LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Smart TVs are significantly more engaging compared to their less-smart siblings and they can be used for a variety of activities, including web browsing, gaming, video calling, and more.
Particularly, Apps for open systems like Android can enhance these activities.
The availability of video material on websites like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ has raised demand for smart TVs.
According to industry statistics, practically every American family has at least one TV, while some estimates indicate that more than 80% of people in the country either have a smart TV or a streaming device connected to an older TV.
Due to their accessibility and low price, Google’s Android TV and Amazon’s Fire OS are two of the most widely used platforms.
You can install Android apps on Fire OS and Android TV to broaden your horizons.
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You can still install Android apps despite the fact that certain TV companies utilize a generic Android-based interface rather than one specific to their platforms in order to avoid paying license fees for Android TV.
The various ways to install Android apps on a smart TV are demonstrated in this guide.
Notably, these techniques are not compatible with smart TVs that use non-Android TV interfaces as Roku, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Apple tvOS, or Samsung’s Tizen.
Installing Android apps on a smart TV (or TV stick) that uses Google’s Android TV or the more recent Google TV interface is possible in a variety of ways.
The easiest of them is to use the built-in app store to install an Android app.
Screens with an Android TV or Google TV interface come pre-installed with the Google Play Store, just like an Android smartphone or tablet.
Search for the app in the Google Play Store on your Android phone, then choose the TV from the list of supported devices to install it.
Make sure the TV and your smartphone are linked to the same Google account in order for the TV to show up on this list.
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The app can also be downloaded by directly searching for it on Android TV. On your Android TV, select the Google Play Store under the Apps heading.
On the Google TV interface, the procedure is easier because you can look up apps right from the Apps menu.
Notably, Google requires manufacturers to pay a specific certification cost per unit, thus not all Android-powered smart TVs come with Android TV or the Google Play Store preinstalled.
You might have to manually sideload the APK file onto the TV in this situation by utilizing one of the techniques listed below to download and install it.
Using a USB drive, install Android applications on a smart TV (Part1)
The majority of smart TVs have USB connectors, enabling you to play media from a thumb drive or a USB hard drive. Sideloading apps onto the TV is also possible using the same USB port.
APK installer files for Android, which are similar to EXE files on Windows, are required to start the installation process. These files can be downloaded from reputable internet repositories like APKMirror.
We advise against downloading APK files from unreliable sources since they could be corrupted or infected with viruses or malware.
When searching for the desired app on APKMirror, keep in mind that Android apps designed for smartphones and tablets might not function well on larger screens, as on a TV.
Therefore, make sure you download the app that is appropriate for smart TV, which is indicated by the TV icon next to the software package’s name.
Transmit the most recent version of the application you downloaded from your PC to a USB device.
Then, the APK file should be transferred to the USB drive using a dongle if you downloaded it on your smartphone.
