Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by Ethan Parker
Downloader is the free sideloading app that lets a Firestick install programs Amazon's own store does not carry, and it is one of the few tools of its kind that already sits in the Amazon App Store, so no jailbreak is needed to get it. This guide installs Downloader on Firestick in about five minutes, turns on the one permission it needs to install files, and shows how Surfshark VPN keeps the apps you sideload private and your connection fast.
Table of Contents
Install Downloader on Firestick in Five Steps [Short Steps]
Get Downloader running on your Firestick in five steps:
- Get Surfshark VPN and install the Fire TV app from the same Amazon App Store; one plan then covers every device in the house.
- From the Firestick home screen, open Find and choose Search.
- Type Downloader, select the app from AFTVnews, and press Get.
- Wait for the small download, press Open, and click OK on the welcome screen.
- Open Settings, then My Fire TV, then Developer Options, and switch Install unknown apps on for Downloader.
Those five moves finish the install. The rest of this guide covers what Downloader actually does, the settings worth changing, and the fixes for the moments when the app hides from search or refuses to open.
What Is the Downloader App on Firestick?
Downloader is a small, free app made by AFTVnews that turns a Fire TV device into a sideloading machine. You type a web address or a short code into its address bar, and it fetches the file and hands the install straight to Android. The current V2 build puts a full browser on the home screen, so one box now handles plain web addresses, six-digit codes, and even Google searches, and a built-in mouse cursor means you can scroll and click without a paired keyboard. It also keeps a Favorites tab for the sources you trust and a Files tab that lists every APK you downloaded. Because the app itself ships through the Amazon App Store, installing Downloader never voids a warranty and never needs a workaround.
There is one hard limit worth knowing before you start. Downloader runs on Fire OS and other Android systems, so it works on Fire TV Sticks, Fire TV Cubes, Android TV boxes, Google TV boxes, and Android phones. It does not run on Roku or Apple TV, which use their own systems, and it cannot sideload on the newest Amazon hardware such as the Fire TV Stick Select, which runs the newer Vega OS. On those devices the app may install but the file-install step stays blocked, so plan around an older or standard Fire TV Stick if sideloading is the goal.
Why Pair Surfshark VPN With Downloader on Firestick
The files you pull through Downloader come from the open web, and Amazon does not review them the way it reviews store listings. That matters for two reasons. First, many free streaming APKs are funded by ads and trackers that log your IP address and build a profile around it. Second, internet providers can see which addresses you reach and often slow down the large downloads that sideloading creates. A VPN fixes both problems at once, because the provider only sees one encrypted tunnel and the app sees a server address instead of your home address.
Surfshark VPN fits this job well on a Firestick. Its Fire TV app installs from the Amazon App Store just like Downloader, one subscription covers unlimited devices, and CleanWeb blocks the ad and malware domains that clip-heavy APK sites are famous for. Switch to a nearby server for the fastest file transfers, and keep the kill switch on so a dropped tunnel never exposes your real address. As always, check your local laws and the service's Terms of Service before you install anything.
How to Install Downloader on Firestick
Downloader reaches a Fire TV device in one of two ways. The store method works for almost everyone, and the manual route is the backup for an older Stick whose search results look empty.
Method 1: Amazon App Store (Fastest)
- From the Firestick home screen, move to Find and open Search.
- Type Downloader, or hold the Alexa button and say the name out loud.
- Pick Downloader by AFTVnews from the list, not a look-alike app with a similar icon.
- Press Get and wait for the small download to finish.
- Press Open and click OK when the welcome message appears.
Method 2: Turn On Install Unknown Apps
Downloader can fetch files the moment it opens, but Fire OS still blocks the install until you allow it.
- Open Settings from the Firestick home row.
- Choose My Fire TV, then About, then click your device name seven times until Fire OS says you are a developer.
- Go back and open Developer Options.
- Select Install unknown apps and switch Downloader to on.
- Reopen Downloader and type a short code or web address to test it.
Method 3: When Downloader Is Missing From Search
- Open Settings, then My Fire TV, then About, and check for a system update; older Fire OS builds hide some listings.
- On a computer or phone, sign in to Amazon, find Downloader, and choose Deliver to your registered Fire TV device.
- Restart the Firestick, then look under Your Apps and Channels for the icon.
Downloader Settings Worth Changing
Downloader works fine the moment it opens, but a few switches decide how smooth your sideloading sessions feel. Open the app, tap the menu, and go to Settings to find them.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| APK auto-install | Off until you trust a source | Stops a stray link from installing software without a confirmation screen. |
| JavaScript | On (default) | Many download pages and short-code redirects need it to load the file link. |
| Install unknown apps | On for Downloader only | Keeps the permission narrow instead of opening every app to sideloading. |
| Favorites | Save your trusted sources | Skips retyping long addresses and keeps you off copycat pages. |
| Delete all files | After each big install | Clears leftover APKs, which matters on a Stick with tight storage. |
Menu labels can move between releases, so look under Settings if a switch is not where you expect it.
Fix Downloader When It Will Not Install or Open
Most Downloader problems trace back to one of three things: the device cannot sideload at all, the unknown-apps permission is off, or a download page is serving a broken link. Work through the matching row before you reinstall anything.
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Downloader app not found on a brand new Stick | The Fire TV Stick Select runs Vega OS and cannot sideload; use a standard Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max instead. |
| “TV is not allowed to install unknown apps” | Open Developer Options and turn on Install unknown apps for Downloader, then retry the file. |
| “Unknown error has occurred” | Clear the Downloader cache, force stop it, and try a different mirror of the same link. |
| App opens to a black screen | Clear the app data, update Downloader, or restart the Firestick to free a stuck process. |
| File downloads but will not install | Delete old APKs for storage, confirm the file is an Android build, and check the version against your Fire OS. |
| Downloader gone after an update | Find it again under Your Apps and Channels, or reinstall it from the Amazon App Store. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Downloader free on Firestick?
Yes. The app costs nothing and is supported by donations, and you install it from the official Amazon App Store with no card and no subscription. The programs you sideload with it are separate downloads with their own terms.
Is Downloader safe to use on Firestick?
The app itself is safe and does not host content. The risk sits in what you choose to download, because third-party files are not reviewed by Amazon, so stick to sources you trust and pair the app with Surfshark VPN to encrypt the traffic.
Do I need a VPN to use Downloader?
No, but a VPN helps. It hides your real IP address from the sites you pull files from, blocks the trackers those sites load, and stops your provider from slowing the large downloads that sideloading creates.
Does Downloader work on a Fire TV Stick Select or Roku?
No. Devices running Vega OS, such as the Fire TV Stick Select, block sideloading, and Roku and Apple TV use closed systems that Downloader cannot reach. Use a standard Fire TV Stick, an Android TV box, or a Google TV box for sideloading.
Do I have to jailbreak my Firestick to install Downloader?
No. Downloader is a normal app in the Amazon App Store, so there is nothing to root or unlock. You only change one Fire OS setting, Install unknown apps, and that switch is part of the standard menu.
Final Thoughts
Downloader turns a cheap Firestick into a device that can run far more than the Amazon store offers, and the install itself takes minutes. The part most walkthroughs rush is the setting that actually lets the file install and the privacy that keeps those downloads clean, which is where Surfshark VPN earns its place on the same device. Get the app, flip on Install unknown apps, run Surfshark VPN on a nearby server, and you are ready to sideload with confidence.
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