Developer options on Firestick: meaning, uses and how to find and enable it?

Developer Options is a hidden settings menu on Amazon Fire TV Stick devices that provides advanced tools primarily intended for app developers, allowing sideloading of apps, debugging of apps, and modifying system behavior. This feature is part of Amazon’s customized Android Operating System, Fire OS, and is similar to developer options on standard Android devices.

The common uses of enabling developer options on Firestick include removal of developer restrictions on installation of third-party apps, helping developers test and troubleshoot apps, debugging apps for developers, and helping improve the Fire TV Stick speed.

The developer options on Firestick used to be under My Fire TV, but now it is hidden under Settings > About section for devices using Fire TV Operating System 7 and above.

What is the developer options on Firestick?

The developer Options on an Amazon Firestick is a hidden menu that provides advanced settings primarily intended for app developers. Generally speaking, the developer options allow users to tweak their device’s performance by enabling ADB debugging and installing apps from unknown sources.

Why is the developer options missing on the Fire TV Stick?

The developer options is missing on the Amazon Fire TV Stick after Fire TV software updates to OS 7 or later. The devices that are running the Fire TV Operating System 7 and above are not seeing the developer options under My Fire TV. 

Generally speaking, the developer option is not missing; it’s now hidden within the “My Fire TV” “About” section of the Settings.

What are the common uses of developer options on a Fire TV Stick?

The common uses of developer options on a Fire TV Stick include sideloading of apps (e.g., Kodi, third-party APKs), debugging apps for developers, optimizing performance by disabling background processes, and screen recording via ADB commands.

1. Sideloading apps (e.g., Kodi, Third-Party APKs): The sideloading of apps allows the installation of apps not available on the Amazon Appstore. To use this, enable Apps from Unknown Sources in developer options and then use Downloader or ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to install APK files. The popular sideloaded apps on the Fire TV Stick are Kodi for streaming add-ons, SmartTubeNext for ad-free YouTube, and Stremio for torrent-based streaming.
2. Debugging apps for developers: This helps developers test and troubleshoot apps on Fire TV and is useful for app developers to fix crashes, optimize performance, and test new features. The key tools include ADB Debugging, which helps developers connect a Fire TV Stick to a PC for app testing, USB Debugging that allows direct USB connections, and Wireless ADB Debugging that enables debugging over Wi-Fi.
3. Optimizing performance: The enabling of developer options helps improve Fire TV Stick speed by reducing unnecessary background tasks. The common tweaks, such as disabling bloatware via ADB (e.g., Amazon shopping app), limiting background processes via ADB commands, and clearing cache for smoother operation, free up RAM and storage improve Firestick speed.
4. Screen recording via ADB commands: The screen recording captures Firestick screen activity for tutorials or bug reports. The ADB commands help capture devices without the need for external capture devices. To enable ADB debugging in developer options, connect the Firestick to a PC via ADB and run the below given command.
   • adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/demo.mp4

What are the key features in Developer Options?

The key features in developer options include ADB debugging, apps from unknown sources, wireless ADB debugging, force 4K / HDR, USB debugging, and allow data collection. The features, use, and benefits of developer options are given in the table below.

Key Features in Developer Options
Feature	What It Does	Useful For
ADB Debugging	Allows connection to a computer for sideloading apps or debugging.	Sideloading APKs, advanced tweaks
Apps from Unknown Sources	Allows installing apps outside the Amazon Appstore (required for sideloading).	Installing Kodi, SmartTube, etc.
Wireless ADB Debugging	Enables ADB over Wi-Fi (no USB cable needed).	Wireless app installations
Force 4K / HDR	Forces higher resolution (may cause issues in some apps).	Better video quality (if supported)
USB Debugging	Allows debugging via USB (rarely used on Firestick).	Developers testing apps
Allow Data Collection	Sends diagnostic logs to Amazon (privacy concern—best disabled).	Reducing telemetry

How to get and enable developer options on Firestick?

To get developer options on Firestick, follow the below listed steps.

• Go to the Settings icon on FireStick/Fire TV home screen.
• Choose My Fire TV.
• Click About if the Developer option is not showing.
• Click on Fire TV Stick 7 times quickly. A notification will appear at the bottom of the screen saying, “No need; you are already a developer,” indicating the Developer Options is enabled.
• Press the back button on your remote to see that Developer Options is showing within My Fire TV.

The developer options on the Fire TV Stick is now enabled, and you have to enable “Install App from Unknown Sources“, as the next step to allow sideloading of Apps.

How to enable the installation of unknown apps on Firestick?

To enable the installation of unknown apps on Firestick and sideload apps like Kodi, SmartTube, or Stremio, follow the steps listed below.

• Go to Settings and navigate to My Fire TV > Developer Options.
• Toggle the switch to ON for “Apps from Unknown Sources.“
• Click Turn On to confirm.

Now, the sideloading of apps on the Fire TV Stick is enabled. Use Downloader to start downloading third-party apps like Kodi, CinemaHD, etc.

What are the best practices for using Developer Options on Firestick?

The best practices for using Developer Options on Firestick are using a VPN if sideloading, clearing cache regularly, avoiding disabling system apps, and rebooting the Fire TV Stick after major changes to ensure safety, performance, and stability.

• Use a VPN if sideloading apps: Sideloaded streaming apps, such as Kodi add-ons and unofficial APKs, expose your IP to copyright monitors, and therefore, you need a VPN to encrypt traffic and hide your location. We, at Homeplustechnology, use NordVPN, which is fast and compatible with Firestick, and protects privacy during our research.
• Clear cache regularly: Clearing the cache regularly prevents slowdowns of Fire TV devices, as apps like Kodi, Netflix, and Disney+ store temporary files.
• Avoid disabling system apps: The pre-installed Amazon apps, like Fire TV Launcher, are critical for the smooth operation of the Fire TV Stick, and disabling them puts your device at risk of bricking, leading to issues including boot loops or crashes. It is best to use ADB commands instead of deleting the apps permanently.
• Reboot Fire TV after major changes: The enabling of ADB debugging, installing apps from unknown sources, and forcing 4K have the potential to cause temporary bugs, and rebooting the device after the change refreshes system processes and fixes glitches.

What are the warnings and tips for using Developer Options on Fire TV Stick?

Developer Options gives powerful control over Firestick, but misusing it causes problems, from crashes to security risks. The warnings and tips for using Developer options on Firestick are listed below.

• Don’t install random apps from unknown sources: The installation of random APKs from unknown sources puts your Firestick at risk of malware, spyware, or adware. To keep yourself protected from these risks, only sideload apps from reputable sources such as APKMirror and official dev websites, and disable “Unknown Sources” after installing the app. Always avoid “free Netflix/HBO” APKs, as most of them are scams.
• Disable ADB debugging when not in use: ADB debugging allows remote access to Firestick, but leaving ADB debugging on allows hackers to remotely access your Firestick if they are on the same network. To protect yourself from hackers, turn OFF the developer options after sideloading or debugging, and change your Wi-Fi password regularly if using wireless ADB.
• Don’t randomly toggle settings: There are some options in settings like “Force GPU Rendering” or “Disable HW Overlays” toggling which cause lag, crashes, or boot loops. So, when in developer options, only change settings if you understand them, and if it acts weird, reset Developer Options to default.
• Forcing 4K/HDR break apps: The forcing of unsupported resolutions such as 4K/HDR causes black screens, freezing, or distorted video. To keep your device protected, only enable force 4K/HDR if your TV supports it.