How to sideload any APK on the Chromecast

Generally, downloading apps on Android TV and the Chromecast with Google TV is a straightforward process. However, there are restrictions on which apps can be installed directly from the Play Store, as only authorized apps are allowed on the platform. If you want to venture beyond the approved selection or manually update an app, you'll need to use APK files. Unfortunately, transferring and installing these files on the Chromecast can be a challenge. That's why we're here to walk you through the process one step at a time.

This guide is specifically designed for the Chromecast with Google TV, not the previous Chromecast Ultra model, and provides instructions for transferring wirelessly from an Android mobile device or tablet. If you plan to install an APK on a standard Android TV device, or if you would rather utilize ADB to transfer files from a computer, please follow the respective methods.

1. We need a couple of apps

One way to easily send APKs from your phone to your Chromecast is by using the 'Send files to TV' app, which is simple, quick, and efficient. You can find this app in the Play Store and install it on both your Android device and Chromecast.

Send files to TV

Developer: Yablio

Price: Free

The app does offer an option to open the transferred file, which in the case of an APK should technically start installing it, but I found this to be super buggy. Often, the APK was never opened and the install process never initiated. That's why you might need a proper file manager or app installer on the Chromecast.In the tutorial below, I'll use our sister site app, APK Mirror, because it not only lets me initiate the install process on the TV, but it also explains why a certain installation aborted in the case of a failure. Find the app and install it directly from the Play Store on your Chromecast. If you prefer a full-fledged file browser, you can get File Commander, Solid Explorer, or any other file manager.

2. Now get the APK

Chances are, if you are perusing this article, you are likely familiar with the concept of an APK and where to obtain it. I won't go into detail about that, but I will a few key aspects:

• To ensure seamless compatibility with Chromecast, search for APK files optimized for devices running on the armeabi-v7a processor configuration.

• For numerous reasons, we suggest utilizing our affiliated website APK Mirror to locate these items.

• Certain applications that are not officially supported on Android TV / Google TV can be installed through sideloading and utilized on the system. However, you may encounter some issues related to how these apps are launched or navigated Keep in mind that not all apps are tailored for the system's launcher remote control.

APKMirror Installer (Official)

Developer: APK Mirror

Price: Free

3. Send the APK to your Google Chromecast

Begin the process by launching the on your Chromecast device. Allow the necessary storage permission and click on the prominent Receive button located towards the bottom of the screen. As you do this, the background color behind the button should change to light blue, and a blank page will appear briefly with no active file transfers.

Afterwards, take your Android device. Once you have identified the APK you wish to sideload, you need to transfer it to your phone, and then launch 'Send files to TV' application and grant permission for it to access your media and files. Press the large Send button and locate the APK you recently downloaded, which should be in the Download folder. By choosing it, you will see a list of to send it to, including your Chromecast. Remember that both your phone and Chromecast must be connected to the same network in order for this process to be successful.

Once you select the Chromecast as the receiver, the transfer of the APK file will promptly begin through Wi-Fi direct to your television.

Attempting to open the transferred APK file directly within the application may not yield the desired outcome, as previously indicated. Therefore, additional steps will be necessary.

4. Download and Set Up the App

On Android, downloading APKs from external sources such as web browsers or file managers has necessitated a unique authorization for quite some time. Typically, when attempting to initiate the process, a prompt appears, informing you that you must first enable a specific permission, and then redirects you directly to the relevant setting. Similarly, this has been the procedure on Android TV devices up until now.

What sets the Chromecast with Google TV apart is its unique approach. Unlike others, it doesn't offer a pop-up menu, and the "unknown sources" option in the settings is initially inaccessible. To activate this feature, you must first enable Developer Options, which unlocks this capability.

4.1 Activate Developer Options

Access the Settings menu on your Chromecast, navigate to the About section under System settings. Locate the Android TV OS build information and tap on it multiple times. A notification will pop up, indicating that you are close to becoming a developer. Keep tapping until you activate it.

4.3. Install the APK

In the screenshots below, I show you how to do it with APK Mirror. First, open the app on your Chromecast, then select Browse files, go to the Download directory, select the APK you transferred in step 3, click Install package > Install app > Install. When the installation is over, you can open the app.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed a complex procedure. The positive aspect is that once you go through this process once, all you need to do is obtain the APK and transmit it (steps 2 and 3), and then install it (step 4.3 exclusively). It will only require a minute or so for each new APK, enabling you to manually update the apps on your Chromecast with Google TV if you don't receive the latest version promptly, or experiment with unofficially supported apps almost as swiftly as you would on your phone.