How to Sideload Apps on Android TV via ADB

Updated 2026-10-29

How to use ADB sideloading to install native apps on Android TV for beginners

What ADB brings to Android TV

Android TV devices that ship with locked app stores often do not let you add the exact apps you want. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a command-line tool built into the platform SDK that lets you talk directly to the TV over USB or Wi-Fi when developer mode is on. With ADB you can push an APK file straight onto the device and install any app, even ones the store never lists.

For beginners, the trick is remembering that “sideloading” just means installing an APK you downloaded yourself, and that ADB works on Android TV almost like on a phone. Once you know the few commands, you can refresh your whole living-room box with new channels, games, or utilities whenever you like.

Preparing your Android TV for ADB access

First, you need developer mode enabled and USB debugging on. Here is how:

Press and hold the Home button (or the power button depending on your box) to open the settings grid, then tap Settings → System → Developer options.
Turn on Developer options if it was not already active. A small toggle appears at the bottom labeled “ADB debugging.”
Enable USB debugging. Confirm the prompt on the TV and connect it to your computer with a compatible cable.
On your computer, install the platform tools (adb and fastboot) from the Android SDK.

The TV must be online on the network, but it does not need root. Some boxes also offer a quick Developer Mode toggle in the Quick Settings menu, which saves the step of digging into the system UI.

Connecting your PC and verifying the link

Open a terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux) and confirm that adb is on your PATH. Run:

adb devices

You should see your TV listed with a serial number, followed by a line like “device” if the connection is working. If you see “unauthorized,” unlock the device in software settings and accept the RSA prompt on the TV screen. Once “devices” shows up and stays there across repeated checks, the link is solid.

The actual install: pushing an APK to the TV

With the link verified, find a APK you want to install. Official sources work, such as the website of the developer, or a trusted package from GitHub releases. Avoid APKs whose signature does not match the developer name, and do not enable installation from unknown sources manually before using ADB—ADB bypasses that check entirely.

Run this command:

adb shell pm install-apk /path/to/your/app.apk

The install finishes quickly, and the app appears in Settings → Apps as soon as it is loaded. You can launch it from the app drawer or the home screen. For apps that need accounts or in-app purchases, treat them like any installed app: open them, sign in, and enjoy.

If you’d rather drag an APK over Wi-Fi, copy the file to the TV with a tool like adb pull, or use a local web server on the PC to serve the file and point ADB at the HTTPS URL. The method is simple: adb shell am broadcast -c com.android.terminal "install-package:/path/to/your.app.apk".

Common hiccups and how to fix them

Connection drops. Power cycles the box, or try a different USB-C cable. Sometimes the port on the TV is flaky.
“Installation not permitted” errors. Make sure the TV’s OS version supports the APK’s target SDK, and that the APK is signed with the correct key. Re-download it from the developer’s official dropbox.
App won’t open after install. Some TV apps need a restart of the launcher or the system settings. Try a hard reboot via the power menu.
ADB won’t find the device. Ensure USB debugging is toggled in developer options, and that the device shows up as “device” and not “unauthorized.”

A short list of safe sources for APKs:

The original developer’s website or their GitHub releases page
Trusted repositories that archive Android APKs
Community posts on forums where the developer has published installers directly

When sideloading beats the store

Sideloading on Android TV is not a permanent solution once the device ships with a preloaded suite of apps you like, but it is unbeatable for niche video streaming apps, custom launchers, parental controls, or regional variants of apps that never made it to the Play Store. Since the steps are identical on every TV running a recent Android TV release, once you finish the first install the process becomes a single command.

For beginners who feel uncomfortable navigating a phone’s browser, the YouTube tutorials that walk through enabling developer mode on specific box models are worth the watch. Read the steps once, practice on a cheap second TV or a non-critical device, and then move the same APK to your main entertainment box.

Doing it once opens the door to a much richer Android TV experience—apps that were simply unavailable on your box, updated weekly, at no extra cost. The launcher cleans up the home screen, and the real gain is that you control exactly what lives on your television.