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The new Chromecast with Google TV has been very well received by users from all walks of life. With rave reviews from us and other outlets, this $ 49 streaming dongle could easily be considered Google’s biggest hardware triumph of 2020. Most of that praise is simply due to the new Chromecast appearing with a Dedicated remote and on-screen user interface that makes consuming content both easier and more accessible to a wider range of users.
But that doesn’t mean there are users with no lingering questions. One of those questions boils down to how we can add apps to the new Chromecast if they are not explicitly in the Play Store and listed as compatible with the version of Android TV that runs on the popular streaming dongle. The answer isn’t too complex, honestly, and we wanted to create a quick guide on how users can add unsupported apps to their new Chromecast without the need for cables, dongles, or docks. . This method is completely wireless, fairly straightforward, and won’t take you too long.
Find your .apk file and place it in Google Drive
First of all, you need the app you want to load. Android apps are called APKs, and you will need to have this file ready before you start this process. Not all APK download sites are the same and we highly recommend APK Mirror if you want to try an app that is not in the Play Store for the new Chromecast. You can just google the name of the app and add the words “ APK Mirror ” or you can go straight to their site and search from there. Either way, find the app you want, download this APK, and put it in your Google Drive where you can find it. Any folder will make it easier.
Install a file manager
Your new Chromecast does not have a suitable file browser, so you’ll need to get one. There are quite a few and I’ve tested several that work for this use case, but the one that was easiest to move around and that works every time for me is File Commander. Just hold down the Assistant button on the Chromecast remote, say “install File Commander from the Play Store” and the app install screen will appear. Install it and we move on to the next step.
Enter developer mode
Don’t let that scare you. It’s not only easy, but it doesn’t really put you in another mode on your Chromecast. Instead, you simply unlock an additional menu where you can make more advanced changes to the underlying functionality of Android TV. We’re only going to change one thing, so being in developer mode won’t affect your day-to-day operation at all. In fact, after downloading the apps you want, you can just turn off Developer Options if that makes you more comfortable.
Anyway, to enter this developer mode, you just need to go to your Chromecast. settings> about> Android TV operating system version and click the center button on your remote while the build number is highlighted. After a few clicks you will see a countdown and then a message saying “You are now a developer!” That’s it!
Allow installation from unknown sources
Then we’ll stay in the settings menu and head to the Applications> Security and restrictions> Unknown sources and toggle the switch that will allow File Commander to install apps from unknown sources. Again, you can turn all of this off at the end of this whole process (after installing whatever you want) if that makes you feel insecure. This change simply allows your file manager to stage and install an app that you choose from Google Drive in the next step.
Install the app you have chosen
Now go home, go to your apps and open File Commander. Go to your Google Drive account and navigate to the folder where you placed your APK file. Navigate to that APK file, click the middle button to select it, and you will see the app start staging, then ask if you want to install the app. Click Yes, then sit back and let the app install. When done, you will be asked if you want to open the app or just complete the process. Both are great, here, and both result in your new apps being installed on your Chromecast. Look under your apps section and you should see it the next time you need it.
We certainly hope this helps some of you with your new Chromecast to get the app you’ve been hoping for on your new device. While there are a lot of apps that don’t perform quite well on Android TV, there are a lot that work just fine and just don’t show up in the Play Store for the new Chromecast. We have found this technique to be the easiest way to try out certain apps on the new Chromecast and hope you found it helpful too!
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