How to Install the Downloader App on Firestick, Fire TV & Android TV

The Downloader app for the Amazon Fire TV, Firestick and Android TV is a simple and easy to use tool that lets you search for and install third-party APKs that may not be available through Amazon or Google’s official app store. It is the preferred method for installing Kodi, Plex, and other third-party applications.

In our Downloader app guide below, I’ll show you how to install the Downloader app on a Firestick or Fire TV (the steps are the same on a Fire Stick, Fire TV Cube and Fire TV smart TV), how to get it on Android TV and Google TV, and how to use it to install the apps you would otherwise have to sideload by hand.

Last checked October 2026: these steps match Downloader 2.0.4, the current version (released July 31, 2026). Downloader 2.0 changed the layout, so older guides that show the sidebar menu no longer match what you will see on screen.

How Do You Install the Downloader App on a Firestick? (Quick Answer)

The full steps with screenshots are further down this page.

1. On your Firestick home screen, click Find, then Search, type Downloader, and install the app by AFTVnews.
2. Open Downloader and click Allow when it asks for permission to access files.
3. Go to Settings, My Fire TV, Developer Options, then Install Unknown Apps, and turn on Downloader. (On older Fire OS versions this is called Apps from Unknown Sources.)
4. Open Downloader, type a web address or short code into the address bar, and install the APK it downloads.

Newer Fire TV Sticks that run Vega OS cannot run Downloader at all. Check the Vega OS note in the next section to see whether your stick is affected.

What Devices Can Downloader Be Installed On?

The Downloader app can be installed on the following devices:

1. Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick and Fire TV Cube
2. Android TV
3. Google TV
4. Nvidia Shield TV

Fire TV devices get Downloader from the Amazon Appstore. Nvidia Shield, Google TV, and other devices running the real version of Android TV can install it from the official Google Play Store. On Android TV boxes running the mobile version of the OS, Downloader has to be installed using the alternative method below.

Does Downloader Work on Newer Fire TV Sticks (Vega OS)?

No. Amazon’s newer Fire TV Sticks run Vega OS instead of Fire OS, and Vega OS does not support sideloading, so there is no Downloader app and no Developer Options toggle to turn on. As of this writing that includes the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the 2026 Fire TV Stick HD. Models such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and 4K Plus still run Fire OS and work with this guide. Our Vega OS guide has the full device list and shows how to check which OS your stick runs.

Downloader App Features

Downloader comes with some easy-to-use features:

• Download files simply by inputting their URL address. No extra hardware needed!
• Navigate websites and internet links with only the Amazon Fire TV remote.
• Save and favorite frequently visited URLs and addresses.
• Install APKs onto your Amazon hardware right from within the app. Delete files when you are done with them.
• Enter a web address, a numeric short code, or a Google search in one address bar (new in Downloader 2.0), so you no longer switch between separate Home and Browser screens.
• Use the # number pad button next to the address bar to type short codes more easily, especially on Google TV and Android TV.
• It is free, and the developer says it always will be.

The Downloader app for the Amazon Fire TV was developed by AFTVnews, one of the largest Amazon Fire news sources on the internet today. AFTVnews lists the app at over 100 million users.

How to Install Downloader on a Firestick or Amazon Fire TV

These steps work on a Firestick, a Fire TV Cube, and any Fire TV device that still runs Fire OS. Install Downloader first, then turn on the setting that lets it install apps.

These steps show you how to install the Downloader app on a Firestick or Fire TV and turn on the setting that lets it install APK files.

Total Time: 3 minutes

Search for Downloader

On your Fire TV home screen, click Find, then Search. Type Downloader and select it from the suggestions.

Select the Downloader App

Click the Downloader tile (an orange icon with a white arrow). Pick the app by AFTVnews. The Amazon Appstore also lists similar-looking apps from other developers.

Click Get and Allow File Access

Click Get (or Download). When Downloader opens for the first time, click Allow so it can access files on your device.

Launch Your Settings

From your home screen, click on the Settings button.

Go into My Fire TV

Select My Fire TV. Some older models label this Device.

Go into Developer Options

Click on Developer Options. If you do not see it, follow the next step to unlock it.

Unlock Developer Options (Only If It Is Missing)

Go back and select About. Highlight your Fire TV device name and click it 7 times. Then go back and Developer Options will now appear.

Turn On Install Unknown Apps for Downloader

In Developer Options, select Install Unknown Apps, then select Downloader so it shows ON. On older Fire OS versions you will see Apps from Unknown Sources instead. Turn that on and confirm. You only need to do this once.

When the app has finished downloading, it will be available in your Amazon Apps section on your device.

And that’s it! If you don’t have an Amazon Fire TV, but you have an Nvidia Shield TV or a traditional Android TV, use the instructions below.

Ready for your next step? Our Jailbreak Firestick guide shows what to install once Downloader is set up.

How to Install Downloader on Nvidia Shield TV and Google TV

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Search for Downloader in the search bar.
3. Select the Downloader tile in the search results.
4. Click on Install. You may need to allow Downloader some permissions, which is okay.
5. When the app has finished downloading, it will be available in your Android TV Apps section on your device.

How to Install Downloader on Android TV (Alternative Method)

1. Go into Settings
2. Turn on Unknown Sources for any browser that you are using to download with such as Chrome.
3. Open the Browser on your box and go to the official Downloader by AFTVnews page on APKMirror: apkmirror.com/apk/aftvnews-com/downloader-by-aftvnews. The developer should be listed as AFTVnews.com.
4. Download the newest version marked ForGoogleAndroidDevices. As of July 31, 2026 that is version 2.0.4, which needs Android 6.0 or newer. If your box runs Android 5.1, APKMirror lists an older 1.5.3 build.
5. Open a file manager app on your system.
6. Go to the Download folder and click the Downloader APK file to install it.
7. You may need to allow Downloader some permissions, which is okay.
8. When the app has finished downloading, it will be available in your Android TV Apps section on your device.

How to Use the Downloader App (Downloader 2.0)

Next, learn how to use the Downloader app to download third-party applications, such as Kodi:

How Do You Install an App With a URL or Downloader Code?

1. Launch the Downloader app.
2. Click the address bar at the top. In Downloader 2.0, this one bar handles web addresses, short codes, and Google searches.
3. In the address bar, enter in the address of the third-party APK location. For Kodi, you can enter http://kodi.tv/download as one example.
4. Downloader opens up this page just like a web browser does.
5. If you want to continue installing Kodi, select your OS and the version and click on Install. When you click on a .APK file, Amazon will trigger the installation of this file.
6. Just like when you downloaded this APK, you may be asked to allow the application access to your Amazon Fire.
7. When the install finishes, choose Open to launch the app, or Done to open it later. Downloader then offers to delete the APK file, which frees up storage space.

When the install is done, APKs will appear in your Apps section alongside others that you downloaded officially from the Appstore.

What Is a Downloader Code?

A Downloader code is a short number that points to a web address stored with the AFTVnews URL shortener. Instead of typing a long link with your remote, you enter the number in the address bar and Downloader loads the file. On Android TV and Google TV, use the # button next to the address bar to bring up the number pad.

For example, Downloader code 2525208 loads the current Nuvio APK for Fire TV Sticks. See our Nuvio Downloader code guide for the details, or our Nuvio install guide for the full setup.

Be careful with codes you find online. A code can point anywhere, and we have found circulating codes for popular apps that lead to third-party sites or outdated builds. Only use codes from sources you trust, and check what a code downloads before you install it.

Downloader App Not Working on Firestick? Common Problems and Fixes

Why Can’t I Find Downloader in the Amazon Appstore?

There are three common reasons. First, Amazon briefly pulled Downloader from the Appstore on March 28, 2026 and restored it on March 30, so searches during that window came up empty. It is available again on Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks and Fire Tablets. Second, some users, particularly in Spain, have had trouble finding the app in search, and AFTVnews published a guide with other ways to find and install it. Third, Downloader is not available on Vega OS Fire TV Sticks at all.

Why Is Downloader Missing From the Install Unknown Apps List?

In August 2026, a bug in a Fire TV Settings update left the Install Unknown Apps list incomplete or empty on some Fire TV devices, so Downloader had nothing to switch on. Amazon confirmed on September 11 that this was a bug and not a new restriction, and the fix began rolling out on September 16 as a Settings update. Go to Settings, My Fire TV, About, then Check for Updates, and look at the list again afterward. AFTVnews has the full report.

Why Can’t I Install Apps With Downloader on a New Fire TV Stick?

If your Fire TV Stick runs Vega OS, sideloading is blocked at the system level, so Downloader cannot be installed and no Developer Options toggle will fix it. Our Vega OS guide shows which models are affected. If you want guaranteed sideloading, an Android TV box is the safer pick.

Downloader App FAQ

Check out some other Firestick and Fire TV guides on our site now! Let us know on Twitter or Facebook if we can help you out!

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