Android TV / Google TV

Allow unknown app installs on Android TV

When you install an app that did not come from the Play Store, Android asks for your permission first.

This permission is given to one app at a time. You are allowing that single app to install something. You are not opening up your whole TV.

These are three different ways — not three steps to do in order.

Start with the first one. If it works, you are finished — ignore the rest of the page. Only move down to the next one if the one before it did not work.

Most TVs only need the first one.

1Allow it from the message

Your TV shows a message saying the app is not allowed to install unknown apps. Select Settings on that message.

You will see a list of apps. Find the one you are installing from, such as Simple Downloader or a file manager, and turn its switch on.

Press the back button. The installation continues.

An app switched to Allowed in the unknown apps list

Only if the first one did not work

2Find the setting in Settings

If no message appeared, you can open the same list yourself. The path is different on different TVs, so try these one by one:

Settings → Apps → Security & Restrictions → Unknown sources Settings → Device Preferences → Security & Restrictions → Unknown sources Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps

If your TV has a search box inside Settings, type unknown. That is usually the fastest way to find it.

Only if neither of the above worked

3Turn on developer options

Try this if the list is missing, or your app is not in the list, or the switch will not turn on.

Some TVs hide this permission until developer options is turned on. This happens on the Google TV Streamer and the Chromecast with Google TV, and on some TV brands. Most older Android TV devices do not need it.

Open Settings and find About. On Google TV it is inside System. On older Android TV it is inside Device Preferences. On some TVs it is in the main Settings list. All three take you to the same screen.

Scroll down to the very bottom. The last line is called Android TV OS build, or just Build on older devices. Select it and keep pressing the OK button on your remote.

After a few presses your TV starts counting down. It will say something like "You are now 4 steps away from being a developer". Keep pressing until it tells you that you are a developer. This takes seven presses in total, but it is easier to follow the countdown than to count yourself.

Android TV OS build at the bottom of the About screen

If it says "No need, you are already a developer", it was already on.

Now go back to the first or second way above. The permission will be there.

Is this safe?

Yes — here is what you are actually allowing

Installing an app from outside the Play Store is a normal Android feature. It is how every app store other than Google's works.

You give this permission to one app only, so no other app can install anything. Google Play Protect still checks your device as usual.

Give this permission only to apps you trust. You can turn it off again after you finish installing.