The guide below shows you how to jailbreak a Firestick in 2026: what the term actually means, whether it still works on your specific hardware, and the exact steps to get third party apps installed.
All Amazon Fire TV devices come loaded with Amazon’s official app store, which contains apps and games Amazon has approved. To install third-party applications that aren’t in that store, you need to jailbreak your Firestick to give yourself access.
Which Amazon Fire TV Hardware Can Be Jailbroken?
The guide below applies to most Amazon Fire TV hardware, including the Fire TV Stick, Cube, and older Fire TV Stick 4K models. The operating system loaded onto most Fire TV devices is the same across the lineup, which makes the steps below consistent no matter which one you own.
One exception: newer devices running Amazon’s Vega OS, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, block sideloading by default and the standard method below won’t work on them (there’s a partial workaround covered later in this guide, but it’s not reliable). If sideloading matters to you, buy an older Fire TV Stick model (or an Android TV box) instead of a Vega OS device.
Reasons to Jailbreak Firestick Devices
1. Install Any Application
The Amazon App Store is nice, but there are a ton of third party applications for your Fire TV that can be installed once you have extra options.
Not sure where to begin? We have some examples of third party applications you can install once you jailbreak your Firestick at the bottom of this guide.
2. Configure More Settings on the Fire TV
Once you enable jailbreak on the Amazon Firestick, you will be able to see developer and advanced options you didn’t have access to before.
This also means that if you follow another Firestick guide, your screen will look the same as theirs when they describe it.
3. Support Open Platform Hardware
The base Amazon operating system that ships on the Fire TV restricts access to certain features and limits your ability to customize the device. Jailbreaking gives you access to the full OS as it was designed.
Is It Illegal to Jailbreak a Firestick?
No. Jailbreaking itself, meaning changing a settings toggle so your Fire TV can install apps from outside the Amazon App Store, is completely legal. You’re not rooting the device, hacking it, or breaking any agreement with Amazon. Compared to jailbreaking an iPhone, it’s a much simpler process, since Amazon builds a method for accessing this into the software itself.
Where things get more complicated is what you do afterward. Some third-party apps you might install after jailbreaking give access to copyrighted content without proper licensing. Whether that’s legal depends on the app, the content, and where you live. Jailbreaking your Firestick isn’t illegal. Streaming pirated content through an app you installed after jailbreaking can be, so it’s worth knowing what any app you install actually does before you rely on it.
How to Jailbreak a Firestick in 2026: Step by Step
The whole process takes about five minutes.
Step 1: Install the Downloader App
From the Fire TV home screen, search for and install Downloader (published by AFTVnews) from the Amazon App Store. This is the tool you’ll use to actually get other apps onto your device once sideloading is enabled, so install it first.
Step 2: Unlock Developer Options
- Go to Settings
- Click on My Fire TV (some older models show this as Device)
- Click on About
- Select your device name and click it 7 times in a row. You’ll see a countdown message appear. Keep clicking until it confirms you’re now a developer.
Step 3: Enable Unknown Apps for Downloader
- Click the back button on your remote to return to the Settings screen
- Click My Fire TV, then Developer Options
- Click Install Unknown Apps
- Select Downloader from the list and toggle it ON. You’ll see a warning about the risks of installing apps from outside the official store. Click Turn On to continue.
Step 4 (Optional): Lock Down Your Privacy Settings
This step isn’t required to jailbreak your Firestick, but it’s worth doing while you’re in the settings menu:
- Go to Settings > Preferences > Privacy Settings
- Toggle both Device Usage Data and Collect App Usage Data to OFF
- Go back to Preferences and click Data Monitoring
- Turn Data Monitoring OFF
Congratulations. You’ve jailbroken your Firestick and can now install third party applications on your Amazon Fire TV hardware.
If you have a Fire TV Stick 4K Select or another Vega OS device and the 7-tap method above doesn’t unlock Developer Options, Downloader has a “Get a Token” option built in that sometimes works around the restriction. It doesn’t work on every device, and there’s no guaranteed fix right now if it fails on yours.
I Have a Jailbroken Firestick: Now What?
Install an Alternative App Store
Sideloading apps one at a time through Downloader works, but it gets old fast. Most people install an alternative app store next, which gives you a browsable library of apps instead of hunting down individual APK links. Aptoide is a solid, established option, and our AppLinked codes list is worth a look too if you want curated app collections instead of a general store.
Firestick Apps to Install On a Jailbroken Fire TV
How to Install Kodi on Fire Stick: this guide walks through installing Kodi the correct way. Once it’s installed, check out our home page for addon and configuration guides.
How to Install the Downloader App: a closer look at the app you just installed in Step 1, including how to use it to sideload other APKs directly by URL. Amazon Fire TV doesn’t come with a web browser, so Downloader also doubles as a basic way to browse the web.
How to Install the Aptoide App Store: Aptoide is a third party app store with a large catalog of apps. Once you’ve jailbroken your Firestick, Aptoide makes installing everything else a lot easier. Our guide covers some of the apps worth grabbing first.
Consider a Debrid Service
If you plan to use Kodi or similar streaming apps on your jailbroken Firestick, a debrid service like Real Debrid or Premiumize can make streams faster and more reliable. It’s an extra step, not a requirement, but it’s common enough after jailbreaking that it’s worth knowing about. Our Real Debrid vs. Premiumize vs. AllDebrid comparison breaks down which one fits your setup.
Let us know on Twitter or Facebook if we can help you out.
PROTECT YOURSELF ON THE INTERNET
Since you’re now installing apps from outside the Amazon App Store, it’s worth signing up for a premium VPN before you start streaming. We recommend NordVPN, which is our top pick for Firestick users right now, or IPVanish as an alternative. Both offer exclusive discounts and share the same core features:
Apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Linux & more
Zero Logs
Unlimited bandwidth
Tier 1 hardware (no speed slowdown)
Access to hundreds of VPN servers
Firestick Jailbreak FAQ
Will Jailbreaking Void My Firestick’s Warranty or Break the Device?
No. Jailbreaking a Firestick just enables a settings toggle that Amazon built into the software. It doesn’t modify the hardware or void your warranty, and it won’t brick your device.
Can I Undo a Firestick Jailbreak?
Yes. Go back into Developer Options and toggle Install Unknown Apps back off for any app you enabled it for, or do a factory reset if you want to remove everything you’ve sideloaded and start over.
Do I Need a VPN to Jailbreak a Firestick?
No, a VPN isn’t required to enable sideloading. It’s worth using one once you start installing and using third-party apps, since some of them route your connection through servers you don’t control.
Why Won’t Developer Options Unlock on My Fire TV Stick 4K Select?
Amazon’s newer Vega OS devices, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, block sideloading by default. The 7-tap method described above doesn’t work on these devices. If you need sideloading, an older Fire TV Stick model or an Android TV box is the more reliable option right now.