This guide breaks down what Vega OS actually is, which current Fire TV Stick models still let you sideload apps, and what to do if the model you own (or want to buy) is one of the ones that doesn’t. If you already know your stick runs Fire OS and just want the install steps, our how to jailbreak a Firestick guide covers that part.
Amazon’s Vega OS is now shipping on new Fire TV Stick models, and it removes sideloading completely: no Downloader app, no Developer Options toggle, and no way to install anything outside the Amazon Appstore.
Whether your Fire TV Stick still supports sideloading depends entirely on which model you own (or are about to buy) and whether it runs Fire OS or Vega OS.
What Is Vega OS?
Vega OS is Amazon’s own operating system for Fire TV hardware, built on Linux instead of Android. Every Fire TV Stick before it, going all the way back to the original 2014 model, ran Fire OS, Amazon’s heavily customized version of Android. Vega OS throws that foundation out entirely. It’s a different platform from the ground up, and the part that matters most for sideloaders is that Vega OS doesn’t carry over the Android compatibility that made sideloading possible in the first place.
In practice, that means a Vega OS device can only install apps from the Amazon Appstore. There’s no Developer Options menu with an “install unknown apps” toggle, no Downloader app, and nothing like the process our Jailbreak Firestick guide walks through for Fire OS devices.
Vega OS Timeline: How Did We Get Here?
- 2025: Amazon launches the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, the first Fire TV Stick to ship with Vega OS instead of Fire OS.
- 2026: Amazon releases a second-generation Fire TV Stick HD running Vega OS, expanding the lineup beyond the 4K Select.
- 2026: Amazon confirms publicly that starting with the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, all future Fire TV Sticks will run on Vega OS, making clear this isn’t a one-off experiment.
How Does Vega OS Block Sideloading?
On a Fire OS device, sideloading works because the stick is still Android under the hood. Seven taps on the build number unlocks Developer Options, a toggle turns on “install unknown apps” for the Downloader app, and from there you can install any Android APK. Vega OS removes the Android layer that whole process depends on, so there’s no equivalent toggle to find. The Amazon Appstore is the only app source, full stop.
There is a workaround, technically.
You can register a free Amazon Developer account, register your Vega OS device as a developer device, and use Amazon’s own developer tools over a USB cable to push an app onto the stick. In practice, this isn’t a real substitute for sideloading. It requires a computer, Amazon’s developer tools, and an app actually built for Vega OS rather than a standard Android APK.
AFTVnews, which tested the process directly on a Fire TV Stick 4K Select, found that sideloaded apps show up with only a generic gray icon and eventually stop launching altogether. If you’re buying a Fire TV Stick specifically to sideload streaming apps or Kodi, don’t count on this method working.
Why Did Amazon Kill Sideloading on Fire TV Sticks?
Amazon hasn’t hidden the reasoning. Fire TV Sticks built a reputation, fair or not, as one of the easiest ways to sideload piracy-focused streaming apps, and that reputation followed Amazon into licensing conversations with content owners and a steady stream of negative press.
Vega OS locks the platform down to the Amazon Appstore only, which Amazon has framed as a security and content-integrity improvement rather than a piracy crackdown specifically. Whatever the official framing, the practical result is the same: a Fire TV Stick running Vega OS can’t be used to sideload anything, for any reason, legitimate or otherwise.
Which Fire TV Sticks Still Support Sideloading? (Full Device List)
Here’s every current Fire TV Stick and Cube model, and whether it still runs Fire OS or has moved to Vega OS.
| Device | Operating System | Sideloading? |
|---|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max | Fire OS | Yes |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Plus | Fire OS | Yes |
| Fire TV Stick 4K (original) | Fire OS | Yes |
| Fire TV Stick HD (2024, 1st gen) | Fire OS | Yes, while stock lasts |
| Fire TV Cube (3rd gen and newer) | Fire OS | Yes |
| Smart TVs with Fire TV built in | Fire OS | Yes |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Select | Vega OS | No |
| Fire TV Stick HD (2026, 2nd gen) | Vega OS | No |
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is currently the fastest Fire OS stick Amazon still sells, and it’s the one to buy if sideloading matters to you. Smart TVs with Fire TV built in and the Fire TV Cube haven’t moved to Vega OS as of this writing, but Amazon has been clear that new Fire TV Sticks going forward will.
Buy your 4K Max firestick which still supports sideloading here:
How to Check Which OS Your Fire TV Stick Is Running
If you already own a Fire TV Stick and aren’t sure whether it’s on Fire OS or Vega OS, you can check in under a minute:
- Go to Settings
- Select My Fire TV (some older models show this as Device)
- Select About
- Look at the software or build version number listed there
A version number that starts with 1 (like 1.x.x.x) means you’re on Vega OS. A version number that starts with anything from 3 through 14 means you’re still on Fire OS, and sideloading is available through the normal process in our Jailbreak Firestick guide.
What Should You Do About Vega OS?
Already Own a Fire TV Stick? Here’s What Changes
If you already own a Fire OS Fire TV Stick, nothing changes for you right now. Amazon hasn’t announced any plan to push existing Fire OS devices onto Vega OS through a software update, and Amazon has said it will support current Fire TV hardware with security updates for at least four years from purchase, into 2030 for recent models.
If your stick sideloads today, it should keep sideloading for the life of the device.
Buying a New Fire TV Stick in 2026? Which Model to Pick
If sideloading matters to you, buy the Fire TV Stick 4K Max or the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. Both still run Fire OS. Avoid the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the newer 2026 Fire TV Stick HD, both of which ship on Vega OS out of the box.
The 4K Select is noticeably cheaper on paper (around $50 list versus roughly $85 for the 4K Max), but Amazon doesn’t advertise the OS difference on the product page, so it’s an easy trap to fall into if you’re comparing sticks on price and specs alone rather than checking which platform each one runs.
Want Guaranteed Sideloading? Skip the Stick Entirely
Amazon has already told everyone where this is headed: every new Fire TV Stick from here on runs Vega OS. Buying a Fire OS stick today still works, but you’re buying into a product line Amazon has publicly said it’s phasing out, not a long-term platform. If you’d rather not think about this again in a year or two, an Android TV box is the safer bet, since it runs full Android TV or Google TV rather than Amazon’s walled garden.
Our Best Android TV Boxes guide covers seven current picks, including the Nvidia Shield TV Pro and the Google TV Streamer 4K, that aren’t tied to Amazon’s app ecosystem or roadmap at all. It’s worth a look if you’re shopping for a replacement rather than just another Fire TV Stick.
Is the Fire TV Stick Still Worth Buying for Sideloading?
Right now, yes, as long as you buy the correct model. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max and 4K Plus still run Fire OS, still support the full sideloading process, and Amazon isn’t forcing existing hardware onto Vega OS. That said, treat any Fire OS Fire TV Stick purchase as buying into a product line on its way out rather than a safe long-term choice.
Amazon has said outright that every new Fire TV Stick going forward runs Vega OS, so the pool of sideload-friendly sticks will only get smaller and older from here. If you want a device you won’t have to think about again, an Android TV box is the more durable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sideload Kodi on a Fire TV Stick running Vega OS?
Not in any practical way. Vega OS blocks the standard sideloading process entirely, and the USB developer-account workaround only works with apps built specifically for Vega OS, not standard Android APKs like Kodi. If you want to run Kodi, buy a Fire OS device such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max instead.
Will my existing Fire TV Stick be forced onto Vega OS?
No. Amazon hasn’t announced any plan to push existing Fire OS devices onto Vega OS through a software update. Vega OS currently only ships on new hardware, specifically the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the 2026 Fire TV Stick HD.
Which Fire TV Stick should I buy for sideloading in 2026?
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best current pick, followed by the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. Both still run Fire OS. Avoid the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the 2026 Fire TV Stick HD, which both ship on Vega OS with no sideloading support.
Does the Fire TV Cube run Vega OS?
Not as of this writing. The Fire TV Cube (3rd generation and newer) still runs Fire OS and supports sideloading. Amazon hasn’t said whether or when the Cube line might move to Vega OS.
Is Vega OS bad?
It depends on what you use your Fire TV Stick for. Vega OS is reportedly leaner and faster for basic streaming, and most casual users who only watch Netflix, Prime Video, or similar apps won’t notice a difference. For anyone who sideloads apps, uses Kodi, or wants Android flexibility, Vega OS is a significant downgrade since none of that is possible on it.
Final Thoughts
Vega OS is already shipping on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the newest Fire TV Stick HD, and Amazon has confirmed it’s the direction every future Fire TV Stick is heading. For now, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and 4K Plus are still safe, sideload-friendly picks, and existing Fire OS devices aren’t at risk of losing sideloading through an update.
Once you’re ready to actually set one up, our Jailbreak Firestick guide and Downloader app guide cover the full process step by step, and it’s worth running a VPN once you start installing anything outside the Amazon Appstore.