In this guide, I’ll show you how to install Google Play on your FireStick or Fire TV device. The Google Play Store is the most popular app store, with thousands of apps, games, and utilities to choose from. Its main attractions are the large number of apps available and the ease with which they can be used. However, the Play Store isn’t available on all Android devices. Amazon FireStick and Fire TV devices, for example, have Amazon Store but do not support Google Play Store. Unfortunately, Amazon’s app selection is limited, which is why FireStick users frequently look for alternatives.
The Amazon devices do not have access to the Google Play Store. Is it possible to side-load it? Yes, that is correct! However, I’m about to tell you about something that is far superior to Google Play on the FireStick. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use Aptoide TV, a third-party app store that’s the best Play Store alternative and is optimized for Fires tick device platforms.
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How to Install Google Play on Fire Stick ?
The process of sideloading Play Store on a FireStick is tedious, time-consuming, prone to errors, and frequently fails. You’d have wasted an hour and a half of your time. I don’t want to take up any of your time. Aptoide has everything you can get from Google Play, plus a lot more. For the most part, Aptoide TV works flawlessly on FireStick. It also has a good selection of FireStick apps that you’ll ever need. So, let’s get started with installing and using the Aptoide app store.
Do You Have Concerns about Your Online Privacy?
Before we go any further, I’d like to bring your attention to one important point. In today’s Internet world, privacy is a major concern. Hackers and identity thieves, as well as your own government and ISP, are most likely watching and tracking you. As a result, finding a way to remain anonymous and maintain your privacy in the digital realm of the internet makes a lot of sense.
Now is the time to get a VPN and enjoy the peace of mind. VPN encrypts all of your traffic and gives you complete anonymity. VPN also protects you from being subjected to Internet throttling, which is becoming more common by the day.
Read this article to learn how to set up and use a VPN on a FireStick.
Prepare FireStick for Sideloading Aptoide TV
Aptoide, the most promising FireStick alternative to Google Play, is a third-party app store that isn’t hosted on Amazon Store. We’ll need to tell FireStick to allow the installation because we’re getting the app from somewhere other than the official store. By default, the Apps from Unknown Sources option is turned off.
Here’s how to enable third-party app installation quickly.
Step 1: From the FireStick home screen, use your remote direction keys to select Settings. On the top menu bar, you’ll find this option. Now, as shown in the image below, go to Device:
Step 2: On the following screen, select Developer Options.
Step 3: Select the Apps from Unknown Sources option in the Developer options section and press the Select button on your remote.
Step 4: Ignore the warning and press ‘Turn on’ when you see the following prompt. Some third-party apps can harm your device, and this is true. Apps like Aptoide, on the other hand, are well-known and completely safe. There’s no need to be concerned.
You’re now ready to install Aptoide (or any other third-party app) on your device.
Alternative: Steps to Install Play Store (Aptoide Store) on FireStick
Now I’ll show you how to get Google Play Store installed on your Amazon Fire Stick (the alternative Aptoide to be more precise). This app can be installed using both the Downloader and ES Explorer apps (with and without a computer)
You might wonder why there are two apps. The most popular app for sideloading third-party apps on the Fire Stick is Downloader. However, the app is not available in all Amazon Store regions and must be side-loaded in a few. ES File Explorer, on the other hand, is available for download from the Amazon Store regardless of your country or region.
First Method: How to Install Aptoide Using Downloader
The first thing you should do is download the Downloader app if you don’t already have it. It’s available in the Amazon Store, and if you can’t find it there, learn how to install Downloader.
Here’s how to use the Downloader app to install Aptoide on your Fire Stick or Fire TV after you’ve installed it.
Step 1: From the Fire Stick’s home screen, open the Downloader app (if you have moved the app icon here).
Press and hold down the Home button on the remote and select ‘Apps’ if the app isn’t visible on the home screen. You’ll see a list of all your installed apps. Downloader is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 2: On the Downloader’s main screen, select the Home option from the left sidebar.
Step 3: In the URL field, you’ll notice the cursor blinking. To access the onscreen keypad, press the ‘Select’ button on your remote. Press the ‘Go’ button on the keypad after entering the URL https://www.firesticktricks.com/store (or the Play button on your remote). Take a look at the illustration below. This is the link to download Aptoide, a FireStick app that is an alternative to Google Play.
Step 4: The Aptoide APK file will now begin to download to your device’s storage automatically.
Step 5: When the download is finished, you’ll see the screen below. Continue to press the down button on your remote control until the bottom right-hand ‘Next’ button changes to ‘Install,’ then highlight and click the ‘Install’ button.
Step 6: A progress screen for the installation will appear. The ‘App installed’ notification will appear, along with the ‘Done’ and ‘Open’ buttons, once the installation is complete.
Step 7: Because we don’t want to open the app right now, click the ‘Done’ button (but if you do, go ahead and click ‘Open’; it’s your call!)
Step 8: You will now see the dialog box below. Because the app is already installed, there is no need to click the ‘Install’ button. Instead, remove the APK file by clicking the ‘Delete’ button. We no longer require it, and it will take up valuable storage space.
That concludes our discussion. On your FireStick, you’ve successfully installed Aptoide, a Google Play alternative.
Second Method: Install Aptoide on FireStick Using ES File Explorer WITHOUT Computer
This is a different approach. If you’ve already installed Aptoide using the Downloader app, you can skip these steps. Furthermore, if you want to use ES File Explorer’s sideloading feature, it will now cost $9.99 per month.
If you can’t find Downloader or don’t want to sideload it, or simply prefer ES File Explorer, I’ll show you how to install Aptoide on your Fire TV Stick using the latter.
ES File Explorer is also very popular, and as I previously stated, it is more widely available than Downloader, so it’s only natural to include it.
There are two methods for installing Google Play on a Fire Stick: one with a computer and one without.
The method that does not require a computer is simpler and faster (though it does require a $9.99 per month premium subscription). This method will be discussed first. If you already have the Aptoide APK on your computer, you can try the second method later.
The ES Explorer method is now available, which does not require the use of a computer.
Step 1: Launch ES File Explorer and expand the Tools section on the left sidebar. Select ‘Download Manager’ from the Tools submenu, then click the ‘+’ button at the bottom.
Step 2: The Download dialog box should now appear.
Step 3: Type https://firesticktricks.com/store into the Path field. Enter any name you want in the Name field, but make it relevant to the app we’ve installed. I named it Aptoide TV, which is also the name of the app I’m installing.
Step 4: Finally, click the Download Now button and wait for the APK to finish downloading.
To run the APK file, click the ‘Open file’ button after it has been downloaded. The installation will begin as a result of this.
Step 5: Click ‘Install’ when you see the following prompt.
Step 6: On the following screen, repeatedly press the ‘Down’ button on your remote until a button near the bottom is highlighted. The bottom right-hand ‘Next’ button will become a ‘Install’ button. To continue, simply click it.
Step 7: After you’ve installed the app, this is what you’ll see. Click the ‘Open’ button to begin using the app right away. Otherwise, press the ‘Done’ button. Later, from the Apps & Games section, you can run the app.
That is all there is to it! Let’s look at how to use ES File Explorer and a computer to install Aptoide, a Google Play substitute app, on a FireStick.
How to Install Aptoide on a FireStick Using ES File Explorer WHILE Using a Computer
You’ll need a computer for this. Any operating system, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, will suffice.
Also, make sure your FireStick and computer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
So, let’s get started!
On Your Computer: First, go to https://www.firesticktricks.com/store and download the Aptoide APK file.
On your FireStick device, go to the Amazon Store and download the ES File Explorer app. Simply go to the top left of the Fire Stick home screen and search for ES File Explorer, then install it by following the simple onscreen instructions.
Step 1: Go to Your Apps & Games and open ES File Explorer. Expand the Network menu on the left sidebar by scrolling down. Now, from the available network options, select Remote Manage (image below)
Step 2: Press the large ‘Turn on’ button. An FTP address should now appear. ftp:/192.168.1.7:3721/ is mine.
It will be a different address for you. Make a note of this address. You’ll have to type it in on your computer. You can use it to manage all of your FireStick files and folders from your computer.
Step 3: Open a Folder on Your Computer: Now go back to your computer and open any folder you want. In the address bar of your computer’s folder window, type the FTP address of your Fire TV Stick that you see on the ES Explorer screen and press Enter. It will open the contents of ES File Explorer on your computer.
The screenshot below was taken with Windows 10. This will, however, work just as well on a Mac or Linux system.
Step 4: Now, on your computer, copy the Aptoide APK for Fire Stick that you previously downloaded. And then paste it into any folder in ES File Explorer you opened in the previous step with the FTP address. If necessary, you can even make a new folder.
To copy the APK file of my computer, I always select the ‘Download’ folder. It makes more sense to me now. But that’s just my opinion! It’s entirely up to you!
Step 5: On the FireStick: If it isn’t already open, return to the FireStick and open ES File Explorer.
Expand the ‘Local’ menu on the left-hand side. Choose the second option for Home (not the one with the home image). For more information, see the image below.
Step 6: Now, on the right side of the screen, use the remote to navigate to the ‘Download’ folder.
Step 7: Open the folder and look for the Aptoide APK file (remember?). This file was saved in the Download folder. If you copied it to a different folder, make the appropriate selection.)
Step 8: To run this APK file, press the ‘Select’ button on your FireStick remote. When you see the ‘Properties’ prompt, click the ‘Install’ button (image below)
Step 9: Now it’s back to business! To verify your action and install the app, scroll to the bottom of the next screen and click ‘Install’ on the bottom right.
Step 10: After you’ve installed the app, you’ll see something similar to this. Click ‘OPEN’ if you want to start watching Aptoide TV right away, or ‘DONE’ if you want to watch it later.
How to Use Google Play on Fire TV Stick (Alternative)
You have successfully installed Google Play on your Fire TV without having to root it. Now it’s your turn to run it!
You probably already know that the ‘Your Apps & Games’ section is where you can find all of your apps. Simply press and hold the remote’s ‘Home’ button, then select ‘Apps’ from the menu that appears.
That’s fantastic! However, the recently installed apps do not appear on the home screen and are located at the bottom of the Apps list. Instead of quick access, you’d like to move the frequently used apps to the top.
Apptoide, as you can see, is near the bottom of the list. However, you can easily raise it. Select Aptoide from the drop-down menu.
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Now, on your remote, press and hold the ‘Select’ button. Alternatively, press the Menu button on the remote (three horizontal lines) and choose ‘Move’ from the menu that appears on the bottom right, as shown in the image below:
Continue pressing the ‘Up’ direction button on your remote until the Aptoide app appears at the top of the list.
To place the Aptoide app icon in the top row, press the ‘Select’ button. Return to the FireStick’s home screen, and the Aptoide icon will be right there!
This is how the Aptoide Home Screen currently appears. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory. Using the top-left-hand ‘Search’ function, you can look up any app. Explore Aptoide and download all of the apps you require.
Conclusion On How to Install Google Play on Fire TV Stick
So, here’s how we get the FireStick version of the Google Play alternative. Even though there is a workaround for installing Play Store on your Fire devices, it is time consuming and in most cases does not work. I’ve tried it a number of times and have always been disappointed. I don’t see the point in trying so hard to get Google Play on my FireStick when Aptoide has all the best FireStick apps I’ll ever need. Furthermore, the Play Store was not created with the Fire Stick platform in mind. Even so, the majority of its apps will not function. Get Aptoide and avoid all the headaches.