Turning on Apps from Unknown Sources on an Amazon Fire TV, Firestick, Fire TV Cube, or Fire TV Smart TV allows you to sideload app APKs onto the device from within another app, like Downloader. These instructions show you how to find Developer Options and allow the installation via side loading.
This guide was originally published in 2015 but has been updated in 2022 to include instructions for new Fire TV models, the new interface, and for devices with Developer options hidden.
2020 Interface (Latest)
If the main navigation menu on your Fire TV home screen is in the center of the screen, then your device has the 2020 interface and you may continue to the first step. Otherwise, if the main navigation menu on your Fire TV home screen is at the very top of the screen, scroll down to the 2015 interface section below.
- From the Fire TV home screen, scroll to Settings, which is the gear icon on the far right of the main navigation menu.
- Scroll down and select the “My Fire TV” menu if you are using a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Cube, or the “Device & Software” menu if you are using a Fire TV Smart TV.
- Select the “Developer options” menu. If “Developer options” is missing, then see this guide to reveal the menu before continuing with this guide.
- If the bottom option is labeled “Apps from Unknown Sources” then select it to turn it ON and you’re done. Otherwise, if the bottom option is labeled “Install unknown apps” then continue to the next step.
- Select the “Install unknown apps” menu option.
- Select the app name, such as Downloader, to allow that app to install app APK files.
2015 Interface
- From the Fire TV or Fire TV Stick’s home screen, scroll to “Settings”.
- Next, scroll to the right and select “My Fire TV”. (It may be listed as “Device” on older models)
- Next, scroll down and select “Developer options”. If “Developer options” is missing, then see this guide to reveal the menu before continuing with this guide.
- Then select “Apps from Unknown Sources” to turn the option to “ON”.
- Lastly, select “Turn On” from the popup message that appears.
2014 Interface
- From the Fire TV or Fire TV Stick’s home screen, scroll down to “Settings”.
- Next, scroll to the right and select “System”.
- Next, scroll down and select “Developer Options”.
- Then select “Apps from Unknown Sources” to turn the option to “ON”.
- Lastly, select “OK” on the popup message which appears.
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Not available on older firmwares? Or maybe all apps are allowed ?
Thanks
Mine don’t have that option
Mine dies not have that option either?
My new one doesn’t have developer option either
In the recent firestick OS update, you may not see the developer options under settings, so in order to become a developer now, go to Settings >> My Fire TV >> Now press the “Ok” button on the About option button 6-7 times and there you go you have now successfully unhide the developer option. Hope this helps
Thank you
Some firestick do no have a “My fire tv ” option
Hit the Ok button around 6 or 7 times and got a countdown “you are 3 steps away from being a developer, 2 steps etc”
Really cool hidden function. Have the developer option available now.
Thanks Nikki
good solution. Thank you!
Thank you so much bro
Thank you, was driving me nuts
I was curious if you ever fixed this I’m currently having same issue
Just do as the above comment and do it fast it works yay!!!
Amazon have hidden the developer options button. You have to click on my fire tv5 times and it opens up. Good luck
THanks
Thanks! It worked
Wowwweww. Amazon trying to stop side loaded apps. This method works. Was getting frustrated. Didnt even kno they can remove the feature!
Yes. Really we have to press 5 times on MY FIRE TV then developer options opens. This is just unbelievable. thanks Damien for figuring out. Sreeram.
install kodi on fire stick
Thank you. Merry Christmas.
William Evans
Can’t wait to install Kodi
i dont see apps from unknown on my fire stick
it’s not on my box either
Mine don’t have that option, what can I do please?
Nor is it on my Fire TV Rev. 1. I can’t even get Total Commander to see the USB drive.
I dont know how to get the apps onto the amazon fire tv….my daughter has no trouble getting apps to her roku
I was having problems with Kodi not playing movies or anything for that matter. I thought it had become corrupted somehow so decided to uninstall and then reinstall it. Did so but all addons vanished and now it’s saying need vpn to play movies. Haven’t got a clue wot to do. Anyone please help. Just got my firestick plugged into tv, only way I can do it.
You need to uninstall and run 17.6 with a current build.
I just installed FireStick and it will not allow me to install unknown apps. When I get to that point there is no turn on prompt.
thank you so much I couldnt get to unknow sources without your help.Every other video i tried to watch had me so confused
I am blocked on this firestick..will not allow me to move on after i enabled apps from unknown sources. How do I preceed
You guys should use android tv boxes. They are
Twice as fast
And hold the doubt or triple the ram. There’s a
Keyboard I get that’s amazing. Holds bigger builds and can lan In with Ethernet cable
I’d suggest. The km8p 16/2. I have some
And and I support not only kodi but help people with et support.
Im having problems everytime i watch a movie tge screen turns white a green robot pops up saying test and i have to start my movie all over if anyone can help me remove this its also not installed in the apps so idk what to do its gets annoying
I have downloaded a bunch of different techniques and programs and I still can not install programs and I STILL get “no streaming available ” have apps unknown sources on. I go to install ft ok m zip file and I can not install anything.
I have followed every instruction on associating my google account with fire stick. Still no joy. Can’t download anything as function not available at this tim. All my setting etc are as they should be. For the second time today I am re settin fire stick to factory setting. Been at it for six hours
Thanks! Saved me!
I cant get to my homescreen ,firestick,have no internet at home eithr n thought this was gonna work I checked all ways I could thing to ask..how 2..how2 f ya dont got internet how 2s f ya dont got an ethernetcord..I mean geesh what else can I do guys ..plz help n asap..
I have a gen 4 fire stick. Whenever I scroll to settings then to developers options and click on Apps from unknown sources it doesn’t show the pop up message for me to turn it on.
What seems to be the problem?
Bro,
I have purchased Amazon cube 2nd generation. In Devloper options I have only 2 options 1) ADB Debugging 2) install Unknow apps. I don’t have options call apps from Unknow sources. Please help
In my settings on my Firestick it doesn’t have the option apps from unknown saucers so I carnt turn it on?
First install an app that can install apps, like Downloader, and then the option will appear.
What app? How do I know what app to install?
It really helped me! Thank you so much!
When I download a file off of Downloader it says “for your security, your tv is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source”. I have a brand new fire tv cube
Same issue with cube. anyone know the fix ?
Having the same issues with the cube anyone able to find a loophole or anything like that?
Don’t open the downloader app until you have enabled download unknown sources to ON. Then make sure debugging is not enabled.
If you are missing Developer Options in your “My Fire TV” or “Device and Software”, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUIL7Y-bxoM
You can force Developer Options to appear by going to “About” within the above menus, whichever you have (my 32″ Insginia FireTV has the 2nd one) and selecting your device 7 times, but watch the video to see the exact method.
Thanks a lot for your advice, but unfortunately there is no my fire icon on menu settings, and I can’t find it any where…
I am trying to download http://bit.ly/gstvapp.
I get a message saying “storage permission required to store a file”. How do I do this?
I get a message saying “storage permission required to store a file”. How do I do this?
Hit firetv 5 times and developer options and the unknown sources
Okay people, i finally found out how to turn on developer mode. If you have a Fire OS 7.2.9.2 you have to go to:
Settings –> My Fire TV –> About –> Click Fire TV Stick 5 times –> Click back on remote –> Click developer mode under “About”
A message will pop up each time u click “My Fire Stick” in About tab. It’ll saying u are one-two-three-four steps closer to developer mode. I dont know why they made it so secretive but it worked for me finally. Hope it works for u guys too.
Awesome!!
I don’t have the option box of ‘my fire tv’… on my fire tv so I can’t install unknown apps. Anyone know how I get the option back as it was on but disappeared.
I don’t have my fire tv option. I did have but everything like devise and my fire tv isn’t available on my jvc fire tv
Trying to do a download but keep getting “Storage permission required to store files”. How to I get past this?
Follow this guide to reset app permissions and then be sure to accept permissions when you first launch the app again: https://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-reset-all-app-permission-notifications-on-amazon-fire-tv-firestick/
hi i dont have developer options in my settings so what do i do?
hi i dont have developer options in my settings so what do i do?
Great tutorial
2022 It doesn’t work with this model AMZ_K24NE5_4K55N400A
Fire OS 7.2.9.2.(PS7292/2984)
Hey I’m having trouble loading an app. I turned on my ADB debugging as well as install apps from unknown sources but I still get error message on downloader. Do anyone have any suggestions?
What if I don’t have developer options come up on the fire stick option?
Thanks for the info it worked a treat
do not show show “Developer options” in ‘My TV” button. i have firestick 4K MAX
Pressed about 6 times,came up with you are already a developer
One don’t have either option
Mine doesnt have developer options
there is NO DEVELOPERS OPTIONS MENU available on my device which I just bought.
i dont have a system tab in settings
I don’t have a system tab in settings and I don’t have the fire tv tab. I also cant hit ok because my remote does not have that either