Last week, I fired up a “how to make your first app” video on YouTube and I made my first app for the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. It’s called Downloader and it just got approved into the Fire TV appstore. Downloader’s purpose is to make sideloading apps on the Fire TV as easy as possible. The app simply has a URL field where you enter the URL of any file you want downloaded to your device. After the file has downloaded, it will automatically be installed if it’s an APK file. That’s it.
Being my first app, it’s nothing fancy (and probably buggy), but it does the job of sideloading Kodi, SPMC, or any APK file without needing anything but your Fire TV remote. Downloader achieves that task quicker and simpler than ES File Explorer, which is currently the most popular way to sideload apps, and that was my main goal with the app. I hope to find time to add additional features to the app in the near future. If you need it, you can find my guide to using the app here.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Thank you! Sweet app! It would be cool if in an update you added a list of links to downloads for popular apps to make one click side loading even easier without typing
I definitely considered doing that, but I didn’t because that would make the app too much like an appstore, which may have had it rejected. I wanted to start with the bare-minimum set of features so that it didn’t have issues being approved. When I have time, I’ll add additional features.
Hey Elias,
I think it’s safe to assume that a few download shortcuts are alright.
Firestarter has had a Kodi downloader for ages, and even after Amazon’s intervention and the app being renamed to Appstarter its download and update routines remained untouched.
It’s not being blocked by Amazon that’s I’m worried about. It’s being removed from the Fire TV appstore.
I am also unable to get downloaded app in my fire tv stick purchased last night only
Add dokan battle to this please I want to play it on my amazon fire so I’m never board
Good idea Mitch, though it would require more frequent updating by Elias.
You could load a custom links list from a text file and just split the contents;
Kodi:URL
Spm:URL
To have it faster without hard coding it in also?
Again having a popular thing is good but if its hard coded and the URL changes its a lot of work to just change a link.
Very cool. Congrats on the app and thanks, Elias, for all that you do for the FTV community.
Thanks!
Very nice! A much needed app Elias…
I only hope that in the future apps like this don’t run afoul of Amazon’s corporate policies whatever they may be at that time…
You wouldn’t always have to update the app if you just make the most recent version the same URL. Make the people who want specifically older versions of Kodi or whatnot type out a longer URL then.
Do you plan on making this open source? While I may never get round to it, I think there are things which could be implemented to make things easier e.g. HTTP server for downloading or accepting remote URLs from a desktop browser.
The app is so rudimentary, I don’t see the point of making it open source at this point, but maybe in the future if it grows. Besides, it’s not like there’s much there to build off of. I’m sure any real Android developer can recreate this app in an hour or two.
If anyone reading this wants to improve on my simple concept, I encourage you to make/publish your own app and I’ll be more than happy to write about.
Fantastic, thank you Elias !!!
My suggestion would be to interface your app to the apkmirrior site and allow searches and one-click download from ApkMirror
That would get it removed from Amazon’s app store.
I agree. My intention is not to make this app like an appstore. It’s more of a file manager that can install APKs, just like the numerous other file managers in the Fire TV appstore. Maybe after I get better at Android development I’ll try releasing another app thats core is to be an appstore alternative, just to see if Amazon approves it.
Nice work, bud!
Keep up the good work!
Can you provide a link to the make your own app video you mentioned? Thanks
+1
+1. If you can upload the project source code that would be much appreciated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-k5gwz_91o
There are probably better videos. This just happens to be the one I clicked on.
Ive looked for it on my firstick apps, but cant seem to locate it, although the stick doesnt make it easy to find apps, with its catergories liketv, education, business etc……
Just search for: Downloader
Awesome work man! Thanks for all the hard work.
Would this work to get Vudu?
Yes, you could use it to sideload Vudu, but there’s no point because the Vudu app doesn’t work on the Fire TV.
Google Play for the Shield ?
is it possible to make this app download and install many apks inside a folder instead of just 1? I tried doing it using dropbox and it looks like it downloads them all but then gives a parse error at the install part.
I think a very useful feature would be to have a bookmark feature. Then, whoever wants to can just upload current versions of their apps that they commonly install on FireTVs onto an FTP server and just bookmark the root of the folder that contains all the apks. I am already doing this with ES File explorer, but it does not have the feature of automatically installing. On that note, how does this program handle zipped apks? Does it unzip, then auto install??
I just tested the app in combination with the official Fire TV Remote Control app.
And I can happily confirm that address input via Fire TV app works fine, saving even more time.
By the way, using KdeConnect to sync clipboards across devices saves even more time ;-)
Hi there
first of all good work really like what you have done here kept it simple so it gets passed
can i make a suggestion couldnt be bothered to read through all the comments but i would suggest to have a built in file explorer but keep it simple again
maybe even if under the address bar and download you have another tab call open es file explorer downloads
or create your own file manager
has this been removed? Cant find it anywhere?
You can use HFS to server files from PC to Fire TV
http://www.rejetto.com/hfs/
example http://192.168.1.2/somefile.apk
Can you make it so browser can funny screen so you can watch videos in full screen.
I have a question. I reset my fire stick to factory settings. Then I went to settings and turned ADB and all that jazz. Then I downloaded the down loader. When I type it the url for kodi it proceeds to tell me connection error even though I am connected to the internet. Ive tried downloading kodi form ES explore, and I’ve been at this for 2 hours with no resolve. What is my problem ???
I have the issue as the commenter above. Trying to download Kodi and it just says connecting and never downloads anything. Any ideas?
I have the issue as the commenter above. Trying to download Kodi and it just says connecting and never downloads anything. Any ideas?
Did anyone figure out what to do if this problem occurs?? Please help
Anyone get a reply? Same issue stuck on connecting.
Me too….any fix?
Great app!!!!!
One thing, is there a way to load this app on a Android phone.
I side load multiple applications to the FireTV and Sticks.
Can not find this specific app in the App store
Any suggestions.
Thank you
when using downloader and after typing in the htpp:// path for kodi 17 instead of seeing download i see go. When i click on it, it throws me back out to downloader screen. I also see go when i am typing the path instead of next when done. Never had this problem before on other firetv boxes. Any help would be great
on the downloader screen where you type in ural(http://) instead of download i have GO in the area where download should be. when i type the path and click on go it takes me back to downloader, why is this like that, i have downloader on other amazons and none have this Go where the download should be
Did you ever get an answer to this question? Mine is doing the same and I can’t find info anywhere.
Any good url’s from anyone, a file explorer as mentioned would be great
Any good url-s from anyone, a file-explorer as mentioned would be great
2ND DOWNLOAD OF DOWNLOADER TO UPDATE MY BOSS’S FIRESTICK & I CAN’T GET THE KEY BOARD POP UP. WHEN I OPEN THE APP, I GET THE ADDRESS FIELD, A “GO” BUTTON, A REQUEST FOR FUNDING AND THE KEYBOARD LETTER UNDER. I CAN’T GET TO THE KEYBOARD AT THE BOTTOM, WHEN I CLICK ON THE URL SECTION, NOTHING HAPPENS.
@aftvnews
Any chance we could have the .apk file to try on the Nvidia Shield TV please ??
Thanks
Yes I love it but need it for my Nvidia Shield TV PLEASE
I can search for downloader, click on it and it shows in the store, but then clicking on the downloader app just gives a black screen. Can’t go any further than that. Rebooted the fire stick several times, can’t get past this point to actually install Downloader.
Downloaded loads Kodi the first , when I go out and come back it wants me to reload Kodi again. Tried reloading downloaded but same thing happens every time. What am I doing wrong? I guess I will have go back to the old way.
Anyway to make the screen not time out when leaving a website up. We use it as a dashboard. By the way amazing product the only app that I can get display a website full screen.
There is no way within the app, but if you disable both the sleep and screensaver timer on the Fire TV, it should achieve what you want. Here are instructions:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-set-custom-sleep-or-screensaver-times-on-the-amazon-fire-tv-or-stick-without-root/
Also, this new app was just released that claims to display a web page in full screen. I haven’t tried it, but might be worth checking out for you:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XWVMDT/?tag=aftvn-20
Your the best. I think I forgot to disable sleep.
Does ANYONE have this APK to download? I’ve found this app to be very useful on the FTV box for more than what many use it for. I would like to put it on my Shield box. But it does not come up when I install the Amazon App store
I found it, nevermind
How do I download the app on my android box
Is this available on the play store?
Very well could be opperator error, but I can’t get video to play from a site. Could it be a flash problem?
I have got this app on my firestick but mine says go instead of download? Is there a problem with it
I’ve deleted and reinstalled the app a few timea but every time I try and download something it gets stuck on “connecting” and never progresses. What gives?
Every time i try to download something it gets stuck on connecting. Can you give me some help so I can get past this?
I have the same issue. Did anyone figure it out
Your app no longer works with Fire TV 3 (4K). Please update
The new fire tv dongle has Downloader issues. Keeps telling me there’s no app to help with that when I try to download Kodi. I tried rebooting and reinstalling. Also tried without Downloaded and the .apk programs won’t install. Any suggestions?
I am also unable to get downloaded app in my fire tv stick purchased last night only
Also unable to access g drive on es file explorer giving error 303
Can some pls help
Unable to download downloaded app neither able to access g drive
Hi,
Wonder if you can help when I use your downloader app on the new fire tv stick 4k I get an error
Error: Unknown server error. Try again in a few seconds
I use hfs http file server software to store all my apk’s on a windows machine.
It never had this error with older fire tv sticks so I wondered if you could point me in the right direction of the problem??
Many thanks
I’ve tried downloading apps on three different fire TV 4k sticks and the page only flashes
Is this anything to do with Amazon still being childish about Google?
Apparently my downloader app updated and when i enter the url for the app i need downloaded it takes me to a new version of the apps which is called app box, i can not get past it to get what i need downloaded.
I’m having trouble downloading from the url page. Once I type in the url and press go I get Error: no connection. Please help!
Just got my new 4k fire stick 2 days ago. After installing downloader, I keep getting “unknown error occurred” when I try to download anything. It works fine on my “Gen 1” fire stick but not on this one. After talking to Amazon, they said that they updated the root on the new system. Any help would be appreciated.
I tried downloading a new app using your downloader app. It’s stating the license have expired. I was told to uninstall and reinstall. unfortunately, I deleted downloader and unable to get it back. I’m to scared to do a hard reboot.
I was able to download downloader on my firestick but when I go to connect to the url it gives me error “trouble parsing the package” I have followed all of the directions and suggestions given, I have a Vizio smart tv and want to be able to connect with Kodi it starts connecting and after it is half way through it gives me the error. Any help would be grateful