If you have Apple TV and want to download the third-party apps on it then you are in the right place.
In this guide, we will provide you with some handy methods that will allow you to install third-party apps on your Apple TV.
So, read the complete article and follow the steps mentioned in each method to install the third-party apps on your Apple TV.
Generally, you can install any application on Apple TV from the Apple Store. Here you can find almost every app you want or require to stream movies and videos on your Apple TV.
To install the apps all you have to do is go to Apple Store and search for the app you want to install.
Once you find the app, select the Get button and it will prompt you t enter the Apple ID and Password to initiate the installation process.
Once the app is successfully downloaded and installed you can see its icon on your home screen from where you can launch and use it.
But what if you want to download an app that is not available on Apple Store? This is where things get complicated.
Fortunately, Apple TV allows users to install third-party plications from the unknown source but you have to do some extra work for it.
If you want to download third-party apps on your Apple TV you have to use the methods mentioned in this article.
How to Install Third-Party Apps on Apple TV
Below we have mentioned some methods that will you use to install third-party apps on Apple TV.
Method 1: By Sideloading via Xcode
In this method you have to use the Xcode, Apple’s development tool, to sideload apps onto your Apple TV.
To proceed with this method you need to have a Mac computer and the app’s source code or an IPA file.
Follow the steps written below to Sideload the third-party apps using Xcode.
- First, connect your Apple TV with your Mac using a USB-C cable.
- Once done, Open the Xcode on your Mac.
- Now, click on “Create a new Xcode project” or go to File > New > Project.
- Under the Application section choose “tvOS”.
- Here you can see multiple options, select “Single View App” and click “Next.”
- This will ask you to fill out the form and provide the necessary information about the project.
- Once you fill the form click Next.
- Now select the location where you want to save the project and click “Create.”
- In the Xcode toolbar, select your Apple TV as the target device.
- Now drag the file you want to sideload into the Xcode and drop it into the Xcode project navigator on the left-hand side.
- After this step make sure the app appears under the “Installed Apps” section in the Xcode project.
- Once done, click on the “Play” button. This will install the app onto your Apple TV.
- Once the installation is complete, the app will appear on your Apple TV home screen.
- That’s it. This is how you can install third-party apps on your Apple TV by sideloading via Xcode.
Method 2: Using External signing services
If you don’t want to install third-party apps via Xcode then you can use this method. In this method, we are going to use External Signing Services to install the third-party apps on Apple TV.
Here are the steps to do that,
- First, you need to find a reputable External Signing Service that offers app signing and distribution for Apple TV apps such as AppDB, iPASTORE, and others.
- Once you find the external signing service you need to sign up by using your Google Account or by using Apple ID and follow their registration process.
- Now download the app file to your computer.
- Log in to the external signing service’s website using your account credentials.
- Now go to the Settings section and click Upload or Sideload an app option.
- Now select the app file and upload it.
- Once the uploading process is completed, the external signing service will generate an installation file or provide instructions on how to install the app on your Apple TV.
- Follow the instructions provided by the external signing service to install the app on your Apple TV.
- After the installation is complete, the third-party app should appear on your Apple TV home screen.
This is how you can install third-party apps on Apple TV by using External signing services. The steps mentioned above may vary depending on the external signing service you choose and the tools they provide.
Method 3: By Jailbreaking
Another method to install third-party apps on your Apple TV is by Jailbreak your TV. Jailbreaking your Apple TV allows you to gain access to unauthorized app repositories and install third-party apps that are not available through the official App Store.
Here is how you can do it,
- First, you need to check which version of your Apple TV because the process of jailbreaking will vary depending on which version or model of Apple TV you are using.
- Once you checked your Apple TV model or software version you need to create a backup of your Apple TV data to ensure that you have a copy of your data in case something goes wrong during the jailbreaking process.
- Now, choose the jailbreaking tool which is compatible with your Apple TV model and software version.
- Next, enter the DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode on your Apple TV. For that follow the instructions provided by the selected jailbreaking tool.
- Now, launch the jailbreaking tool on your computer and follow the provided instructions to initiate the jailbreaking process.
- Wait for the jailbreaking process to complete.
- Once the jailbreaking process is completed, you will need to install a package manager that allows you to install and manage third-party apps.
- Once you install the package manager use it to install third-party apps on your Apple TV.
That’s it, these are some methods that you can use to install third-party apps on your Apple TV.