Live NetTV v5.0To install any app that is not in the Amazon Appstore, a Fire TV device needs one setting changed: Install unknown apps, which lives inside Developer Options. On older Fire TV sticks the menu was always visible. Since late 2022, Amazon has hidden it by default, so many people go looking and cannot find it. Here is how to bring it back.
Unlock Developer Options
- From the Fire TV home screen, open Settings (the gear icon on the right).
- Select My Fire TV. On some older models this is called Device or Device & Software.
- Select About.
- Highlight your device name at the top of the list, for example Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and press the Select button on your remote seven times.
- A message appears at the bottom of the screen: “No need, you are already a developer” or a countdown ending in “You are now a developer”.
- Press Back once. Developer Options now appears in the My Fire TV menu.
Allow installs from the Downloader app
Fire OS 7 and later give permission to install apps one installer at a time, rather than switching on unknown sources for the whole device. That is safer, because only the app you choose can install other apps.
- Go to Settings › My Fire TV › Developer Options.
- Select Install unknown apps.
- Find Downloader (or the file manager you use) and switch it ON.
If you see a single option called Apps from Unknown Sources instead, you have an older Fire OS version. Turn it on, and confirm the warning.
Do not have Downloader yet? Our Downloader guide explains how to install and use it.
The other Developer Options settings
You will see a few other switches in the same menu. Most people should leave them alone.
| Setting | What it does | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| ADB debugging | Lets a computer or phone on your network send commands to the Fire TV | Leave off unless you need it. Turn it off again afterwards. |
| Install unknown apps | Allows chosen apps to install APK files | Turn on only for the installer you use |
| Network debugging / USB debugging | Advanced developer tools | Leave off |
Troubleshooting
Remote not responding while you work through these menus? See how to fix a Fire TV remote, or use the free Fire TV phone app.
Pressing the device name does nothing
Make sure the highlight is on the device name itself, not on another line such as Software or Storage. Press Select steadily, about once a second. Very fast presses are sometimes missed.
Developer Options disappeared after an update
Major Fire OS updates sometimes hide the menu again. Repeat the seven presses. Your earlier settings are usually kept.
There is no Developer Options at all, even after unlocking
Some newer Fire TV devices run Amazon's Vega OS instead of Android-based Fire OS. Vega OS devices do not support installing Android apps from outside the Appstore, so the option does not exist. See which Fire TV devices can sideload apps before buying.
Downloader is not in the Install unknown apps list
The list only shows apps that have asked to install files. Open Downloader once and try to download something. It will then appear in the list.
Is it safe to enable this?
Unlocking Developer Options changes nothing by itself. It just shows the menu. Allowing one trusted installer such as Downloader to install apps carries a small risk, which you control by installing only files you trust. Our guide on spotting fake APKs explains how to check a file. Keep ADB debugging off when you are not using it, because it allows remote control of the device from your network.
Frequently asked questions
Will enabling Developer Options void my warranty?
No. It is a standard Fire OS menu that Amazon provides. Turning it on does not root the device or change the system software.
Does this work on a Fire TV Cube or a Fire TV television?
Yes. The steps are the same on the Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max, and Fire TV Edition televisions running Fire OS.
How do I hide Developer Options again?
There is no switch to hide it, but you can turn off Install unknown apps and ADB debugging, which removes any risk. A factory reset hides the menu completely.