Guide: How to install third-party apps on Android smart TV?

Smart TVs have been a hit in recent years, and today you can hardly buy a TV that doesn’t offer its own operating system and, with it, a bunch of smart features. The most important one is the ability to install new apps. Whether it’s streaming service apps, various tools, or even games. The most popular are TVs with the Android TV operating system, but there are manufacturers that develop their own system.

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For example, Samsung has Tizen, LG has WebOS, and so on. Android TV is also found on popular TV boxes that you can buy for just a few dozen euros. Within the system, you’ll find your favorite Google Play store, which lets you install apps. But what if your favorite app isn’t there? Compared to the smartphone version, the store is quite limited.

But that’s not a big problem, since we’re still working with Android. You just need to get the installation file and install it manually. How do you do that?

Allow installation from unknown sources

This is the absolute basics, without which you won’t install anything on an Android TV. For security reasons, only apps from the Google Play store are allowed to be installed. So you need to enable the option to install them from other sources too; the procedure is fairly simple:

1. Go to settings
2. Go to “Security & restrictions” (or somewhere under “Security & Privacy”)
   
   
3. Click on “Unknown sources”
   
   
4. Allow installation from unknown sources
   
   

Download the installation file: Method 1

There are two basic ways to do this. If your TV has a web browser, you can do it without needing another device. But download the installation file from a trusted source; for example, we recommend APKPure. Just go to the APKPure website, find the app, and download it. Download the .apk installation file and save it to the TV’s memory.

Download the installation file: Method 2

If your TV doesn’t have a web browser, you can still download the installation file another way. Just open a computer and follow the same steps in the browser. Then move the downloaded file to a USB drive, which you’ll connect to the TV or Android TV box. You can also download it using your Android phone.

Installing an app on Android TV

So, we have the installation file downloaded and saved on the TV, either one way or the other. Now you’ll need a file browser. Your TV may already have one preinstalled; if not, just go to Google Play and search for one. We recommend, for example, X-Plore, which is among the absolute best and even comes from the Slovak development studio Lonely Cat Games.

In the X-Plore app, go to downloaded files and find the installation file. If you moved it using a USB drive, go to the folder where it is located. The procedure is very simple now too:

1. Click the installation file and launch the installation
2. During installation, the app will probably ask for some permissions, which you should approve
3. Done, the app is installed and you can start using it

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Benefits of installing third-party apps

First of all, it’s about access to content that isn’t available in the store, or isn’t accessible in a specific region. It could be some streaming services or specific online TV apps. Third-party providers may also offer specialized apps that enhance your experience with Android TV itself. They let you customize it and so on.

Using installation APK files, you can also install older versions of apps, or even ones that Google Play sometimes offered in the past but don’t have anymore. But watch out: apps installed this way can’t update themselves, so if a new version comes out, you’ll need to repeat the steps above to install it.

Security first on Android TV

Of course, you should download apps only from trusted sources. If you’re planning to install something you don’t know, be sure to check its reviews. They can really tell you a lot. It’s also not a bad idea to use some antivirus software, and we recommend disabling the option to install apps from unknown sources right after you install the required app. Just keep in mind that the safest way is to install apps via Google Play.

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