ES File Explorer can once again directly download APK files, but not in the same way it did before. When ES File Explorer first appeared in the Fire TV appstore, it immediately became a popular app because you could use its “Favorites” feature to load a webpage within the app. You could then move a highlight cursor around the webpage and select files to download directly to the Fire TV. At some point, whether deliberately or unintentionally, ES File Explorer lost the ability to download APK files directly when selecting a link from a webpage loaded within the app. While APK files still don’t download within ES File Explorer when selecting a link on a webpage, the latest version has an updated Download Manager that can download APK files directly. The only catch is you have to enter the full URL to the APK file you want to download, which may be tedious due to long URLS. You can’t simply load a page and navigate to a download link. I have updated my sideloading guide that uses ES File Explorer to use the Download Manager, instead of using the workaround of finding a link to a zipped version of the APK.

ES File Explorer once again supports the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The developer emailed me last night to let me know that dropping support for Fire TV devices was a mistake. When they pushed their updated version of the app, they forgot to check off the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick as compatible devices. A new version of ES File Explorer has just gone live in the Amazon appstore and it is available on Fire TV devices once again. Read more ›

ES File Explorer, the popular file management app, is no longer compatible with the Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. It’s unknown if Amazon is responsible for removing the app or if the app’s developers have decided to drop support for Fire TV devices. ES File Explorer was just updated to version 4.1.2.2 and the update notes say it has a “brand new UI” and “a bunch of new features.” It’s possible the developers just haven’t tested these changes on the Fire TV yet, which would explain the dropped support. The previous version of ES File Explorer was barely compatible with Fire TV devices and was very difficult to navigate without a mouse and keyboard. Read more ›

The file browser app ES File Explorer has a unique characteristic that no other official Fire TV or Fire TV Stick app posses. It is the only official app that can load a URL you enter and download a file. While that may seem insignificant to some of you, it’s important because that ability of ES FIle Explorer means it’s possible to sideload apps on Fire TV devices without needing anything external like a PC, a thumb drive, or a microSD card. It is by no means the most efficient way to sideload apps, but it is the most popular way because it can be done from your couch with just the Fire TV remote control. At some point, ES File Explorer lost the ability to directly download APK files from a website loaded in its built-in browser. There are thankfully a couple solutions to work around this new limitation, so I have updated my sideloading guide that uses ES File Explorer accordingly. Read more ›