How To Download And Run Android Apps On A Smart TV (2026)

You found an Android app you want on your TV, and the TV will not let you install it.

That is normal, because only TVs running Google TV or Android TV can use the Google Play Store.

This guide shows which route fits your TV, how to sideload safely, and what to buy if your TV cannot run Android apps.

Buy links go to Amazon, and TheDroidGuy may earn a commission from them.

Which route works for your TV?

TV platform	Play Store	Best way to get Android apps
Google TV / Android TV (Sony, TCL, Philips, Sharp and some Hisense models)	Yes	Install from the Play Store, or sideload an APK
Samsung (Tizen)	No	Samsung App Store, a Google TV box, or casting
LG (webOS)	No	LG Content Store, a Google TV box, or casting
Vizio (SmartCast)	No	Built-in apps, a Google TV box, or casting
Roku TV	No	Roku Channel Store, a Google TV box, or casting
Fire TV	No	Amazon Appstore, or sideload with Downloader

Why can’t every smart TV run Android apps?

Android apps are built for the Android operating system, and many TVs ship with a different one.

Samsung uses Tizen, LG uses webOS, and Roku and Vizio use their own software.

Those platforms cannot open an Android APK file, no matter what settings you change.

Google TV is the newer interface on top of Android TV, and the two work the same way for installing apps.

Our Google TV vs Android TV comparison explains the differences.

How do you check which system your TV runs?

1. Open Settings on the TV.
2. Go to System → About (the path varies by brand).
3. Look for the words Google TV, Android TV, Tizen, webOS, Roku OS or SmartCast.

If you still can’t tell, look up your exact model number on the maker’s support page.

How do you install apps from the Play Store?

1. Press Home on the remote.
2. Open Apps (or the Google Play Store).
3. Search for the app by name.
4. Select Install.

The TV Play Store lists only apps built for a TV screen and remote.

Many phone apps, such as most banking apps, will not appear there.

How do you sideload an APK on Android TV or Google TV?

Sideloading means installing an app file from outside the Play Store.

1. Go to Settings → System → About, highlight Android TV OS build and press Select until the TV says you are a developer.
2. Get the APK from a source you trust, such as APKMirror, and send it to the TV.
3. When the TV blocks the install, choose Settings and allow unknown sources for the installer app only.
4. Open the APK in a file manager on the TV and select Install.

Android TV asks for this permission per app, so you grant it to the file manager or downloader, not to every app.

Warning: an APK from a random forum can carry malware, so download only from sources you trust.

Google has also announced developer-verification rules for sideloaded Android apps, so how this works may change on newer software.

What is the easiest way to get the APK onto the TV?

Method	What you need	Best for
Send Files to TV	App on phone and TV, same Wi-Fi	One APK from your phone
USB drive	USB port on the TV, file manager app	TVs with weak Wi-Fi
Cloud storage	Google Drive or similar, plus a file manager	Files already in the cloud
Downloader app	A direct APK link	Fire TV, where it is the official route

Format a USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT, because some TVs cannot read NTFS.

Where do sideloaded apps show up?

Sideloaded apps often skip the home screen launcher.

Go to Settings → Apps → See all apps to open them.

A launcher such as Sideload Launcher from the Play Store puts them in one place.

Phone apps may need a Bluetooth mouse or game controller, because they expect a touchscreen.

For safer picks, see our list of must-have Android TV apps.

Which Google TV box should you buy for a non-Android TV?

A Google TV box plugs into HDMI and adds the Play Store to any TV with an HDMI port.

Device	Verified details	Best for
Google TV Streamer (4K)	4 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, gigabit Ethernet, listed at $149.99 on the Google Store	Most people
onn. 4K Pro (Walmart)	3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, 10/100 Ethernet, launched at about $50 in 2024	Tight budgets
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro	Reported price increase to $299 in October 2026; the standard model is reported as no longer made	Power users

Check the current price before you buy, because streaming box prices have moved in 2026.

Which box is the best pick?

Google TV Streamer: the safest all-round pick, with the most memory of the three.

Check price on Amazon

onn. 4K Pro: the budget pick, and its Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet port cover most homes.

Check price on Amazon

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro: a premium box, and the higher price makes it worth it only if you want its extras.

Check price on Amazon

Setup takes about five minutes: connect HDMI, plug in power, switch the TV to that input and sign in with your Google account.

Can you cast or mirror instead?

Casting works on almost any TV and needs no new hardware.

• Google Cast: tap the Cast icon in an app on your Android phone and pick the TV.
• Samsung and LG: use the TV’s built-in screen sharing, or AirPlay on supported models for iPhones.
• Limits: expect some lag, extra battery drain, and a black screen in apps that block mirroring.

Our list of TVs with Chromecast built in helps if you are shopping.

What if an app won’t install or run?

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
App missing in TV Play Store	Not built for TV	Sideload it or cast from your phone
Install blocked	Unknown sources off for the installer	Allow it for that one app when prompted
USB drive not seen	Format not supported	Reformat as FAT32 or exFAT, try another port
App crashes on launch	Needs touch, GPS or phone sensors	Use a TV version or a mouse, or cast instead
Remote won’t respond on the box	Dead batteries or lost pairing	Replace batteries, re-pair, or use the Google TV phone app

If a Samsung TV is missing its own apps, read how to fix Samsung TV missing or unavailable apps.

Where can you check official details?

• Google TV Streamer specs from the Google Store.
• Google TV Help for setup and app questions.
• NVIDIA SHIELD for current Shield availability.