This post shows how to install Fire Starter on Amazon Fire TV 2014 and 2015. Amazon released the all new Fire tV 2015 with 4K video, Fire OS 5, and a bunch of problems. One of the major issues with Fire TV 2 is that it kills the ability to create a working shortcut on homescreen for Kodi. This has annoyed many users, who now have to go to Settings -> Applications -> Managed Installed Applications to start Kodi. If you have known Amazon Fire TV then you may also know that opening sideloaded apps are not easy. You can install FireStarter on Amazon Fire TV and circumvent many of these annoyances.
Update (Apr 5, 2016): If you already updated to Fire OS v5.0.5.1 then FireStarter will not work on your Fire TV, since Amazon blacklisted FireStarter. However, this version of Fire OS will add sideloaded app icons to "Recent Menu" on homescreen, making launching apps like Kodi easier. Update (Dec 22, 2015): There is now an easier method to install FireStarter on Fire TV without adbFire, ADB, or an external computer. All you need is your Fire TV that is all. Update (Dec 20, 2015): Amazon Fire TV software update (5.0.4) has allowed sideloaded apps to appear in the Apps menu. Although this makes launching Kodi or other sideloaded apps easier, I still recommend using FireStarter.
FireStarter is an alternate launcher for Fire TV. It detects home button presses and presents to you with an app drawer screen that provides easy access to all sideloaded apps and optionally system apps.
Sideloaded Apps On Firestarter
When you press the home button FireStarter automatically displays the App Drawer to open sideloaded apps, as shown above. You can also make FireStarter display System Apps such as Prime Videos, Music, Photos, etc. if you Amazon Prime User giving you an Android-like interface to access all your apps. Best of all, FireStarter works without having to root your device. All features of FireStarter can be found on its GitHub page or this XDA thread.
On the 2014 Fire TV Gen 1, FireStarter provides easy access to sideloaded apps. On the 2015 Fire TV Gen 2, FireStarter not only provides easy access to sideloaded apps but also enables you to start Kodi easily. Sold? Let us go ahead and install FireStarter on Fire TV box and stick. [Read:Amazon Fire TV 2014 vs Fire TV 2015: Why Gen 1 is better]
Method 1. Install FireStarter on Amazon Fire TV with adbFire
Update July 10, 2016: adbFire is now known as adbLink. In this article adbFire refers to adbLink.
The easiest way to setup FireStarter on FireTV is using the adbFire App. First, ensure that you have setup your Fire TV on adbFire app. With the current device selected and connected, click FireStarter button.
Setup Firestarter On Firetv Using Adbfire
This should install FireStarter on Fire TV in a few seconds. However, I found that the adbFire app installed an older version of FireStarter that was not compatible with Fire OS 5. This may change in future when adbFire App is updated. The new adbFire 2.0 version installs the latest FireStarter. But I still recommend following method 2 described below to install FireStarter on new Fire TV 2015 to always get the latest version.
Method 2: Sideload FireStarter on Fire TV using adbFire
Installing FireStarter on AFTV with this method will ensure that you have the latest version of FireStarter. First, visit the FireStarter download page and download the latest .apk file. At the time of writing this guide it was v3.0. Save it to a known location on your computer.
Click on "Install APK" and browse and choose the FireStarter APK file downloaded previously. After successful FireStarter installation you should see a confirmation message.
After you install FireStarter on Amazon Fire TV, disconnect your FireTV from adbFire App. FireStarter cannot function properly if adbFire connected to your Fire TV through adb. Then, navigate to Settings -> Applications -> Managed Installed Applications and open FireStarter. This should be last time you have to open any sideloaded app with these many clicks.
Firestarter Configuration For Fire Tv
Navigate to the FireStarter Settings and ensure that you have the above items checked. By default, single home click opens FireStarter and double home click opens Amazon Fire TV home. Optionally, you can customize this behavior. Some users make double home click open Kodi for instance. Finally, click on "Open ADB Settings", turn off ADB Debugging and turn it back on again. Then reboot your Fire TV by pressing "Select" and "Play / Pause" buttons for 5 seconds. [Read:5 Must try Kodi skins for Amazon Fire TV]
That is it, you have now installed and configured Fire Starter for Fire TV. This method also works for Fire TV stick. FireStarter provides quick access to Amazon Fire TV apps. With Kodi homescreen shortcut not functioning (at this point) in Fire OS 5, FireStarter is the best way to not only launch Kodi but also any other sideloaded app easily. Go ahead install FireStarter on Amazon Fire TV and enjoy the added convenience.
Anand is a self-learned computer enthusiast, hopeless tinkerer (if it ain't broke, fix it), a part-time blogger, and a Scientist during the day. He has been blogging since 2010 on Linux, Ubuntu, Home/Media/File Servers, Smart Home Automation, and related HOW-TOs.
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