In this article, we have mentioned multiple ways to sideload apps on your Android TV. First, we will see how we can sideload apps wirelessly through Android smartphones and computers (Windows and macOS). Then we will show you how to sideload apps through a thumb drive. However, before that, we need to enable a toggle from the Settings page and download a file explorer on Android TV. So here is how it goes.

  1. Open the Play Store on your Android TV and search for Solid Explorer (Free, Offers in-app purchases). After that, install the app.

Sideload Apps on Android TV Wirelessly

In this wireless section, we will be using Send Files to TV app to send Android apps from Android and Windows devices. And for macOS, we will be using a native way (SFTP) to connect to Android TV. Following that, we can easily sideload apps on Android TV using Solid Explorer. Now let’s begin without any further delay.

Sideload Apps on Android TV using Android Smartphone

  1. On your Android TV and Android smartphone, launch the Play Store, and install Send Files to TV app (Free, Offers in-app purchases).

Sideload Apps on Android TV using a Windows PC

You can install Send Files to TV app on your Windows PC too. The developer has recently released the Windows app and it works flawlessly. So here is how you can send Android APKs and other files from your Windows PC to Android TV wirelessly. Thereafter, you can sideload apps from Solid Explorer.

  1. After that, choose your Android APK and then it will open a window where it will show your Android TV. Select your TV and click on the “Ok” button.

Sideload Apps on Android TV using macOS

Sideloading apps on an Android TV using Mac is not a very difficult task. All you need is a file explorer on your Android TV that can connect to SFTP servers, and an SFTP Server running on your Mac. Both of these can be achieved quite easily using Solid Explorer and macOS native settings. So just follow the steps below:

  • In the left column, check “File Sharing” and “Remote Login” and allow access for “All users“. Here you will find something on the lines of “ssh @”. Take note of the username and the IP address of your machine.

  • Now, you can download APK files on your Mac and they will be readily available on Solid Explorer. You can always find your Mac Server under the hamburger menu. Simply navigate to the APK file and directly open it to install the app. No need to copy and paste to your internal storage. So that’s how you can sideload apps on Android TV using Mac.

Sideload Apps on Android TV using USB Flash Drive

One of the easiest ways to sideload apps on your Android TV is by using a flash drive. You just need to copy the APK file for the app you want to install into the USB flash drive and then plug it into your Android TV. To do this, just follow the steps given below:

  • Plug the USB drive into the Android TV box, and launch Solid Explorer. Here, locate the USB drive under the hamburger menu and open it.

  • Certain companies also add a File Browser to their Android TVs and you can use that app just like Solid Explorer to sideload APKs onto your smart TV.