Amazon has stated the USB port on the Fire TV Stick is “for power only”. That’s not entirely accurate. I’ve discovered that connecting to the Fire TV Stick via ADB using a USB cable is possible and fully functional. Simply plug the Fire TV Stick’s USB “power” cable into a Mac or Linux computer, open a terminal window, run the command adb start-server, and then run the command adb devices to see that the Fire TV Stick is detected as a connected device. I was able to sideload apps and navigate the file system as you would expect with any ADB connected device.
Due to the lack of drivers, I was not able to make this work with a Windows computer. I tried installing Amazon’s Fire Drivers, but still had no luck. Currently there isn’t much you can do via ADB over USB that you can’t already do via ADB over Wifi, but this does confirm the USB port is alive. Having a functional USB port may lead to future abilities that have yet to be uncovered.
Update
Thanks to a tip in the comments from ges, Windows users can install MoboRobo, an Android Phone Manager, in order to get drivers for the Fire TV Stick. Install MoboRobo, then plug in your Fire TV Stick and it will detect and install drivers. Be sure to exit MoboRobo before trying to connect to the Fire TV Stick via ADB. You can also uninstall MoboRobo once your Fire TV Stick is working in Windows and the drivers will remain. Note that MoboRobo will install some junk apps on your Fire TV Stick.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Has anybody tried connecting a mouse or keyboard thru a Y OTG cable. But not the regular OTG setup but more like the HP TouchPad style of setup (The HP TouchPad can’t power itself on OTG)…
All the possible styles are listed here… http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1582771
BTW, love the Young Frankenstein picture…
Something like this… http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1419182&d=1350824252
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=33077536&postcount=7
Although I am looking for something that does not require the USB HUB since I only want to connect a Logitech mouse. And one that will let us use the FTV Sticks USB Power Adapter…
Which I think this would do: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-USB-Host-OTG-Cable-W-USB-power-for-i9100-i9300-i9220-i9250-N7100-XOOM/151235171579
Well it seems … Hosting capabilities is not part of it…
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=72107534&postcount=2211
Darn… The only option might be to demand Amazon to add Mouse support to the Remote app…
That’s too bad if it doesn’t support hosting, I was hoping that a split OTG cable might let me use an IR dongle so I could use my Harmony remote with the FireTV Stick.
I purchased a mini bluetooth keyboard with a mouse pad on it. It connected instantly. Works fine.
That’s “Frankenstein.”
Try with kingoroot http://www.kingoapp.com/ to see if you can root it.
I tried it. It didn’t root the Fire TV Stick.
try this other
http://www.mgyun.com/en/GetVRoot
i use with many tv box and hdmi stick. is an attempt to try some alternative exloits
To install adb drivers for windows, install first moborobo http://www.moborobo.com it will install the drivers automatically in windows. i use it to install drivers for all my chinese hdmi sticks.
hi ges, my fire stick in stuck in a boot loop. any tips that can help me reprogram or get it out of that loop?
Sorry for posting this question here, but, can I create an account in the site?
Not yet. I plan to upgrade the comment system on the site soon to allow account creation and more.
Great!! Thanks.
Sorry for the noob question but would this allow a factory restore? I made the dumb mistake of side loading settings.apk and then turning of Bluetooth. As one might expect the remote not longer works.
I did the same thing. I ended up retuning it for another one at best buy. I could not find an adb shell command to enable it again. DOH…
You could have used the Android app on the phone to control the Fire TV Stick and just run settings again to turn BT back on. Don’t forget to use that app, it’s really useful. I use it for typing in XBMC when messing with repositories, etc.
Get the fire stick remote app for your phone. It allows you to control the fire stick over wifi. I accidentally did the same thing but was able to use my phone to turn Bluetooth back on.
This should help you re-enable bluetooth: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-remotely-control-an-amazon-fire-tv-or-fire-tv-stick-via-adb/
So is there a safe way to use a BT keyboard with a fire TV stick? Is there a guide for this?
This method of using the MotoRobo program with a USB cable to install the settings APK is very slick. It totally replaces the ADB connect method. After you install then launch the settings app, you’ll see the Bluetooth selection submenu. If you avoid turning off Bluetooth here, and just search for and pair the keyboard, you’ll never have to worry about turning off Bluetooth again. The option to turn off Bluetooth is only available in the settings app. After you’ve paired the keyboard, you will have both the remote and the keyboard available for use.
Question is there an alternative to powering the fire stick without plugging into a power outlet? When I use the USB port, the stick keeps boot-looping.
Hi,
i got one and i will install kodi on it :)
i’m runnin linux mint 17 kde, i need a few addons on kodi that i can get only through “install from zip” so can i connect the AFTVS with the usg-cable and put some zip files somewhere, where kodi can access them?
someone knows which kodi version is the best for the AFTVS?
thx
Whiterat from XDA found a whitelist!
Is this helpfull?
Can we edit this?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58597234&postcount=14
Thanks so much for this useful program.
Searched for hours to find ways in install
Firestarter for fire tv stick. As I was unable through all the other was on the Internet.
Gem of a program…
What do I need to install Kodi using an Vga to hdmi converter box, or can I use usb to HDMI to jail break using a windows computer?
Hi. I have a fire tv stick that keeps rebooting and won’t load the home. Just the options on the left side of the screen. The remote does not respond either. A friend asked me to see if I can restore it. Any ideas how to restore it?
you need to put it into the microwave for 3 seconds. dont leave it in any longer; just 3 seconds!
when you plug it back into your tv, it should have restored to facory settings.
Has any one been able to change the settings to allow other (not blessed) USB devices based on the following?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58597234&postcount=14
“`
CONFIG_USB_OTG=y
CONFIG_USB_OTG_WHITELIST=y
“`
Hey there, anyone know the best powered otg cable I can buy to expand fire stick memory…?
Tried using moborobo to connect fire stick; no luck. Didn’t recognize it.
My issue is that I have a firestick; lost remote like a year ago, have been using the mobile remote and then router broke a few days ago. Can’t access network settings on the firestick to get it connected to new wifi credentials.
Any suggestions short of buying a new remote? I tried someone else’s remote and it wouldn’t pair.
If you have access to someone else’s remote, keep trying to pair it since it doesn’t always work the first try. Power on the Stick, then once you see the Home screen, press and hold the home button on the remote for 10 seconds. If it doesn’t work, vary how long you hold the home button and when you start to press it.
use the amazon fire tv android app or apple app from the stores … simples
I am having the same issue… it isn’t simple because you have to be on the same network for the fire app to work. If his router broke it is on the same network so he is suck… like me
isn’t on the same network*
just set the router ssid and password the same as the old router. and it should connect the same as before.
hello, I istalled moborobo, connected my firestick to my pc, imported addon files and as mentioned, I exited from moborobo. Now when I connect firestick to tv, it does not turn on. It does connects back to pc again. Have anyone had this problem?
No matter what I do, my windows 7 pc, won’t recognize the firestick when I plug it into the usb port. I’ve downloaded drivers, mobo, adb, etc. It’s not that I am trying to recognize the Firestick itself, but, as an “other device”. I would expect that windows would give me at least a message saying “Unrecognized device connected, do you wish to search for drivers…”, but, I get nothing, yet when I plug it into the TV hdmi port, it works fine, so I know it’s working. All help appreciated.
You dont need to install MotoRobo, the Andoid Driver is available in the winusb folder of the adblink software (C:\adbLink\winusb) :- https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=457095661767121563.
see here :- http://www.jocala.com/usbdriver/
Awesome, thanks!!
Windows 10 and adblink just plug and play, very slow but 100% success rate
Sweet! I’m going to give that a try.
I’m going to try to connect it to my windows pc running win 10. I need to get into the files via apkeditor pri, I can’t view it on my TV due to the size/calibration issue. Anyone here have any experience with apkeditor pro?
thanks-
San