This tutorial will show you how to sideload Android apps to your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick using a Mac. Amazon has allowed users the ability to install .APK files to their device which means users can install Google Play apps to their Fire TV. However, since the Fire TV does not use a touchscreen, only select apps will work well for the Fire TV (read here for a list of recommended apps to sideload). A Windows tutorial is also available here.

How-to Sideload Apps to the Amazon Fire TV with Mac OSX

ENABLE ADB DEBUGGING

1. Go to Settings

2. System

3. Developer Options

4. Enable ‘ADB Debugging’

OBTAIN FIRE TV IP ADDRESS

1. Go to Settings

2. System

3. About

4. Under ‘Network’ – Write down the IP Address

SET UP ADB ON THE MAC

1. On your Mac, download the platform-tools here. Unzip the file to your desktop.

2. Open Terminal. Under Launchpad > Other > Terminal

3. In Terminal, type in,

cd /Users/YourUserName/Desktop/platform-tools

and hit Enter.

You will see a similar message if successful:

4. Now type in,

./adb connect IPADDRESS

and hit Enter. Make sure you type in the Fire TV’s IP address (from earlier) instead of IPADDRESS.

Example:

You will see a similar message if successful:

SIDELOAD APP TO FIRE TV

1. Download the app’s .APK file to your desktop and in Terminal type in,

./adb install /Users/YourUserName/Desktop/filename.apk

and hit Enter.

In this example, Snes9x EX+ is installed (available here)

You will see a similar message if successful:

2. The game is now sideloaded to your Amazon Fire TV. To access the app, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications