Amazon isn’t killing Fire TV sideloading after all

Google’s new sideloading process has already stirred plenty of frustration among Android users. Amazon added to the unease when its Vega OS-powered Fire TV Stick HD warned buyers that they couldn’t install apps from unknown sources. So when Downloader suddenly stopped working for some Fire TV owners, it was easy to suspect another sideloading crackdown. But Amazon says it was a bug, and a fix is coming.

AFTVnews spotted the problem last month after users found that Downloader and similar apps had disappeared from the “Install unknown apps” list in Fire TV settings. That’s where you give an app permission to install downloaded APKs. Without Downloader on the list, users couldn’t grant it the permission needed to install an app.

The issue didn’t affect every device, and it sometimes came and went. AFTVnews found clues in the update’s code that pointed to a mistake, but the timing left users wondering whether Amazon had quietly changed its rules.

Amazon has now confirmed that a recent Fire TV Settings update caused the list to appear incomplete or empty on some devices. The company has identified the cause and says an upcoming Settings update will fix it automatically over the coming week.

There was a bug in a recent Fire TV Settings update that caused the “Install unknown apps” list to appear incomplete or empty on some Fire TV devices. We have identified the cause and a fix will roll out in an upcoming Fire TV Settings update, installed automatically on affected devices over the coming week.

Amazon also hasn’t abandoned Android-based Fire TV hardware. Fire OS 16 incorporates Android 16 updates, and signs point to new devices running it, though Amazon hasn’t announced the hardware. For owners dealing with the current bug, the promised fix should restore the missing permission list.

If Downloader still isn’t listed, the update should install automatically once available. Alternatively, you can check your device’s Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for updates. The fix may arrive as a component update, so the Fire OS version number will likely stay the same.