When I released my Downloader app on the Google Play Store for Android TV devices, I was forced to remove the built-in browser because Google would otherwise not approve the app. I’m happy to say that I have come up with a solution that allows Android TV users to restore the browser part of the app back in by sideloading a browser plugin that I am releasing today.
Installing the Downloader Browser Plugin is very simple. Just enter
I gave Troy over at TROYPOINT.com early access to the browser plugin and he created a great video showing exactly how to install the browser plugin. He also goes over the Downloader’s functionality as well as showing how to sideload Downloader on generic Android streaming boxes that don’t have access to official Android TV apps.
This browser plugin for my Downloader app on Android TV devices is currently in Beta and does have a few minor issues. The most notable one is a bug that occasionally causes the mouse cursor in the browser to disappear when selecting text fields on web pages.
I would love to pay my developer to fix these last few remaining issues, but I’ve already sunk way more funds into the Android TV version of my app than I originally anticipated, due to Google requiring the browser be removed which necessitated the creation of the browser plugin. I can’t justify improving the Android TV version of the app any further until at least enough donations come in to cover what I’ve already paid my developer up to this point. Please consider donating to the app through the in-app donation buttons on the home screen if you appreciate me bringing the app to Android TV and if you want me to continue improving the app. Alternatively, you can support me and the app through Patreon.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Did they give a specific reason for the removal? Android has a web browser as part of the SDK and third party browsers exist, so it seems weird to me to not allow yours.
I agree, it was very weird and unexpected to get rejected, since there are already full fledged browsers approved for Android TV. All they said is “we do not accept browser functionality in Android TV at this time” and when I pointed out the other browsers they said “any perceived compliance or non-compliance of other developers’ apps has no bearing on the compliance of your own apps.”
Any future plans to bring this amazing app to fire tablets?
That’s definitely the next set of the device’s that will get the app, but I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get it done.
Installed browser plugin and successfully installed Kodi on my Nexus Player. Nice alternative to always using ES.
The latest version of Kodi is in the Android TV’s Play Store. Why you needed to sideload it ??????
Why would one sideload a plugin for a browser when presumably one could sideload the original app that had the browser included? Just seems like that would make more sense if already going the sideloading route?
It’s always best to install an app from an appstore when possible because then the app will automatically update when a new version is available. If you sideload the entire Downloader app, which anyone is more than welcome to do, you’ll need to manually update it yourself every time a new version is released.
I’ve coded Downloader so that if you install the Google Play Store non-browser version and sideload the browser plugin, the main app coming from Google will automatically update the plugin if necessary so you never need to sideload any updates in the future.
I’ve been unable to get this plug-in to load on my Shield TV. Each time I get a “An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection” message. Even though I’ve carefully checked the URL and I know the connection is fine. Any suggestions or tips on how to make this work for me? Thanks again for all the great work you do with this site (I have 3 Devices and the Shield) and the software.
For anyone interested or having the same issue, I emailed Charles and we determined that the issue was due to not allowing the Downloader app permission to access the device’s file system when Android makes the request the first time the app is launched.
Was there a fix for this issue?
The fix is to give the app file access permission. This can be done under the device settings or by uninstalling and then reinstalling the app and making sure to ALLOW permissions when asked.
Thanks for the response. I have tried the fix you mentioned to no avail. I have uninstalled and reinstalled and still get the restricted access on the browser tab of downloader. I have downloaded the add on 2 different ways and still not working.
I’ll look into it soon to figure out what’s going on.
I have the same issue as Brian and nothing has worked to resolve this problem. Have you possibly come up with a correction? I have the app on a second shield tv and it works without issue as well on my fire tv boxes too.
Disregard my reply as I got it working. Instead of having downloader get the browser plug in, I downloaded on my laptop, put on a thumb drive, used File Commander and installed from there.
Now Downloader is working perfectly!
Thanks
Ok I am following the steps to load this on my Minix android box but the app is not showing up in the google play store. Where can I download the app from?
Hello all. I’m pretty new to this android tv adventure. Could you please advice me why I get the pop up with information that file was downloaded to sdcard/Downloader /download file.bin? It won’t open. It was very cheap android box though. Maybe it’s not going to cope rate. I wpukd be very grateful for solution
browser.aftvnews.com it does not work to get the browser plug it says an unknown error has occurred. Check your url and connection and I’ve done that and nothing
downloader does not work on a tx2 box it will load the page i type in but will not bring up keyboard to sign in to my site where i have apk links stored………..again page loads but will not bring up keyboard same thing if i go to fb page will not bring up keyboard to log in…………please help & fix browser plugin thank you…….any other browsers that allow full screen on android box that will download apk’s?
Today April 24, 2018, just received MECOOL M8SProL using your video for setup and the browser plug in will not load at all. Keeps getting connection error. Even tried the url in the downloader and still error no connection.
doesn’t work……
Just says error:no connection
However there is a connection. You tube, Netflix, Hulu and everything else seems to have no issues with a connection. Just this.
Thank You, worked great
I have the x96 mini verison 7.1.2 and the play store does not have the downloader in side of it. then i try to side load it from their web page and message said not compatible . i have kodi already installed just needa the build and addons
Does anybody know if File Commander will work without going Premium? I have NO PROBLEM with donating to people that are providing good stuff, but I dont believe it will work for me. I cant seem to do much if anything without them having me stuck at GO PREMIUM, II can only exit out, states to see hidden files must go premium
My problem is that I have a New Westinghouse 55 inch ANDROID TV and Google wont allow me the APP /APPS I want, not even with DOWNLOADER, NOT with USB flash, so I dont think by giving money to File Commander is my problem, would absolutely if it worked, but I have tried multiple file transfers just wont work.
They Hate anything Aptoide, they allow me to open DOWNLOADER APP, who btw would make a donation to if it worked for me, I cant add ETERNAL TV APP, I have to settle for IPTV Smarters to run eternal tv, not as good
The above web address is not working foe me at all. I have the mi box. Can you please help me
The Browser Plug in can no longer be installed on the NVIDIA Shield. I tried everything. And yes the little lever in the Security Unknown Sources is clicked to allow Downloader access. Tried installing and uninstalling and clearing the cache a zillion times and every time I enter the browser.aftvnews.com it gives me the same error. “an unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection”. So my guess is one of the latest updates on the shield is responsible. Any suggestions would be appreciated before I toss the Shield into the trash and go back to a Fire Stick.
I installed downloader on my shield and then tried to install the browser. I get an error ‘the page you are trying to access is restricted’ . Any ideas?
Oh well good while it lasted. lots of people have the Nvidia Shield TV, but Downloader can no longer be installed, I think this should be mentioned that its not available anymore, rather than people spending hours trying to install it on the shield.
browser.aftvnews.com this link is not working anymore
Sorry, it should be working again.
The downloader installs on Nvidia shield through play store BUT the browser does not work. Tried typing in:
http://browser.aftvnews.com
(yes security is allowed) and I get the message:
“Error: No connection”
Sorry, it should be working again.
So I have the Mi Box 4 and following all the the steps and allowing access … I still get the error that Google has required the built in browser app to be removed. It’s a brand new box so I’m really hoping you have a solution or I’m gonna throw it against the wall cos my fire stick works brilliantly…
Hello sir really nice video and working properly I want to download aptoide store which was not install because browser not support
http://browser.aftvnews.com/ This link has stop working again
CAN YOU FIX IT thanks
Works fine for me. Can you give me more detail on what is happening?
Bonjour, j’ai télécharger Downloader sur Amazon firestick puis iptv smarters pro avec Downloader mais j’ai une ancienne version iptv smarters (2.2.1.1.) alors que maintenant c’est la version 2.2.2.3. j’ai désinstaller et réinstaller iptv smarters mais toujours l’ancienne version. Comment avoir la nouvelle version iptv smarters pro ? Merci pour votre réponse
Hello, I downloaded Downloader from Amazon firestick then iptv smarters pro with Downloader but I have an old version iptv smarters (2.2.1.1.) Whereas now it is version 2.2.2.3. i uninstall and reinstall iptv smarters but still the old version. How to get the new iptv smarters pro version? thank you for your reply
http://browser.aftvnews.com
Is not working.
“An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection”
HELP! I accidentally installed after when I was installing the downloaded app from firestick and I don’t want it. How do I delete it
iwhant
Verry Good Merci ça fonctionne bien même si j’ai du installé désinstallé plusieurs fois pour que cela prennent enfin.
Is not working.
“An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection”
Earlier the same was owned by troypoint?
Hi.
Trying to install plugin on my Nvidia (2017) and I’m getting Error: Forbidden…try this and that, all settings checked etc. Can you advise please.
J
When trying to install a downloaded file i get the following message “There was a problem while parsing the package” Does anyone know what this means or what the issue might be?
Major bug please help to fix it, videos are not playing in the app please please please do something about this and below
Can you add pop up block means the browser will ask if you want to redirect to another site like in puffin
Like when watching free online they send you to different site can you add the prompt of yes and no
Chromecast is not letting me change the restriction settings for unknown apps for Downloader
hy bryn here wen i try for plugin it comes up with error forbiden try using https but no gud can yoy help thanks bryn
On certain Android boxes the 3 lines favourite thing doesnt show up in the right hand corner and when you get one these boxes you cant navigate the round cursor on the webpage either you have to use the mouse function on your remote, any idea how to get round this? Mines a Tanix TX3 by the way, but it works ok on my other Tanix boxes of the same ANdroid version, cheers
My downloader app keeps saying connecting but won’t connect what can I do
me sale error numero 105 creo y me indica que el plugin a expirado por favor pronta solucion
My pointer not working on downloader don’t see the pointer caint scroll up or down what can I do
So why would you even want to attach you process to google.
it worked fine before.
Like google ain’t in enough places…
DANG
I use my browser plug-in for random miscellaneous downloads. It works well but sometimes won’t install.
I have apps I’ve downloaded.Irarely need it.
esta dando erro no meu browser plugin não esta abrindo fica dando mensagem que não esta atualizado o app
it’s giving an error in my browser plugin is not opening it keeps giving a message that the app is not updated
dbpb7654321@
Very useful app
“There was a problem while parsing the package.” Tried three times. Now what?