amazon.dcp
4/ CONTROL AMAZON FIRE TV WITHOUT USING MOUSE/KEYBOARD
For certain apps to work in Fire TV, you might need a mouse/keyboard since the app is design for touch base environment. To work around this, what you can do is install a VNC server and control the Fire TV using VNC Viewer.
The VNC Server app that I used is called VMLite VNC Server. Here is its link in the Playstore:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vmlite.vncserver&hl=en
I will not post the apk to this link since it is a paid app and the developer has specifically asked me not to. So to get the apk, there are 2 ways.
A) Go to the developer website and buy the apk: http://www.vmlite.com/purchase.html
B) Install the apk on your Android device from the Play store. Here is how you can download the apk from the Play Store using Chrome extension (this will only work if you have bought the apk from the Play store)
Go to http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/ in Chrome and scroll down.
Install the APK Downloader v2.1.3 extension.
Once install, go to the extension setting, fill out all that information ( username, password, and Google ID)
Go to this link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vmlite.vncserver&hl=en
Click Install, choose your Android device, and a symbol will appear in the URL bar allowing you to download the apk
Once you have the apk, sideload it. Open the app, press the Menu button on your remote, a bottom bar will appear.
Select Setting ---> VNC password to set your VNC Server password
Select Setting ---> VNC port to set your VNC Server port
Select Setting ---> Autostart Server at boot
Then press the big Green Start Server button
EDIT: there are several VNC server available for Android. Some are paid, some are free. As long as it is working with a password, you should use it. You don't have to use VMLite VNC Server. I use it because I have it for a long time and it works great on all my Neuxs 7, 10, and 5.
Once done, you can use a VNC viewer to control your Fire TV.
For Android device, use this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realvnc.viewer.android&hl=en
For iOS device use this app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vnc-viewer/id352019548?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=4
For Desktop, go to this link and download the one for your OS https://www.realvnc.com/download/vnc/latest/
5/ INSTALL PLAY STORE
taken from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2787813
Download and install the "Xposed Framework" http://dl-count.xposed.info/modules/de.robv.android.xposed.installer_v32_de4f0d.apk
Download and install the "HDXPosed.apk" file. http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2538185&d=1390657381
Launch the "Xposed" application. Go to Framework and click Install. Don't reboot yet.
Go to modules and enable HDXPosed ( you need a mouse for this part or VNC server)
Go back to Framwork and click Reboot
Go download these apks
https://mega.co.nz/#F!8Q10yAiZ!4GVoGr7FJtXauVI3kvPSMQ
Mirror
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...4&authkey=!AIVXLFXAOWDeM0Q&ithint=folder,.apk
Sideload/Install all those apps (the apks for some of the apps contain space. Change the name or put the name in quotation mark to make it work)
Reboot. Play Store will appear in your application list.
WARNING: there is a bug in this step. For some people, first installation and reboot won't work. Don't panic. Sideload/Reinstall the app a second time will make it work, but use this command below
adb install -r name_of_your_apk
Remember to reboot your device.
6/ ENABLE INSTALLATION OF UNKNOWN SOURCES
taken from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2784173
Install SQLite Editor https://code.google.com/p/xdroidx/downloads/detail?name=SQLite Editor-9.apk
Launch SQLite Editor, granting it SU access
Select "Settings Storage"
Select "settings.db"
Select the "global" table
Highlight the record "install_non_market_apps"
Hit the Menu button and select "Edit Record"
Change the Value to "1" and save the record (you will need a mouse/keyboard for this step)
Reboot
This is the only part in the guide that I have not tried yet. Some people say that by changing the internal database, you might mess up your Android device. I don't know this is true or not, but since I have not done it on any Android devices ever yet. I am still waiting for people result on this. The advantage of allowing installation of unknown sources is you can use ES File Explorer to install apps that are not in the Google Play store. No need to use adb to sideload apps and you don't have to open adb all the time, less vulnerability on your Fire TV.
7/ ACCESS YOUR AMAZON FIRE TV INTERNAL FILE STRUCTURE REMOTELY
If you choose to enable installation of unknown sources (the step above this), then you can use this step to install all apk from now on, without using adb ever again. There are two ways of doing this:
A) Install ES File Explorer from the Play Store or sideload it http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=com.estrongs.android.pop
Launch it. On the left side bar, select Remote Manager, select Turn On. Input the address on your PC and you can transfer any files from your PC to your Fire TV using WIFI. If you enable root in ES File Explorer, you can also copy/paste files from root but be careful about that.
B) Set up a SSH server.
Sideload SSH Daemon http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=web.oss.sshsftpDaemon
Configure password, and enable autostart on boot (this is the most frustrated part of the guide since the screen will be sideway. It might help if you have VNC server install since you can control it using VNC viewer)
SSH with username root and password abc123 (configurable in SSH Daemon)
You can also access the SSH server using ES File Explorer on your Android device. Select Network ---> FTP ---> New ----> choose SFTP ---> Username/Password
8/ ALTERNATIVE LAUNCHER FOR FIRE TV
Here is the link: https://github.com/Redth/FiredTVLauncher
Once install, when your press Home button, this launcher will launch instead of the default one.
Pros: since Amazon Fire TV won't show any apps that is not install from Amazon store. Using this launcher will display all your apps in normal Android device style. You can also rearrange them or show/hide certain apps.
Cons: lose the Amazon Fire TV default launcher. However, you can still access the default launcher, there is an icon to go back to the default launcher.
9/ INSTALL XBMC AND COPY OVER YOUR USERDATA FOLDER
Pretty self-explanatory, with XBMC, Amazon Fire TV turns into a "media box" beast that we all want.
Install from here (select ARM download link please) http://xbmc.org/download/
Launch XBMC. Exit. Then copy over all your userdata/addons folder.
If you have XBMC install on any other platforms and want to copy all of your settings/addons over to Fire TV, please remember that the best skin for Fire TV is Confluence. If you are using a touch-based skin, please switch it to Confluence or similar non-touch based skin.
This link tells where the default userdata folder is located:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=Userdata
This is where you will place your userdata folder on your Fire TV
/sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/
Please remember that this method works for all platform, if you are using XBMC on Windows, iOS, etc... you can just copy everything over and it will work.
Example:
I can copy over my userdata and addons folder from my Nexus 10. It is located at
/sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/addons/
/sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/userdata/
Then I paste them to Fire TV here and replace the original folder
/sdcard/Android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/
Please remember to never copy over the temp folder. It might mess up your XBMC on Fire TV. If you do that, just delete it and launch XBMC.
10/ PLAY ANY VIDEO ON THE INTERNET USING CLOUDCAST ON ANOTHER ANDROID DEVICE
Install Cloudcast (it won't appear in Google Play store due to device restriction)
Download apkhere
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=com.appestry.cloudcast
Once install, you need to buy the in-app purchase (price is only $1.60, support the developer) to watch video longer than 10 minutes. The in-app purchase is authenticated through Google Play Store so only need to buy it once.
Once you have buy the in app purchase. Go to your other Android device, go to Play store and install the Cloudcast app in your other Android device
With both Fire TV and your Android device has Cloudcast, go to Devices --> Pair a new devices to link them up. From now on, any video you watch on your Android devices can be cast to the Fire TV. This app is based on Chromecast and it works great for me.
Here is a video of the developer explaining how his app work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftqC1NvTPw
11/ OTHER LINKS AND THREADS
Spark : Desktop mirroring and web casting apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2766019
The Spark app is a hit/miss for me. It has a Chrome extension that will cast your Chrome tab to the Fire TV screen. Also, it has a Window/Mac program that supposedly mirror your entire desktop screen to the Fire TV. From my experience, the Chrome extension works for me in some way. The Chrome tab will appear in the Fire TV but it is not true mirroring. Certain videos won't load and the lag timing is around 3-5 seconds. The Window desktop program did not work for me. It will give me a black screen. If I play a video, sound will come out of the TV but no picture/image showing up. You can try it and let me know.
Airplay fully working and Mirroring too.. AndroidApple Tv allinOne
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2764848
Airplay to Fire TV. Did not try it since I don't have an iOS devices.
Working Sideloaded APK List - Updated Daily
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2756608
Self explanatory. Very good list of what app works on Fire TV and what not.
Links for Viki, Cruncyroll and Drama Fever for Google TV
http://www.4shared.com/zip/RlFwc6Ixce/gtv_apks.html
Dropbox Mirror:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/acilpqm3qbtub8v/gtv_apks.zip
The Google TV version of Viki, Crunchyroll and Drama Fever. Only Viki and Drama Fever works for me. Crunchyroll gives you a sideway screen. Please install the Google Play version below:
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=com.crunchyroll.crunchyroid
Links for Dolphin Browser and Flash
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2267390
The thread above contains link to Dolphin browser which support Flash. You can also install Dolphin Jetpack (link below, which supposedly makes your Dolphin browser experience even faster. Warning: need mouse to navigate browser, remote control alone is not enough.
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=com.dolphin.browser.engine
Good stuff. Thanks.
There is a method in another topic that makes it easier to sideload apps while no longer needing a PC after installing certain apps.
Could you change the ADB part to tell people to sideload "terminal emulator" and a file explorer for easily sideloading any apk without a PC/straight from FTV storage then deleting the apk file,and a recommended web browser for downloading apk files to sideload via terminal emulator?
I got Opera as my first browser to sideload when it was a 21.x version and it ran decently,but the recent 22.x updates are unstable with flickering rendering.
If you pick Opera,I suggest you try and find a 21.x version from somewhere like Aptoide.
Just want to help make it easier when you can install apps without needing a PC after the first few sideloaded apps.
You have apps from 1Mobile,Appchina,Wandoujia,SlideME,Aptoide
(after sideloading Aptoide Market app from m.aptoide page),Voga360,and the free apps from Play Store via Evozi and APK Leecher.
All of these can be accessible from a sideloaded browser on your Fire TV for sideloading with the Terminal Emulator after finding out the name and directory (usually sdcard/Download/appname.apk) using a file explorer like ES File Explorer.
Yea, I am going to write more sideloading browsers and other apps. There are several methods for installing apk on the Fire TV once it is rooted. Using browser to download, then use ES File Explorer to install, or terminal emulator to install is fine also.
For the browser part, so far, I had installed a modified version of Dolphin browser that support Flash. It works great but you need a mouse to move around. I will add more stuff or link to other threads that contain useful info later on.
retroben said:
There is a method in another topic that makes it easier to sideload apps while no longer needing a PC after installing certain apps.
Could you change the ADB part to tell people to sideload "terminal emulator" and a file explorer for easily sideloading any apk without a PC/straight from FTV storage then deleting the apk file,and a recommended web browser for downloading apk files to sideload via terminal emulator?
I got Opera as my first browser to sideload when it was a 21.x version and it ran decently,but the recent 22.x updates are unstable with flickering rendering.
If you pick Opera,I suggest you try and find a 21.x version from somewhere like Aptoide.
Just want to help make it easier when you can install apps without needing a PC after the first few sideloaded apps.
You have apps from 1Mobile,Appchina,Wandoujia,SlideME,Aptoide
(after sideloading Aptoide Market app from m.aptoide page),Voga360,and the free apps from Play Store via Evozi and APK Leecher.
All of these can be accessible from a sideloaded browser on your Fire TV for sideloading with the Terminal Emulator after finding out the name and directory (usually sdcard/Download/appname.apk) using a file explorer like ES File Explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cloudcast
i see cloudcast here
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appestry.cloudcast&hl=en
Has any one found a good alternative to VMLite VNC Server? I would like a free one or maybe one that does give you some trial period, I don't mind paying for it if it work but I'm not sure that I will work for what I'm trying to do.
I got terminal emulator working. All you need to do is change settings so that it uses word keyboard. Then, when you wanna type something, hit the 3 bars key. Then click 'toggle soft keyboard'.
cloning firestick
I am trying to take my "jailbroken" Firestick and copy it's info to a new firestick. So I will have two that have kodi and I can use one downstairs, I thought I could just back it up on perhaps my desktop and than restore on the new stick. Is this going to work or will I just crash the new one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am good with my comp, but can't write code or anything like that. Thanks!
kimoleary3 said:
I am trying to take my "jailbroken" Firestick and copy it's info to a new firestick. So I will have two that have kodi and I can use one downstairs, I thought I could just back it up on perhaps my desktop and than restore on the new stick. Is this going to work or will I just crash the new one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am good with my comp, but can't write code or anything like that. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't work mate, the only way to root is to solder mod it for root, think there is a guide on xda or aftv news or Google it? A soft mod root is not possible anymore
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Hello,
I want to remotely access an amazon fireTV from my PC. I try with TeamviewerQS but, 1) I cannot take control of the desktop of the FireTV to make changes. 2) I always need permission from the remote which is very complicated. Is there a way to use a different program to do this easier? Maybe I can pre-install the correct programs into all of the FireTV's before I ship them out? Please help. JR
I'm0.
Hey guys,
Because I wanted to update my Kodi on firetv to Jarvis,
last week I found out, that my gold old apps for sideloading don't work anymore with firetv software version 5.x.x... So and yesterday I found an App on play store which discribes the only way that worked for me. It's a "Guide" app. He describes a nice way with ES File Explorer. I think this way is also very comfortable. As apk download from the net is allready blocked on ES File Explorer on AFTV, I think you should block updates on ES at firetv.
Here's the link...if you like it may give the dev a positive rating for keeping it up
https:// play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pheedev.Kodifiretuts
This way it's also very easy to "sideload" very many files, for example if you using NES emulators as me and would sideload some ROMS
Just out of curiosity, why don't you just copy the apks of the apps that you want to install onto a fat32 formatted USB drive and use es strong file explorer or that other file explorer from the market and install the app from there instead of using an app from your pc?
It's no app for Pc, it's for android. And if you have a FireTv stick, there is no USB port to plugin a external storage
Oo sideloading still works with FireOS 5.x.x.
Mhhh can only say it for FireTV-stick 1st gen...for me it's no more working. Can't even take a screenshot via adb from my PC
Try right clicking on the sideload app in windows and then click on run as administrator had the same problem on my stick on windows 10 that solved it for me
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
i just use apps2fire... super easy.. doesnt work with 100% of apps but id say a good 75%+
Yeah since update doesnt work for me anymore, reviews at the play store say the same....
Found the same, but fine after a factory reset. Pain but it worked.
Sent from my HTC One X using XDA Free mobile app
Ouuhhh...factory reset would cost me too much time...for me the ES-Way is quite good
odd.. i nvr did a factory reset and works fine. you could always use wifi adb and sideload using terminal shell on android to push files.. but more workand youd need to first sideload wifi adb to the fire tv..
i use this method when apps2fire doesnt work
hello i have rooted a 5.2.1.0 fire stick with kingo root and now i can not get either mouse toggle or ES file explorer to work properly ,both apps are installed
mouse toggle does not do anything it shows the setting screen , but double tapping play will not activate it
ES file explorer works but will not download anything i tried 2 different tutorials, 2 different links that work fine on my PC and tried to download the .apk through Es file explorer and when i click the links nothing happens, when i try to go to the "more" >"open in browser" option as it said in one the tutorials it just backs me out or the app back to fire tv UI
i tried the "open browser option" with both links the one from the tutorial that said to do it and the one that did not, all it does is back me out to fire TV UI with both
i checked the download folder , storage, emulated storage/0/download and there are in no apk file in there, it just won't download anything
apk files downloaded fine on my PC with same 2 links
can someone with a s tick on 5.2.1.0 rooted with kingo root please confirm if they can get either of these to work properly
cant get firestopper/ firestarter home buttton detection working either
Suggest reading app's thread.
gdroid666 said:
hello i have rooted a 5.2.1.0 fire stick with kingo root and now i can not get either mouse toggle or ES file explorer to work properly ,both apps are installed
mouse toggle does not do anything it shows the setting screen , but double tapping play will not activate it
ES file explorer works but will not download anything i tried 2 different tutorials, 2 different links that work fine on my PC and tried to download the .apk through Es file explorer and when i click the links nothing happens, when i try to go to the "more" >"open in browser" option as it said in one the tutorials it just backs me out or the app back to fire tv UI
i tried the "open browser option" with both links the one from the tutorial that said to do it and the one that did not, all it does is back me out to fire TV UI with both
i checked the download folder , storage, emulated storage/0/download and there are in no apk file in there, it just won't download anything
apk files downloaded fine on my PC with same 2 links
can someone with a s tick on 5.2.1.0 rooted with kingo root please confirm if they can get either of these to work properly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like mouse toggle doesn't work anymore but Es, file explorer works fine for me.
I replaced mouse toggle with wukong remote and just use my phone to control the stick. As for es not downloading I had this problem even before root but to get around this I simply add the wanted apk files to my drop box account and install them that way. Much easier [emoji108]
FireTho1 said:
Looks like mouse toggle doesn't work anymore but Es, file explorer works fine for me.
I replaced mouse toggle with wukong remote and just use my phone to control the stick. As for es not downloading I had this problem even before root but to get around this I simply add the wanted apk files to my drop box account and install them that way. Much easier [emoji108]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok so you can confirm mousetoggle not working then?
yes i do not think that will work either one of the link i tried was a dropbox link and it did nothing when i clicked it
i usually just install apk's through adb with cmd prompt i find it is the easiest method for me ,but i saw some other people on ares site talking about how they ould not et kodi arm apk lik to work through ES i just want to know what is going on , is amazon disabling downloads through ES now? i could see if it was just the kodi arm apk link but the links i used for firestopper were from more obscure sites i doubt they have got all those links blacklisted somehow through ES the more likely answer is they just disabled downloads , but who knows
gdroid666 said:
ok so you can confirm mousetoggle not working then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 1.06 update of the Mouse Toggle for Fire TV app is compatible with the 5.2.1.0 OS update. Simply upgrade the phone app and setup the app on the Fire TV again and verify the status is 'started' and confirm the app updated to 1.06. If you have any issues please send a email to the address in the app and I will help you out.
Note: If the apps 'Status' is stuck on 'starting' then it is very likely another app is unfortunately blocking the single ADB connection. The offending app would need to be uninstalled and 'ADB Debugging' would have to be toggled off and then on again.
Thank you!
iostouchdev said:
The 1.06 update of the Mouse Toggle for Fire TV app is compatible with the 5.2.1.0 OS update. Simply upgrade the phone app and setup the app on the Fire TV again and verify the status is 'started' and confirm the app updated to 1.06. If you have any issues please send a email to the address in the app and I will help you out.
Note: If the apps 'Status' is stuck on 'starting' then it is very likely another app is unfortunately blocking the single ADB connection. The offending app would need to be uninstalled and 'ADB Debugging' would have to be toggled off and then on again.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried and tested this on the stick and nothing are you running on the stick? Thanks
FireTho1 said:
I've tried and tested this on the stick and nothing are you running on the stick? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the 1.06 version works on all the different Fire TV models including the Fire TV Stick. It is very likely another app is conflicting as there are some apps that take exclusive control of ADB and never properly disconnect unfortunately. If you can email me at the address listed in the app with additional details I'm confident we can get this resolved for you.
Thank you
iostouchdev said:
Yes, the 1.06 version works on all the different Fire TV models including the Fire TV Stick. It is very likely another app is conflicting as there are some apps that take exclusive control of ADB and never properly disconnect unfortunately. If you can email me at the address listed in the app with additional details I'm confident we can get this resolved for you.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok NM finally got it working
I've been searching for a couple of hours and there's no guides or even clarification about what is possible with regards to running non-tv apps on the shield / android TV.
I really need to install a custom internet browser, VoIP apps, syncthing, firewall, maybe libre office who knows etc.
So:
- How do you install Full Google PlayStore?
- Do you need to root? (guide 1)(guide 2)
- I heard you can alternatively sideload apps via ADB. So I guess you need TWRP, and root? And where do you get the apks from?
In general, are there any non-UX limitations of android TV that would cause apps to not run? Or does it have the same capabilities as plugging in a mouse & kb into my phone's OTG port and then casting its screen to a TV?
Well here's a few thoughts without going into too much detail as I'm at work:
Full google play will need a custom rom I believe and you'll need to give up the android tv version of play and leanback functionality (I think)
There may be another method (still losing androidtv but probably needing root)
You can sideload via ADB or via a sideloading app. Or using network shares, USB storage, USB transfer etc.
In the past I've used Titanium Backup (rooted naturally) installed a load of games to my phone then moved the backups to an SD/USB to restore on the SHIELD.
There are also dubious website and alternative stores you can install or visit on the SHIELD. Not a fan of those tbh.
You can get APK downloader addons for web browsers that allow you to download directly from Play Store website. Chrome android doesn't support these I am lead to believe... but installing Yandex broweser and installing the chrome addon to that apparently might work. So then load Play Store in Yandex browser and you can get your apps direct from google... just sadly not the paid ones.
I've been meaning to get on this again myself. I'm really quite pissed that most of my paid Rockstar android games won't install from AndroidTV Play store. These games run fine on SHIELD but are flagged as unsupported. Thus forcing you to download them from dubious sources to get running due to the DRM. The TV store is very disapointing, the layout is bad, there's no reviews and developers just don't seem interested in keeping their apps accessible on the platform when they otherwise should be. The Rockstar games in particular run fantastic on the SHIELD and if I were Google or Nvidia I'd actively be trying to encourage Rockstar to promote these games as SHIELD compatible or enhanced!
I don't know about any technical disadvantages to the platform that hold things back but I'm sure many people here will be far more knowledgable. I just assume an app has to be fully functional with just the remote or joypad to be ATV compliant. I'm not entirely sure on this last question but I will say this, every app I've sideloaded has worked as long as it doesn't require touch control in games. I use a 5way hub so I've always got mouse/keyboard and additional storage options etc. If it can be controlled with one finger you can use a mouse to facilitate that.
thanks for the input. Yeah it sucks for paid apps and games. First I'll see if I can get by with just root and these methods, because I couldn't find any good custom roms for the shield. There is one on another forum but I couldn't get it installed (got stuck at nvidia logo after a successful install)..
I'm a noob to android TV, what's "leanback functionality"?
Twodordan said:
thanks for the input. Yeah it sucks for paid apps and games. First I'll see if I can get by with just root and these methods, because I couldn't find any good custom roms for the shield. There is one on another forum but I couldn't get it installed (got stuck at nvidia logo after a successful install)..
I'm a noob to android TV, what's "leanback functionality"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can sideload any apk to the shield if rooted but there are apk's made for android tv and just mobile apk's with mobile apl's you lose some functionality of android tv however a keyboard mouse combo or even nvidia shield tv app will help you navigate through those apk's that are not made for android tv
As far as I know, sideloading apps means finding an apk, placing it on the device, and then running it (and allowing installation from unknown sources).
So at what point in this process do I require root? Do I need the root if it's an apk not made for Android TV? What is that process exactly?
Twodordan said:
As far as I know, sideloading apps means finding an apk, placing it on the device, and then running it (and allowing installation from unknown sources).
So at what point in this process do I require root? Do I need the root if it's an apk not made for Android TV? What is that process exactly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I side load stuff to my non rooted shield all the time its true not all apps will work but a majority of them will for some apps that have only a vertical view you can use apps like set orientation to have it in landscape mode just allow install of unknown apps for the file browser you use on the shield.
https://apkpure.com/set-orientation/com.googlecode.eyesfree.setorientation
You can simply place the apk into your downloads folder or wherever you like on the shield tv then install it from there using a file browser I personally use FX file explorer on shield but any should work. You can also use a file browser to add your cloud like google drive or one drive or whatever and install directly from there or browse to a shared folder on pc and install it that way too whatever is easier for you.
Apps that require root to run will not of course work properly on a non rooted device, however there are plenty of apps that do not require root that install and run just fine.
Yeah I always keep my SHIELD rooted for this reason. I don't know what the situation is with TWRP recovery at the moment but I know it stopped working in one of the recent updates. By being rooted you can use Flashfire app to flash zips to the SHIELD if you need to flash let's say GLTools or something like that. I mainly use that to force antialiasing for certain games. One thing you will want is either Sideload Launcher (on Play Store) or TV App Repo. Sideload launcher just loads a launcher that includes your non TV apps (They don't all work with the leanback launcher) or you can use TV App Repo to make shortcuts to them on the leanback launcher. TV App Repo will also need root to work, so yeah that's a great reason to have root when sideloading.
I could adb install the sideload launcher apk (got it from apkpure) to my 16gb shield tv 2017, via a usb-to-usb cable, and it works just fine without root.
Installing root is such a goddamn nightmare. You have to flash a full developer stock image for which you have to sign up to get from nvidia, then install magisk etc, and the killer is you gotta do this manual developer whole-image flashing nonsense every time there's an update from nvidia. Seriously why the hell can't we android users just get a proper version of the full opensource debloated OS that updates itself like a sane person? X_X
[Edit] Installed TV Launcher instead of sideload launcher. It can replace the default launcher and it is also so much nicer: https://apkpure.com/tvlauncher/com.awe.dev.pro.tv
[Edit] So a custom launcher like TV Launcher will insert itself as a suggestion whenever you press the home screen, and you can set it to Always use this launcher, however in many situations, like restarting your shield, it will default back to the stock launcher. You can read this but it's still fine to always have a prompt whenever you press home: https://www.reddit.com/r/ShieldAndr...hange_default_launcher_on_shield_2017_nougat/
I use Yalp store and set it up as different device (in my case Samsung Galaxy Tab S3). Works really fine for 95% of the time.
Question Please?
Can you please say which shield TV you have? I am thinking of buying one but am put off by the lack of full play store. Being able to install any apk from a USB stick may sway me (but still not sure). What I plan to do is install any apps I want on my phone, use an apk extractor to get the apk, put it on USB then use CX file explorer to click and install. Does that sound all possible on non-rooted latest full Shield?
Cheers.
Eric.
"You can simply place the apk into your downloads folder or wherever you like on the shield tv then install it from there using a file browser I personally use FX file explorer on shield but any should work. You can also use a file browser to add your cloud like google drive or one drive or whatever and install directly from there or browse to a shared folder on pc and install it that way too whatever is easier for you.
Apps that require root to run will not of course work properly on a non rooted device, however there are plenty of apps that do not require root that install and run just fine."
---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 AM ----------
PS Since you can install apk's easily did you ever try to sideload the Google play store apk (along with Google Play Services apk to see if they will install?
That would be interesting.
Gaps download for HUAWEI Chinese phones would be easy to obtain.
DBCAB said:
I side load stuff to my non rooted shield all the time its true not all apps will work but a majority of them will for some apps that have only a vertical view you can use apps like set orientation to have it in landscape mode just allow install of unknown apps for the file browser you use on the shield.
https://apkpure.com/set-orientation/com.googlecode.eyesfree.setorientation
You can simply place the apk into your downloads folder or wherever you like on the shield tv then install it from there using a file browser I personally use FX file explorer on shield but any should work. You can also use a file browser to add your cloud like google drive or one drive or whatever and install directly from there or browse to a shared folder on pc and install it that way too whatever is easier for you.
Apps that require root to run will not of course work properly on a non rooted device, however there are plenty of apps that do not require root that install and run just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Twodordan said:
Installing root is such a goddamn nightmare. You have to flash a full developer stock image for which you have to sign up to get from nvidia, then install magisk etc, and the killer is you gotta do this manual developer whole-image flashing nonsense every time there's an update from nvidia. Seriously why the hell can't we android users just get a proper version of the full opensource debloated OS that updates itself like a sane person? X_X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need the developer image to get root.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tv/development/kernel-overclock-kernel-2-22-ghz-t3943079
And if you don't flash twrp, getting updates will work fine, you will just have to root again.
Twodordan said:
I could adb install the sideload launcher apk (got it from apkpure) to my 16gb shield tv 2017, via a usb-to-usb cable, and it works just fine without root.
Installing root is such a goddamn nightmare. You have to flash a full developer stock image for which you have to sign up to get from nvidia, then install magisk etc, and the killer is you gotta do this manual developer whole-image flashing nonsense every time there's an update from nvidia. Seriously why the hell can't we android users just get a proper version of the full opensource debloated OS that updates itself like a sane person? X_X
[Edit] Installed TV Launcher instead of sideload launcher. It can replace the default launcher and it is also so much nicer: https://apkpure.com/tvlauncher/com.awe.dev.pro.tv
[Edit] So a custom launcher like TV Launcher will insert itself as a suggestion whenever you press the home screen, and you can set it to Always use this launcher, however in many situations, like restarting your shield, it will default back to the stock launcher. You can read this but it's still fine to always have a prompt whenever you press home: https://www.reddit.com/r/ShieldAndr...hange_default_launcher_on_shield_2017_nougat/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is rooting a nightmare ? Once your bootloader is unlocked it literally takes 5 minutes to root..
Unlock bootloader
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot boot twrp.img
install magisk zip
Reboot , you're rooted..
I don't understand why people suggest any other file explorer besides "x-plore". By far the best file explorer out there, 100% crap free. You can install any APK from any location using x-plore.. Most of the time I leave the APK on my network , that network drive is mapped in the shield settings, I simply browse to it with x-plore , and install any APK. If it doesn't make a shortcut in the android tv menu , then simply use "sideload launcher" by chainfire to launch whichever app doesn'T show up on the main menu.
ericritou said:
Can you please say which shield TV you have? I am thinking of buying one but am put off by the lack of full play store. Being able to install any apk from a USB stick may sway me (but still not sure). What I plan to do is install any apps I want on my phone, use an apk extractor to get the apk, put it on USB then use CX file explorer to click and install. Does that sound all possible on non-rooted latest full Shield?
Cheers.
Eric.
"You can simply place the apk into your downloads folder or wherever you like on the shield tv then install it from there using a file browser I personally use FX file explorer on shield but any should work. You can also use a file browser to add your cloud like google drive or one drive or whatever and install directly from there or browse to a shared folder on pc and install it that way too whatever is easier for you.
Apps that require root to run will not of course work properly on a non rooted device, however there are plenty of apps that do not require root that install and run just fine."
---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 AM ----------
PS Since you can install apk's easily did you ever try to sideload the Google play store apk (along with Google Play Services apk to see if they will install?
That would be interesting.
Gaps download for HUAWEI Chinese phones would be easy to obtain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the 2015 pro model NVIDIA shield, but do have access to a 2017 model at my brother in laws, anyway extracting apks or getting them from places like apk mirror then using a usb to install will work you can even install them over your network from your pc or laptop using a file explorer program that supports it. I have never tried installing the full play store on my shield as it comes with one, however I have tried to install things using a pc browser and the google play site to the shield and had some luck installing a few apps that are not available on the shields version of play store. So basically doesn't matter where u get the apk you can usually install it to the shield some apps wont display properly which is why I suggested an orientation type program to correctly display and use also be aware some apps might need a mouse or keyboard to function properly when you do this depending on what you install.
Roamin64 said:
How is rooting a nightmare ? Once your bootloader is unlocked it literally takes 5 minutes to root..
Unlock bootloader
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot boot twrp.img
install magisk zip
Reboot , you're rooted..
I don't understand why people suggest any other file explorer besides "x-plore". By far the best file explorer out there, 100% crap free. You can install any APK from any location using x-plore.. Most of the time I leave the APK on my network , that network drive is mapped in the shield settings, I simply browse to it with x-plore , and install any APK. If it doesn't make a shortcut in the android tv menu , then simply use "sideload launcher" by chainfire to launch whichever app doesn'T show up on the main menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont understand y ppl think their preferred app is the same or should be everyones preference.. never really used xplore so cant comment on it but this is bcuz i use fx file explorer.. it has been good to me for years and still counting.. you can access network and more if u get an fx license which is cheap.. u can set up windows, ftp, ssh, webdav over network... set up cloud storage... bluetooth... web access.... fx connect and other means using it.. root installer.. text editor... binary viewer... deals with archives... themes... multiple root settings and other settings... diagnostic tools... has builtin busybox or u can use any other busybox you have installed and more
agreed though, roots easy if you dont have troubles.. not sure what ur runnin but nstv pro 2019 unless its been updated since i last checked cannot simply install magisk.. u need modified magisk.zip which is an older version then need to do some trickery in twrp to get it to flash right then still might need some trickery to get it to boot.. i have to use adb root to change bootstate to orange before itll load and if u dont got adb authorized yet then i use twrp to set a script tochange bootstate on boot.. tyen if u still have problems might need towipe and/or mess with vbmetaand/or dtb partitions.. and im an experienced person when it comes to root, exploits, twrp utilization and fastboot (not claiming to b pro or anything crazy, just know how to use them fairly well and general idea of how things work) so i can imagine some ppl that maybe arent as experienced or new to this particular device would have a difficult time indeed.
DBCAB said:
I have the 2015 pro model NVIDIA shield, but do have access to a 2017 model at my brother in laws, anyway extracting apks or getting them from places like apk mirror then using a usb to install will work you can even install them over your network from your pc or laptop using a file explorer program that supports it. I have never tried installing the full play store on my shield as it comes with one, however I have tried to install things using a pc browser and the google play site to the shield and had some luck installing a few apps that are not available on the shields version of play store. So basically doesn't matter where u get the apk you can usually install it to the shield some apps wont display properly which is why I suggested an orientation type program to correctly display and use also be aware some apps might need a mouse or keyboard to function properly when you do this depending on what you install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks.
---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:01 PM ----------
DBCAB said:
I have the 2015 pro model NVIDIA shield, but do have access to a 2017 model at my brother in laws, anyway extracting apks or getting them from places like apk mirror then using a usb to install will work you can even install them over your network from your pc or laptop using a file explorer program that supports it. I have never tried installing the full play store on my shield as it comes with one, however I have tried to install things using a pc browser and the google play site to the shield and had some luck installing a few apps that are not available on the shields version of play store. So basically doesn't matter where u get the apk you can usually install it to the shield some apps wont display properly which is why I suggested an orientation type program to correctly display and use also be aware some apps might need a mouse or keyboard to function properly when you do this depending on what you install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
have you tried the Aurora store? i find stuff there ibcant find in tv play store
elliwigy said:
have you tried the Aurora store? i find stuff there ibcant find in tv play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
elliwigy suggested the best way to have full playstore, Aurora is a frontend for the real playstore, you are not downloading from an unknown source and also allow to install and validate the apps that you have purchased, also it's possible to spoof your shield as other devices making possible to install apps that in other ways aren't available for your device