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This tip is about the how to sideload apps on Chromecast. So read this free guide, How to sideload apps on Chromecast step by step. If you have query related to same article you may contact us.
How to sideload apps on Chromecast – Guide
Google’s newest Chromecast dongle has a lot to offer, including support for a growing number of apps. Despite the gadget being created by Google, you won’t find all Android apps on it, only those that have been authorized and optimized for use on a big screen. Here it is how to add more apps and games to your device. If you’re not familiar with the notion of sideloading or installing programs that aren’t available on the official app store, it’s important to understand that you do so at your own risk. You’re avoiding typical Google security precautions, whether it’s sideloading apps on your phone or using a Chromecast adapter. Stick to APK (Android Application Package) libraries that you can trust. You should be fine if you use APKMirror, but there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong.
How to sideload apps on chromecast
Download the APK you want to Sideload
Using or your phone or computer, download the APK installation file of the application you want to load. APKs are like EXEs for Windows, if you’re familiar. A great source for this is APKMirror, but you can always check an app’s website for a manual download. If you just want something to try right now, we recommend downloading the Droid Hardware Info and Google Chrome first. After these apps are sideloaded, you can install future apps without the need for a computer or phone. if it’s a phone app you want to sideload and have an android phone you can install the app on your phone First, use APK Extractor to get the APK installer file for that app.
Download File Commander
On your Chromecast with Google TV, install File Commander. If you are not familiar with installing apps, follow this guide.
Enable Cloud Storage Integration
Now open the File Commander app and from the home page select “Cloud” and follow the instructions to add a cloud storage account to the file browser. We recommend using Google Drive as you already have a Google account (Chromecast requires you to sign in to one) and it comes with a lot of free storage.
Unlock developer mode
To install an app from outside the Play Store, you first need to enable developer mode. Scroll to your profile picture and click on it to find the Settings app shortcut and click on it. In Settings, navigate to “System” and then “About”. Under About, scroll down and select “Android TV OS Build”. Keep clicking repeatedly until the freebie message says “You are now a developer!” Congratulations on your new career.
Enable ‘Unknown sources’
Go back to the main Settings page, scroll to and select “Applications”. On the Apps page, scroll down and select Security & Restrictions. Under Security and Restrictions, select Unknown sources. Here, you will find the File Commander app as a potential source. Click on it and after heeding the warning on the page, turn the toggle to blue to enable the ability to install unknown apps.
Upload the APK to your cloud storage service
Now you will need to grab the APK file you are trying to sideload and upload it to your cloud storage account. If you went with Google Drive, open the app on your phone (Android | iOS) or access the web version on your desktop browser and move the APK files to “My Drive”. Alternatively, you can use the PC File Transfer protocol to transfer an APK from your smartphone or desktop computer to Chromecast. File Commander will provide you with a web address for you to access on your smartphone or computer, and you can upload the file directly through your browser.
Application sideload
Now, open File Commander and browse to the cloud or device location of the APK file. Select the file and choose “Install”. When the buttons “Open” and “Done” appear, the application is installed.
Start the Sideload app
After installation, you can click “Open” to immediately launch the application. If not, it may be listed alongside your other apps on the For You or Apps pages. Otherwise, go to Settings -> Apps, select the app from the list and choose “Open”. Alternatively, you can use an app called Sideload Launcher which can be installed by searching the Play Store on your Android TV. Some apps that are not designed to be used on a TV may require the use of a mouse. As the new Chromecast only has a USB port, we recommend using a Bluetooth mouse.
Sideloading future apps
If you chose to load both apps in Step 1, the process will be much easier going forward. Use Droid Hardware Info to find the CPU architecture of your television or set-top box. This information is found on the System tab titled “Instruction Sets”. With this information, use Chrome to access third-party app stores. Find the app you are looking for by making sure you download the variant with the same architecture as your television. Download the app and use File Commander to open the APK file (located under “Downloads” usually) to sideload it, just like you did before. For those who want to use APKMirror, many of the apps they host will come bundled now and will use a new file format (.apkm). To install these apps, you will first need to sideload the APKMIrror Installer app. Check out our tutorial (link below) on how to use this installer.
Final note
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