Most people never think of a Fire TV device as anything more than a simple streaming tool. But that’s not the full story. Fire TV is far more flexible, and with the right apps and settings, it can become a smart display, a wireless screen mirror, a gaming console, and even a mini computer for light browsing.
The best part is, all of these features are built in, so you don’t need any complex workarounds or extra devices. Once you find them, you’ll start seeing your Fire TV in a completely different way.
Install apps that aren’t on Amazon Appstore
Go beyond the built-in appstore
A lot of people don’t know this, but the Fire TV devices are based on Android. This means you get all the flexibility that you get with an Android TV, including the ability to sideload apps.
While the Amazon Appstore covers pretty much all the popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, it lacks many powerful and niche options. With sideloading, you can bring those media players, browsers, tools, and custom launchers to your Fire TV.
The process is quite simple. First, you need to enable the Developer Options menu and allow installation from unknown sources. Once done, you simply have to download the APK file on your phone or PC and transfer it to your Fire TV with an app like LocalSend. Finally, open the file, and install the app as…