How to Side load Apps on Smart TV (Hisense)

With Smart TVs, you are in a good position to download and install apps of your choice since they are just one click away. However, there may arise a need to sideload apps on your Smart TV. This allows you to unveil the extended functionalities of apps that may have a limited selection on the Android TV platform.

Now the question here becomes, what is sideloading? Well, the installation of apps on your Smart TV is straightforward by searching for the desired app in the Play Store and installing it with just a single click. This is the typical way of downloading apps on your Smart TV. On the other hand, sideloading means that you will not undergo the same process but will install the apps outside the Play Store interface.

Therefore, we are providing you with a simple procedure on how to sideload apps on your Smart TV, more specifically, the Hisense Smart TV. Be sure to navigate through the page till the end, and the answer to your question will be handsomely answered.

Note: If you are going to sideload an app, you need to ensure that you trust the source from which you are getting the file. Be sure to get apps only from known and trusted sources.

Requirements for Sideloading Apps on Hisense Smart TV

Well, before you get started, you need to consider that the requirements are all in place. This will make the installation process smooth and easy, thus saving your time and effort. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that the requirements are well taken care of before anything else.

First of all, you will need to allow installation from unknown sources by enabling Unknown Sources. This will allow you to download apps from unknown sources, thus allowing the installation. To achieve this, you will need to follow the steps given below:

1. Turn on your Hisense Smart TV.
2. On the home screen, navigate to the Settings menu.
3. Select the Personal tab and look for the option for Security.
4. Now, you will be able to see the setting for Unknown Sources. Toggle the switch next to it to enable it.
5. Once this is enabled, you will be free to download apps from other sources apart from the Play Store.

Besides enabling installation from unknown sources, you will need to have additional applications to make the sideload process easier. This involves the sideload launcher, which allows you to access your apps once you have downloaded them. Also, you will need a file manager, which will make it easier to browse the files on your Hisense TV.

These applications are available in the Google Play store. Therefore, you will need to find them in the Play Store. To download the Sideload Launcher, be sure to follow the steps given below.

1. Go to Google Play Store.
2. In the search bar, type Sideload Launcher and hit enter.
3. Once you see it, click on Install.

On the other hand, you can easily download and install the File Manager app from the Play Store by following the same procedure given above for the Sideload Launcher app. Once all these requirements are in place, you are now ready to begin the sideload process with ease.

There are two ways in which you can sideload apps on your Smart TV. This involves installing apps from a browser as well as using a flash drive. We are going to give you a step-by-step guide on how to use the methods above.

Sideload Apps from your Web Browser

Where can you use your web browser? The answer is very simple; you can access your web browser through your smartphone, laptop, or computer. This is an easy and fast way of installing apps since all you have to do is navigate to the web browser and look for the app. To do so, you will have to follow the steps given below:

1. Open the web browser of your choice using your computer or laptop.
2. Next, you will need to navigate to the Google Play Store and search for the app that you want to install.
3. Click on Install if you do not have the app on your current device.
4. You will then need to sign in to your Google account. If you don’t have one, you can go ahead and create one. It is easy and won’t take much of your time.
5. After logging in, you will see a window with a drop-down menu. Click on the drop-down and select your Smart TV from the list of devices, then click on Install.
6. A notification will appear confirming that the app has been installed on your Smart TV. Tap on OK.
7. Next, you can now power on your TV, and you will find the app already installed. Make sure that your TV is connected to the internet, and you can now proceed to use the sideloaded app.

If the above-described method doesn’t work, don’t worry; you can try the next method described below.

Sideload Apps using a Flash Drive

This process involves getting the sideload app from a trusted source using your computer’s web browser, copying the file to a flash drive, and transferring it to your Hisense Smart TV. You need to make sure that your TV has a USB port where you can insert the flash drive and proceed with the installation process. Therefore, to achieve this, you will need to follow the steps outlined below:

1. Go to the web browser on your computer or laptop.
2. From the trusted sources, find the .apk file for the app that you want to install on your Hisense TV and then download it.
3. Insert the flash drive into your laptop or computer and copy the file onto it.
4. After copying the file, remove the flash drive from the computer and plug it into the TV.
5. You can now open and view the contents of the flash drive on your Smart TV, thanks to the file manager app you already downloaded.
6. After finding the .apk file, select it and click on Install.
7. Once the installation process is complete, use the Sideload Launcher app to open the app that you have just installed on your Hisense Smart TV.