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How to install an app on a Fire TV Cube

The Cube runs the same software as the Stick, so the steps are the same. There is just more room on it and the menus sit one press further down. About four minutes, and the fiddly part is only ever done once.

Is this allowed? Yes. Amazon puts the setting in Fire OS on purpose. Installing software on a box you own is your business.

Step 1: Let the Cube install apps

  1. On the home screen, go along the top row to Settings (the cog).
  2. Choose My Fire TV.
  3. Choose Developer options.

No Developer options on the list? Third-generation Cubes hide it until you ask for it. Go to Settings › My Fire TV › About, move the highlight onto your Cube's name, and press the middle of the remote seven times. A small counter tells you how many presses are left. Press Back once and Developer options has appeared.

  1. Open Install unknown apps.
  2. A list of your apps appears. Find Downloader and switch it on.

Downloader not on the list? It only shows apps you already have. Do Step 2 first, then come back here.

Step 2: Get Downloader

The Downloader app: an orange tile with a white D and a down arrow, and the word Downloader
Look for this orange tile. It is free.

Downloader is free, and it is in Amazon's own store. It fetches a file from a web address and hands it to the installer.

  1. Press and hold the voice button and say “Downloader”, or use the magnifying glass and type it.
  2. Install the one with the orange icon, by AFTVnews.

The voice button finds the app but will not install it for you. You still press Get or Download on the store page.

Step 3: Type the address and go

Open Downloader. The box at the top of the first screen is where the address goes. Type it, press Go, and wait for the bar to fill.

Anyone handing out an app this way keeps the address short, because typing a long one with a remote is horrible.

Step 4: Install, then delete the leftovers

  1. Downloader asks whether to install. Choose Install.
  2. Android asks again in its own words. This always happens; nothing installs behind your back.
  3. Choose Done, then Delete, then Delete again. That throws away the installer file, which has done its job.

The new app is now under Apps, usually last in the row. Highlight it, press the three-line button, and choose Move to bring it to the front.

Installing Brownout Media Player

Same four steps. In Downloader, type this number:

4205862

or type the address brownoutapps.com/tv

When it opens, it shows a QR code. Scan it with your phone and paste your provider's details on the phone. You never type a username and password with the remote.

If it will not play ball

“App not installed”

Usually an older copy of the same app is still on the Cube and was signed by somebody else. Uninstall the old one and try again.

The bar reaches 100% and then nothing

Downloader has not been given permission. Go back to Step 1 and check the switch beside Downloader is on.

“Parse error”

A typo in the address, so what came down was a web page rather than an app. Retype it.

It says there is no space

A Cube has 16GB, so this is rare, but recordings and games fill it. Settings › My Fire TV › About › Storage shows what is using it.

Other devices

The idea is the same everywhere, but the menus differ. Guides for each: