How to Download 3rd Party Apps on Firestick
Firestick is a popular device that lets you stream movies, shows, live TV, sports, and more on your TV. It comes with a lot of official apps from the Amazon Appstore, but you might want to explore more options beyond that. That's where 3rd party apps come in.
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What are 3rd Party Apps and Why You Might Want Them
3rd party apps are apps that are not available in the Amazon Appstore, but can be installed on your Firestick from other sources. These apps can offer you more content, features, and customization than the official ones. Some examples of 3rd party apps are Kodi, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Cinema HD, Stremio, and more.
The Benefits of 3rd Party Apps for Firestick
You can access content that is not available in your region or on the official app store.
You can enjoy a wider variety of genres, categories, and quality of content.
You can customize your streaming experience with different skins, add-ons, settings, and more.
You can save money by using free or cheaper alternatives to paid services.
The Risks of 3rd Party Apps for Firestick
You might expose your device and data to malware, viruses, or hackers.
You might violate the terms of service of your device or streaming service.
You might infringe the copyright laws or face legal issues by streaming pirated or illegal content.
You might compromise the performance or stability of your device by installing incompatible or buggy apps.
How to Enable Developer Options and Unknown Sources on Firestick
Before you can install 3rd party apps on your Firestick, you need to enable two settings that allow you to sideload apps from outside the Amazon Appstore. These are Developer Options and Unknown Sources. Here's how to do it.
How to Enable Developer Options
Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Click the device name until a message says "You are now a developer."
The Developer Options menu will now be visible underneath About on the My Fire TV screen.
How to Allow Apps from Unknown Sources
Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options > Apps From Unknown Sources and select On.
A warning message will appear. Select Turn On to confirm.
How to Sideload Apps on Firestick with Downloader App
Now that you have enabled the necessary settings, you can sideload apps on your Firestick using the Downloader app. This app lets you download APK files (the format of Android apps) from the internet and install them on your device. Here's how to use it.
How to Install Downloader App on Firestick
Go to the home screen of your Firestick and select the Search icon (the magnifying glass).
Type Downloader and select it from the suggestions.
Select the orange Downloader icon and select Download or Get.
Wait for the app to download and install. Select Open to launch it.
How to Use Downloader App to Download and Install APK Files
Open the Downloader app and select Allow if prompted to grant access to your device.
Select the URL field and enter the URL of the APK file you want to download. For example, if you want to download Kodi, you can enter
Select Go and wait for the APK file to download.
Select Install when prompted and wait for the app to install.
Select Done or Open to finish the process. You can also delete the APK file to save space by selecting Delete.
How to Use Mouse Toggle for Better Navigation
Some 3rd party apps are not designed for Firestick and might require a mouse to navigate. Since Firestick does not have a mouse, you can use an app called Mouse Toggle that lets you use your remote as a mouse pointer. Here's how to use it.
What is Mouse Toggle and Why You Need It
Mouse Toggle is a 3rd party app that adds a virtual mouse mode to your Firestick remote. You can toggle between the normal mode and the mouse mode by pressing the Play/Pause button twice. In mouse mode, you can move the cursor with the directional buttons and click with the Select button. You can also scroll with the Fast Forward and Rewind buttons. Mouse Toggle is useful for apps that have small buttons, menus, or links that are hard to select with the remote.
How to Install and Use Mouse Toggle on Firestick
Download and install Mouse Toggle using the Downloader app. The URL for Mouse Toggle is
Open Mouse Toggle and select Enable the mouse service. Select OK if prompted to grant accessibility permission.
Select Settings and make sure Auto Start on Boot is enabled.
To use Mouse Toggle, press the Play/Pause button twice on your remote. A mouse pointer will appear on your screen. To exit Mouse Toggle, press the Play/Pause button twice again.
Best 3rd Party Apps for Firestick
Now that you know how to download and use 3rd party apps on your Firestick, you might be wondering which apps are worth trying. Here are some of the best 3rd party apps for Firestick that you can enjoy.
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Kodi
Kodi is one of the most popular 3rd party apps for Firestick. It is a media player that lets you play local and online content from various sources. You can also install add-ons that enhance its functionality and offer more content options. Kodi is free and open-source, but some of its add-ons might contain illegal or pirated content, so use it at your own risk.
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is a streaming service that offers live and on-demand content from the BBC network. You can watch news, sports, documentaries, dramas, comedies, and more from this app. BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK, but you can use a VPN to access it from anywhere in the world. You need a valid TV license to use BBC iPlayer legally.
Netflix
Netflix is a streaming service that offers a huge library of movies, shows, originals, and more. You can watch Netflix in HD or 4K quality, depending on your subscription plan and device capability. Netflix is available in almost every country in the world, but its content varies by region. You can use a VPN to access other regions' content, but Netflix might detect and block it.
Cinema HD
Cinema HD is a 3rd party app that lets you stream movies and shows for free. It scrapes links from various sources and offers them in HD quality. You can also download content for offline viewing. Cinema HD does not host any content itself, but some of its links might contain illegal or pirated content, so use it at your own risk.
Stremio
Stremio is another 3rd party app that lets you stream movies, shows, live TV, sports, and more. It works similarly to Kodi, but with a simpler interface and fewer add-ons. You can also sync your Stremio account across multiple devices and access your personal library anywhere. Stremio does not host any content itself, but some of its add-ons might contain illegal or pirated content, so use it at your own risk.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have shown you how to download 3rd party apps on Firestick using the Downloader app and the Mouse Toggle app. We have also recommended some of the best 3rd party apps for Firestick that you can try. 3rd party apps can enhance your streaming experience, but they also come with some risks and challenges. You should always be careful and responsible when using them, and respect the rights of the content creators and owners.
Here are some FAQs that might help you with your Firestick journey.
QuestionAnswer
Do I need a VPN to use 3rd party apps on Firestick?A VPN is not required, but it is highly recommended. A VPN can protect your privacy, security, and anonymity online. It can also help you bypass geo-restrictions, censorship, and ISP throttling. A VPN can also prevent legal issues by encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address.
What are some of the best VPNs for Firestick?Some of the best VPNs for Firestick are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish, and CyberGhost. These VPNs offer fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, strong encryption, multiple servers, and easy installation on Firestick.
How do I update 3rd party apps on Firestick?Unlike the official apps from the Amazon Appstore, 3rd party apps do not update automatically on Firestick. You need to manually check for updates and install them using the Downloader app or other methods. You can also enable auto-update settings on some apps if available.
How do I uninstall 3rd party apps on Firestick?To uninstall 3rd party apps on Firestick, you can go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Select the app you want to uninstall > Select Uninstall. You can also use a cleaner app like Clean Master to remove unwanted apps and files from your device.
How do I fix 3rd party apps not working on Firestick?If your 3rd party apps are not working on Firestick, you can try some of the following solutions:
Check your internet connection and speed.
Restart your Firestick and router.
Clear the cache and data of the app.
Update the app to the latest version.
Reinstall the app or try a different source.
Use a VPN to avoid geo-blocking or ISP interference.
Contact the app developer or support team for help.
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