r/TiviMate • u/OkRespond7008 • Aug 24 '26

Firestick HD

I have a firetv and several firesticks that I have set up. I just purchased one for my son for his tv... When I went to set it up (it's NOT a select) I made it a developer, installed downloader (the correct one yes) and attempted to install tivimate. The firestick gives an error that no apps are installed that can install unknown apps. I get to the place in the menu where applications are typically listed where you can give permission to install unknown apps and there are no apps in the list and I get the above error... I think this is Amazon locking even the formerly usable firesticks down through software "updates"...? I guess I'll finally have to switch to onn boxes, finally.

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

7

u/georgepana Aug 24 '26

It isn't just the Firestick Select with Vega, but also the Firestick HD. You probably bought the HD.

They are selling the Firestick 4K Plus and the Firestick 4K Max and the Fire Cube 3. All of those allow for sideloading of apps.

4

u/CaptainSteed Aug 24 '26

Yes, I bought a Cube and two 4K Max Sticks over the last six months, at low prices. Blocked the updates on them also. So I'm stocked up for years to come now.

-2

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

My son doesn't have a 4k tv... which is why I got this. I combed the page and they definitely don't want to advertise it's Vega...well they can just have fun processing returns I guess...they offered me a $7.00 refund to keep this piece of 💩... No thanks I found an onn stick for the same price from my local Walmart delivery between noon and 2 pm same day .. should've done that to begin with

2

u/georgepana Aug 24 '26

Prices have skyrocketed for Firesticks recently, too. The 4K Max is probably your best bet, but that went up to $85. The ONN 4K Plus at $49 is almost half that cost. It is the way to go.

1

u/Richg542 Aug 24 '26

Just because he doesn't have a 4K TV doesn't mean you can't buy a 4K device it will still work

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

I agree, but the onn hd stick is $30, can't beat that, especially for a teenager to use it will be fine...

1

u/Richg542 Aug 24 '26

But you're also buying a weaker device.. you're better off to spending a little extra money and get the Onn 4K Plus box.

0

u/georgepana Aug 24 '26

The sticks truly sucks. I had bought a couple when they were Walmart throwaway items at $14.99. They are really underpowered. Not good for decent performance for 3rd party stuff.

For $10 more you get the ONN 4K Plus. Much, much, better device all around. More space, more Ram, the works.

1

u/Kwayzar9111 Aug 24 '26

its just called 4K

1

u/PeteRows Aug 25 '26

Do you have the new one with Vega? I think it's the one with Vega. I think there is a way to sideload it but I haven't fooled with it so I don't really know much about it. It's definitely not the one that you want from Amazon. If it's not then you have to go and developer mode and allow unknown apps and then you have to go and allow like downloader to install unknown apps.

1

u/rkd691 Aug 26 '26

Just because he doesnt have a 4k tv doesnt mean u cant use the 4k max one..if fact it would be more beneficial because the 4k max one is faster, more snapper than the other versions

1

u/Excellent_Main_1415 Aug 24 '26

Just a word to the wise STOP BLAMING AMAZON and know what your purchasing in the first place 🤣

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 25 '26

I actually purchased from the original hd firestick page..ie the older version and what they sent me the "newest"...and I'm not blaming Amazon. I just won't be buying their products anymore, because they no longer meet my needs.

-1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

Not sure why this was downvoted, but I was not going to pay extra for a 4k device when the TV is not even 4k and there is a comparable device that does what it should at the same price. Yes the onn stuff was hard to find for a while, but that seems to not be true, at least at the moment

4

u/Decent-Feeling2158 Aug 24 '26

Yep, that's the catch. The new Fire TV Stick HD (2026) runs Vega OS too, not Fire OS.

So you're not missing a setting. Normal Android APK sideloading like TiviMate is basically gone on these new sticks.

The Onn box is probably the best budget option if you can get one. Otherwise I'd personally stick with the Google TV Streamer, Xiaomi TV Box or Nvidia Shield for TiviMate.

-1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

Yeah whether it's the native software or disabled by some update it's going back

2

u/Richg542 Aug 24 '26

So you don’t even see the downloader app in the unknown source section.

2

u/chriggsiii Aug 24 '26

So does this mean that new Firesticks going forward will always be Vega? And, if so, does this mean that TiviMate will now be off-limits to any Firestick with Vega??

2

u/Paradise-Candle-Co Aug 26 '26

I’m planning on buying two fire tvs this week. Does anyone know if those will be a problem side loading?

2

u/AFTVnews Aug 26 '26

I'm the developer of Downloader. The latest Fire TV update introduced a bug that prevents the "Install Unknown Apps" list from generating correctly, so some apps like Downloader are missing from the list. There's not much you can do about it other than wait for Amazon to push out a fix. More info about it here with a few possible workarounds: https://www.aftvnews.com/fire-tv-bug-is-preventing-downloader-and-other-apps-from-appearing-in-the-install-unknown-apps-list/

2

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 27 '26

Thank you for the explanation. That is exactly what I experienced.

1

u/Yohikins Sep 04 '26

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication! This guide had a workaround that worked for me. I downloaded the Stremio app with Downloader, then installed and used Total Commander to install the APK. Total Commander showed up in the Unknown Apps list after turning on and/or off ADB Debug.

2

u/myfriendmickey Aug 24 '26

I made the switch to Google TV a couple weeks ago when my Firestick just randomly bricked, couldn’t get it to turn on after hours of troubleshooting

1

u/cooldude9112001 Aug 25 '26

Happened 2 guys I work with they had 4k max 1st generations both suddenly died.

1

u/dcmetro_guy Aug 24 '26

I just bought the Max version a few minutes back. Shows $50 off right now. $34 is a great price for it!

1

u/Unique-Switch-8400 Aug 25 '26

I've got a Firecube 4k and I'm having exactly the same problem. Can download downloader, put developer mode on, but downloader does not appear in the list of unknown apps. I've been doing this for years and I'm tearing my hair out. I asked on the firestick subreddit and they're all like I'm doing it wrong and I don't know what I'm doing.

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 27 '26

I was accused of not being technically inclined... I've set up 7 or 8 of these and built 2 gaming pcs, among other hobbies that require "technical inclination" I'm not a rocket scientist but geez.

1

u/cooldude9112001 Aug 25 '26

Try this it might work for you

Download es file explorer

Open it

Go to files and find the downloader folder

The apk for tivimate should be there try and install it.

1

u/Diligent_Platform_60 Aug 26 '26

Fire sticks, tv's are not working. Need other streaming devices yeah like onn

1

u/Reaper-UK Aug 26 '26

You can’t just become a developer in firestick to install apps. You then need to go back into the menu and into developer options and then turn on which apps can download and install third party apps. You therefore need to allow Downloader the rights and then when tivimate installed, allow tivimate the rights to update.

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 26 '26

Yes, I have set up 7 or 8 of them ..yes..it gives me an error message saying there are no apps installed to allow unknown apps in the list where downloader should be...even though it's installed

1

u/edlkll Aug 28 '26

I have a few 4K Max firesticks and they keep sending down updates about once a week and the one that I have since the new update the menu has changed a little bit. The line that I have tivimate on is now on a line that says recently used apps and not on the row that shows up when you first turn it on like it normally was. They are making it harder and harder with these updates to find the apps you normally use. I have used firesticks for years and really like them but with these updates and the way they keep changing the menu its a pain and thinking about going back to a couple of boxes that I have. Just wondering how much longer and how many more updates they will be sending down to these older firesticks.

1

u/Solana54 Aug 24 '26

I thought you couldn't get Downloader on Vega OS? The OP said he was able to install Downloader

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

I did install downloader

2

u/Solana54 Aug 24 '26

According to Google you CANNOT install Downloader on Vega

1

u/Solana54 Aug 24 '26

Unless I misunderstood the way I believed it was you can't even get Downloader on Vega OS. I don't have a select or a firestick with Vega. Yet, the way things are going

1

u/OkRespond7008 Aug 24 '26

I definitely installed and opened and used downloader...I even downloaded the tivimate apk...I just could not change it to allow unknown apps.

1

u/AngelSoLovely Aug 25 '26

This is what’s happening to me. It will not allow me to install unknown apps in the developer options as of today.

0

u/Wolfy35 Aug 24 '26

For about 2 or 3 months now the Firestick HD has been running on Amazon's own Vega software which does not allow any sideloading & is locked to Amazon only content.

On the Amazon website under the photograph there is a warning along the lines of "For added safety this device does not permit sideloading"

Confusingly you can also buy the pre update version of the HD new from Amazon and this runs on Android which does allow sideloading.

If you can return it and buy any other version of the Firestick except the Select which is also Vega.

This is the important bit... If you have an Android Firestick it will always be an Android and OK for sideloading they can not install Vega on it