How Does The Firestick Work

Overview

In this article, we’ll look at how does the Firestick work, what it is, and what you can do with it.

Firestick has become one of the must-have devices in every household because of the advantages of having one over traditional cable service. It enables us to do a lot of things, such as watch live TV, stream our favorite movies and TV shows, listen to music, install utility apps, and much more.

 

Apart from that, it has provided us the convenience of being able to take the Fniceirestick device with us wherever we go. Thus allowing us to never miss our favorite channels no matter where we are on the globe.

However, many of us may be unfamiliar with what a Firestick is. Or they haven’t utilized the full potential of their Firestick device. Some may even wonder what the Firestick is and what it does. And how does the Firestick work? As a result, knowing the ins and outs of a Firestick is critical to making proper use of the device.

 

 

What is a Firestick?

First, we must identify a Firestick so that we can have a clear understanding of what the device is before learning how it works and what it can do. A Firestick is a popular streaming device sold by Amazon that you can easily set up on your TV to watch and download movies and TV shows. It’s like a USB flash drive that you can easily plugin on the HDMI video input of your TV. Then, on your TV, you can begin browsing the Amazon App Store to find and install applications that you can use on your device.

 

What are the different types of Firestick?

• Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls) | Dolby Vision – $39.99
• Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls) | HD streaming device – $39.99
• Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Voice Remote Lite (no TV controls) | HD streaming device – $29.99

 

What does a Firestick do?

In general, the Firestick device allows you to do the following:

• Stream Movies, TV Shows, and Live TV
• Listen to Music and Podcasts
• Play Games
• Use Utility Apps
• Download and share files
• Cast content from your Smartphone to a larger screen

 

How Does a Firestick Work?

Technically, the Firestick works by plugging it into the HDMI port on your TV and connecting it to your WiFi network. It will then require a few steps to set up and you will need to sign in to your Amazon account. In that way, you can download applications on your Amazon Firestick while using your Amazon account. And once the setup is complete, you can begin downloading apps on your Firestick device to stream your favorite movies, TV shows, and music on your TV.

Furthermore, the Firestick comes with a remote with an Alexa voice command and a built-in microphone, allowing you to type in on your TV or simply use the voice command to navigate and search for apps.

Generally, Firestick allows you to access popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. But aside from that, you can use your Firestick to download and install live TV apps, games, and utility apps on your TV. 

To learn more on how to set up your Amazon Firestick, you may click here. 

 

How To Install Apps on your Firestick Device

There are two methods for installing apps on your Firestick device. The first method is to install apps from the Amazon Appstore, while the second method is to sideload apps by jailbreaking your Firestick. And we’ll teach you both in this article.

 

From The Amazon App Store

There are also two ways to on how you can search and install applications on the Amazon Appstore. But don’t worry since both of these are easy to execute on your Firestick device:

1. On the Home screen, go to “Find”.
2. Then click on “Search”.
3. Type in or use the Alexa voice command to search for the specific app that you are looking for.

Or

1. Still on “Find”.
2. From the Search function, click on the right button of your Firestick remote 4x to land on “Appstore”, then click on it.
3. Then choose from its set of categories: App Library, Featured, Games, and All Categories.
4. You can also choose “All Categories” so you can look for apps per genre.

 

Best Apps on the Amazon Appstore

Aside from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, Firestick also has several other popular streaming apps. Here, we’ve highlighted the best-selling Amazon Appstore apps so you can stay up to know on Amazon’s latest trends.

 

Tubi

As of this writing, Tubi is the number one on-demand movie streaming app on Amazon. You can watch thousands of free movies and TV shows here, with a content library that is updated every week. It boasts a large library of content with a variety of categories to choose from, including drama, comedy, anime, kids, and even Kdrama. The great thing about this app, and probably what makes it a popular choice for Firestick users, is that it is free and does not require a credit card or a subscription fee. It’s unquestionably a fantastic way to legally watch good movies and shows on your Firestick device without spending a single penny. However, because it is a free app to use and stream, Tubi is ad-supported. So you will see a few ads here and there while watching your favorite movies and TV shows.

 

How To Watch Tubi on Firestick

1. Go to “Find”.
2. Click on “Search”.
3. You may use the Alexa voice command or simply type in “Tubi”.
4. Tap on the icon of the application to download.
5. Select “Get”.
6. Then wait for the app to be installed.
7. Once done, click “Open” to launch the app.
8. There you go, Tubi is finally installed on your Firestick device and you can now browse the app to watch its free content.

Watch Tubi TV Abroad

 

HBO Max

HBO Max gives you access to all of HBO’s content as well as much more exclusive content such as Max Originals, box office hit movies and must-see TV shows. It features content from DC, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Crunchyroll, Studio Ghibli, and many other channels. You can also enable parental controls so you never have to worry about your children accessing inappropriate content. Moreover, the best feature of this app is that you can download content to watch later and have up to five viewer profiles.

 

How To Watch HBO Max on Firestick

1. Go to “Find”.
2. Click on “Search”.
3. You may use the Alexa voice command or simply type in “HBO Max”.
4. Tap on the icon of the application to download.
5. Select “Get”.
6. Then wait for the app to be installed.
7. Once done, click “Open” to launch the app.
8. That’s it, HBO Max is now installed on your Firestick device.

How To Install HBO MAX Kodi Addon

 

Paramount+

You should also try out Paramount+ which is a new player on the market from the well-known Paramount Network. It provides live sports, news, and entertainment from over 30,000 videos from renowned media networks like CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, and many others. You can also watch live news coverage 24/7 from CBSN, as well as get highlights from CBS Sports HQ and entertainment news from ET Live. Subscribing to the premium plan, on the other hand, will allow you to download and watch content offline.

 

How To Watch Paramount+ on Firestick

1. Go to “Find”.
2. Click on “Search”.
3. You may use the Alexa voice command or simply type in “Paramount+”.
4. Tap on the icon of the application to download.
5. Select “Get”.
6. Then wait for the app to be installed.
7. Once done, click “Open” to launch the app.
8. Paramount+ is now installed on your Firestick device and you can now start browsing the app.

Paramount+ on Firestick

 

Pluto TV

Pluto TV is one of the most popular live TV apps on Firestick, making it one of the best apps to download from the Amazon Appstore. It allows you to stream from over 250 channels in various genres such as News, Sports, Comedy, Entertainment, Reality, Crime, Kids, Music, and much more. Their channels include popular ones like CNN, Crime Network, Comedy Central, Funny AF, CBS Sports, NFL Channel, Food TV, Hillsong Channel, IGN, MTV, and Nickelodeon. 

Aside from that, you can access their VOD (Video On Demand) library of over a thousand movies and TV shows for free. They also update their app regularly and display a new channel lineup whenever they add, remove, or move channels. So, every time you use Pluto TV, you’ll not only have a wide variety of channels to choose from. But you’ll also be guided to where you can find your favorite shows on the app.

 

How To Watch Pluto TV on Firestick

1. Go to “Find”.
2. Click on “Search”.
3. You may use the Alexa voice command or simply type in “Pluto TV”.
4. Tap on the icon of the application to download.
5. Select “Get”.
6. Then wait for the app to be installed.
7. Once done, click “Open” to launch the app.
8. There you have it, Pluto TV is now installed on your Firestick device and you can now start browsing the app.

How to Watch Pluto TV Abroad 

 

Disney+

Disney+ is a popular app since it contains material from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. This app appeals to both children and adults because it provides access to both new releases and timeless classics of your favorite movies and television shows. And the best part is that you can get limitless downloads on up to ten devices with this app. You can also set up a GroupWatch to watch Disney+ on four displays simultaneously.

 

How To Watch Disney+ on Firestick

1. Go to “Find”.
2. Click on “Search”.
3. You may use the Alexa voice command or simply type in “Disney+”.
4. Tap on the icon of the application to download.
5. Select “Get”.
6. Then wait for the app to be installed.
7. Once done, click “Open” to launch the app.
8. There you have it, Pluto TV is now installed on your Firestick device and you can now start browsing the app.

How to Install Disney+ Kodi AddOn

 

By Jailbreaking The Firestick and Sideloading Apps

To start the installation process, you’ll need to first jailbreak your Firestick. 

How To Jailbreak Firestick

1.  Click Home on your remote and scroll once to your Right. Click Setting (Gear Wheel Icon).

2. Scroll down and to the right until you get to My Fire TV. Click on it.

 

3. Select Developer options.

 

4. Turn on ADB debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources.

 

5. Click Turn On when the pop-up appears.

 

Then, after jailbreaking your Firestick, you’ll need to download the Downloader app to sideload the app. This app, which is easily available on the Amazon App Store, allows you to download APK files.

 

6. Click Home, click FIND.

 

7. Click Search.

 

8. You can either say Downloader to your Alexa voice-enabled remote or start typing it. If you typed it, click on the suggestion when it appears.

 

9. Click on the Downloader Icon.

 

10. Click Download.

 

 

11. Click on Open.

 

12. Click on Allow.

 

Install Surfshark on Firestick

Best Surfshark Deal

 

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Best Sideloaded Apps for Firestick

Here we’ve listed down the best third-party applications that you can sideload on your Firestick device:

Surfshark

To begin, especially if you are new to Firestick, the first application you should download is a security tool. A Virtual Private Connection (VPN) will provide you with a secure and encrypted connection while streaming and downloading your favorite content from your Firestick device. Aside from that, you can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions and access apps, websites, and content from anywhere in the world. Surfshark has long been considered to be the best VPN for Firestick, due to its simple user interface and quick setup.

How To Install Surfshark on Firestick

 

Cinema APK

If you enjoy streaming then Cinema APK is the app for you. This is by far the best streaming third-party app and the most popular for movies and TV shows on Firestick. Cinema APK has a large media library with regularly updated content, so you can always find new (as well as old) shows to watch. Cinema APK provides high-quality videos from multiple servers and even allows you to download them to watch later, making it a must-have app for your Firestick device. The best part about this app is that it does not require you to register to access its free content on your Firestick.

How to Install Cinema APK on Firestick

 

BeeTV

BeeTV is also one of the best apps to download on your device for streaming because of its large content library, It is ideal for binge-watchers who are always on the lookout for movies and TV shows to keep them entertained for hours. What’s great about this app is that it’s Real-debrid and Trakt integrated. These integrations enable you to get the highest quality links while also keeping track of your watched movies and TV shows across all streaming applications. Furthermore, BeeTV’s content is free, and you can even change the default media player. So if you have a favorite external media player for streaming, then you can set it at this app.

How to Install BeeTV on Firestick 

 

Cyberflix

Cyberflix is another popular and useful app that you can sideload on your Firestick device. It has a lot of HD-quality links that you can access and stream from its many servers. You can also create and integrate a Real-debrid account to gain access to more premium and higher-quality streaming links. Another great feature of this app is that it does not require the creation of an account and that all of its content is free. It even allows you to download videos to watch offline, add subtitles, and it works with almost all external media players, including MX Player.

How to Install Cyberflix on Firestick 

 

Kodi

Kodi is also a popular application among Firestick users who have been sideloading apps. It is a free open-source media player that allows you to watch millions of HD movies, TV shows, music, and other genres on your device from various platforms. This is achieved by installing one of the thousands of available Kodi add-ons and Kodi builds. Furthermore, it can function as an IPTV player and supports almost all video, audio, and subtitle formats. But, aside from being an all-time favorite streaming application, what makes Kodi so popular is that it is also available on other platforms such as Android, macOS, Linux, and Windows.

How to Install Kodi on Firestick

 

Best Kodi Add Ons

As mentioned, Kodi is one of the best third-party apps for Firestick and the add-ons are what make it possible. So here, we’ve also compiled a list of the best Kodi add-ons for your Firestick device:

 

The Oath

The Oath is one of the best Kodi Add-ons because of its compatibility with various Kodi versions. It is available for both Kodi 19 Matrix and Kodi 18 Leia, and there are numerous free streaming links. It is divided into sections such as Movies, TV Shows, My Movies, My TV Shows, New Movies, New Episodes, Tools, and Search. You can also use this add-on to integrate your real-debrid account for a better streaming experience. Furthermore, The Oath has a simple User Interface, making it simple to use and navigate even for new Kodi users.

How to Install The Oath AddOn on Kodi

 

The Crew

The Crew is a popular Kodi all-in-one add-on because of its wide range of streaming options. It has sections for movies, TV shows, IPTV, kids, sports, stand-up comedy, radio, and much more. And, with the incorporation of The Crew Sports, it now includes a vast sports section with live games and replays. Its sports coverage includes the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, UFC, WWE, FIFA, NCAAF, NCAAB, Boxing, Tennis, and others. 

Apart from that, The Crew is Trakt and Real-debrid integrated, so you can sign in with your account to improve your streaming experience. The best thing about this add-on is how simple it is to install and use and how frequently it is updated to fix bugs and include enhancements. To sum up, The Crew is an excellent Kodi add-on for watching movies, TV shows, sports, comedy, and live TV.

 

Exodus Redux

Exodus Redux is an on-demand Kodi add-on that is a reboot of the popular Exodus add-on. It is fast and smooth, and it provides almost all of the best streaming links for movies and television shows. You can also connect your Real-debrid account in this add-on to get better quality links and more full HD playback options for your streaming.

How to Install Exodus Redux AddOn on Kodi

 

Asgard

Asgard is also a popular all-in-one Kodi addon because it allows you to watch movies, TV shows, sports, anime, IPTV, documentaries, and much more. So, if you’re looking for an add-on that has everything you’re looking for, then you might probably like Asgard. Asgard has also grown in popularity as a result of its Sports channel coverage. You know how difficult it is to find a live streaming app for sporting events, so it most likely attracts sports fans who use Kodi. Aside from that, it supports Real-Debrid and Alldebrid, so you can use this add-on to find the best streaming links available. However, there is still a non-debrid section for those without a subscription where you can find a lot of streaming links that are also working perfectly.

How to Install Asgard AddOn on Kodi

 

Seren

Even though Seren is only accessible if you have a Real-debrid or Premiumize account, it is still included in the list of the best Kodi add-ons. It is because it provides you with links of the highest quality, as well as a buffer-free streaming experience. Seren also provides an organized menu system for your entire collection of real-debrid movies and TV shows, categorizing them as a popular, recent, genre, and so on for easier navigation of your videos.

Aside from that, you can use your Trakt account to find related or recommended content based on the history of your watched movies and TV shows. So, if you prefer to only watch high-quality content, then you might want to consider the Seren add-on for Kodi.

 

Stream Safely With A VPN

Because the internet is not a secure environment, you must always remember to safeguard your connection whenever you browse and stream online. A VPN, such as Surfshark, can help you by permitting you to connect from one of its over 40,000 anonymous IP addresses. And with just a single click of a button, it can help you hide your data from hackers and phishers and prevent it from being stolen. Aside from that, you can take advantage of some of its benefits, such as:

• Bypassing censorships, you can gain access to geo-restricted apps and websites like Pluto TV, Disney+, and HBO Max
• You have unlimited bandwidth which allows you to stream and download whatever content you desire
• Surfshark data encryption allows you to connect and safeguard an unlimited number of devices simultaneously
• It includes a kill switch feature that will automatically disconnect your device from the internet if your VPN connection is interrupted
• There will be no logs and no data leaks, so you can rest assured that your personal information will not be shared with advertising businesses or cybercriminals
• Secure up to 500GB of data with Surfshark VPN + Storage protection
• A low-cost VPN service that provides good value for money

 

How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick

If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.

You can download Surfshark directly from the Amazon App store. It will be easy for you to find Surfshark with your Firestick’s Find feature. Refer to our screenshots below.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

 

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

 

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

 

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

 

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

 

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

 

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

 

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

 

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

 

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

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Firestick Alternatives

• Fire TV Cube
• Google Chromecast
• Roku
• Nvidia Shield
• Apple TV

 

FAQs

What exactly does the FireStick do?

A Firestick lets you install apps on your TV to watch movies, TV shows, live TV, listen to music, and play games.

 

How do I watch free movies on my FireStick?

Installing a streaming app from the Amazon Appstore or sideloading third-party apps on your Firestick will allow you to view free movies.

 

What is the best application for Firestick?

Surfshark and Cinema APK are two of my favorite Firestick applications. 

My first choice is Surfshark because it protects your personal information and allows you to view geo-restricted content. The Cinema APK comes in second since it offers a large library of content that you can stream for free. I like how easy the user interface is and how frequently the content is updated.

 

Do I need a VPN to use the Firestick?

While the Firestick does not require the use of a VPN in particular, there are some geo-restricted apps, especially those that are verified by the Amazon Appstore. So you’ll need a VPN to gain an IP address from that region to access them and get their content. Aside from that, there are some apps that you may not be aware are illegal, so a VPN will conceal your internet connection and data to prevent legal issues.

 

Are Firesticks legal?

Yes, Firesticks are legal to use. But Firestick cannot ensure that the video you’ll be watching is coming from a legal source.

 

Is there a monthly fee for Firestick?

There is no monthly fee for Firestick, it is just a one-time payment after you have purchased your device. However, most verified apps have subscriptions to allow you to stream content on your Firestick.

 

Do you need internet for Firestick?

Yes, you’ll need an internet connection to search, download, and stream content on your Firestick device. You can, however, watch previously downloaded videos even if you are not connected to the internet.

 

What is the best Firestick device?

The Fire TV Stick 4k is, in my opinion, the best Firestick currently available on the market. It’s because it can display images in 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+. Additionally, the Alexa voice command offers a comprehensive voice experience, including the ability to check the weather, monitor live camera feeds, and more.

 

Is jailbreaking safe?

Yes, jailbreaking is safe. It will not do any harm to your device and you can easily turn it off in the setting of your Firestick

 

Is jailbreaking legal?

Yes, jailbreaking is legal. Still, it’s important to ensure that you’re only downloading legal content to avoid legal issues.

                                                    

Conclusion

The Firestick is such a powerful device that allows you to do so many things on your television. So it’s no surprise that it’s recognized as the best streaming device available in the market. However, as a user, you should always look for ways to get the most out of your Firestick so that you can take advantage of all of its features. Users of the Firestick are extremely privileged, as the Firestick can do so much for them, including watching movies and TV shows, listening to music, playing games, and so much more, simply by installing numerous applications on the device.

And with that, we’d like to thank you for taking the time to read our article. We hope this overview of how the Firestick works, what it is, and what you can do with it was helpful. We also hope that we have provided you with a list of the best apps for your Firestick device on whichever process you prefer. Have fun with your Firestick and happy streaming!

 

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