Owners of Xiaomi and Mi Box TVs often face a limited set of pre-installed apps.Standard shell Android TV Users may not support popular Russian services or specific video file formats. Users are looking for a way to expand the functionality of the device, but not everyone has a computer at hand to create a bootable flash drive or install. ADB-driver.
Fortunately, the current Android TV ecosystem allows you to bypass these limitations using only the remote and Internet connection. You can install third-party launchers, media players, and even full-fledged set-top boxes in the form of applications. This process does not require complex code manipulation, if you know the correct sequence of actions in the settings menu.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods for installing additional software. We will look at the built-in browser capabilities, using cloud storage and installing through special download managers. You will learn how to turn your TV into a powerful multimedia center without using external hardware.
Preparation of the TV for installation of third-party software
Before any manipulations begin, you must obtain extended access rights to the system. TV It often hides the ability to install applications from unknown sources, which is a security measure, but it blocks the installation. APK-files downloaded from the Internet.
You'll need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → Device → Assembly. Click on "Build" seven times in a row with quick, short clicks. The system will notify you that the developer mode has been activated. Then a new debugging section will appear in the menu.
Next, you need to allow the installation of applications from unknown sources. Find the settings menu for Security and Restrictions or Privacy. Depending on the version of Android TV, the path may be slightly different, but the essence remains the same. You need to find the Unknown Sources switch and activate it for your file manager or browser.
⚠️ Warning: Installing applications from unverified sources carries risks. APK-files only from official developer sites or trusted repositories to avoid introducing malicious code into the TV system.
Make sure your TV is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Heavy firmware or launcher files require a good connection. If the internet is unstable, the process may be interrupted, causing the installation package to be damaged.
☑️ Xiaomi Preparation TV modifyable
Using a built-in browser to download APK
The easiest way to install an app without a computer is to use an embedded browser. On Xiaomi TVs, Google Chrome or a dedicated browser TV Bro is usually preinstalled. If there is no standard browser, it can be found in the Google Play Store.
Open the browser and go to the verified site with APK-Type the name of the application you want, such as "TVLauncher" or"VLC". Be careful with text input using an on-screen cursor. For convenience, you can use the voice input function if it is supported by a remote control.
Once the file is uploaded, the security system can block the installation, a pop-up will appear with a warning, you need to click Settings in this window and allow a particular browser to install applications, which is a one-time action for each new download source.
💡
Use the service QR-- I'm going to use the codes to send links from my phone. APK-file, create QR-code and scan it with your phone’s camera or through a TV app to instantly open a link in your TV browser.
Find the downloaded file in the Downloads or Downloads folder. Click on it to start the installation. It takes a few seconds. Once completed, you'll see the Open or Ready button. Don't delete the installation file right away, it can be useful for re-installation after reset.
Installation through cloud storage and file managers
The alternative is to use cloud services, and you can download the right one in advance. APK-file on your smartphone or tablet and upload it to the cloud, for example, in Google Drive, Dropbox or Yandex.Disk.This eliminates the risk of downloading the file with ads directly on the TV.
On your TV, install your cloud storage app from Google Play. Log in to your account. Find a file you downloaded and click on it. The system will prompt you to open the file using the package installer. Confirm the action and follow the instructions on the screen.
This method is especially useful if the built-in browser of the TV is slow or displays pages of sites incorrectly.Transferring a file through the cloud takes less time than downloading a heavy file directly to a device with limited RAM.
What to do if the file is not opened?
A quality file manager is critical to managing files on your TV. Android TV's standard tools are often limited. X-plore File Manager or Solid Explorer is recommended. These applications have a user-friendly interface to manage from the remote and allow you to see hidden system folders.
List of necessary applications for full work
For your TV to function as a full-fledged set-top box, a launcher is not enough; you need a set of tools for control, media playback and navigation, without which the interface may be uncomfortable, and some video formats will not play.
First, look at alternative launchers. Xiaomi's standard shell can be overloaded with advertising; third-party launchers allow you to remove the extra and customize the start screen for yourself; and you also need a powerful media player to support all audio codecs.
Below is a table of recommended applications that should be installed first of all to expand the functionality:
| Annex | Type | Substantive function | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLauncher | Launcher | Replacement of the standard interface, removal of advertising | Low. |
| VLC for Android | Media player | Reproduction of any video formats and codecs | Low. |
| Send Files to TV | Utility. | Transfer APK from phone to TV over Wi-Fi | Medium |
| Mouse Toggle | Tool. | Emulation of a mouse cursor for control from the remote | Tall. |
Special attention should be paid to the app Send Files to TV, which allows you to transfer files directly from your smartphone to your TV, if both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, completely replacing the need for a computer or flash drive.
Set up an alternative launcher as the main shell
Once a new launcher, such as a FLauncher or Sideload Launcher, is installed, it won’t automatically replace the standard interface. Android TV always launches the manufacturer’s native shell by default. Additional actions are required to change this behavior.
There are several ways to make a third-party launcher the primary one, and the easiest way to do that is to use the Button Mapper app, which allows you to reassign the remote buttons, and you can set the launcher to start when you press the Home button or any other free key, and this bypasses the system constraint without deep firmware interference.
Another method involves disabling the standard launcher via ADB, but since we're looking at a PC-free method, that's not an option. However, you can use helper apps that hide the standard launcher from the list of recent applications, which creates the illusion of working in a new environment.
⚠️ Note: When installing a third-party launcher, make sure you have a way to return to the standard interface (such as through the Back button or a reassigned key.
Setup is complete if your new interface opens when you turn on or exit sleep mode. Check all the buttons on the remote. If any button doesn't respond, set it up through the launcher's menu or through the Button Mapper utility.
💡
Changing the launcher doesn't remove the standard shell, it just adds to it. You can always go back to the factory settings by resetting the launcher or deleting it through the application menu.
Solving installation problems
During installation, users often encounter an error called "Application not installed." This may be due to incompatibility of the processor architecture. Xiaomi TVs can use ARM or x86 processors. Download versions of APK labeled ARM64-v8a, as this is the most common architecture for TV boxes.
Another problem is the lack of internal memory: Android TV requires free space to unpack temporary files, if the memory is full, clear the cache of installed applications or remove unused programs, in extreme cases, resetting to factory settings will help.
If an application is installed but crashes when it starts, try clearing its data and cache in the app settings menu, and check if the application requires specific permissions that you might have denied when you installed it, and sometimes installing an older version of the application helps.
Why isn't the remote in the new launcher working?
Don’t ignore system updates. Sometimes, a new firmware version from Xiaomi will close vulnerabilities that were used to install third-party software. Before updating, check the forums for compatibility of the new version of Android TV with your favorite modifications.