Even though preloaded apps are available, getting the most out of your VIZIO smart TV means installing third-party apps. It’s good news that Sideloading apps which are not available on your Vizio TV is possible.
As you may know, it’s quite tricky to add Third-party apps to a Vizio Smart TV. Due to its restricted operating system.
However, I will show you how to get the third-party apps easily and once you understand the process you will be able to easily add new apps without any hassles. So if you wish to know How to add apps to your Vizio Smart TV that are not listed, this guide is all you need to go through.
I found that the worst aspect of the Vizio Smart TV is that it lacks a web browser and there is no browser in its App store either, which makes it difficult to add third party apps, but I still managed to do so as the Vizio Smart TV is Android-based, so it can still be done.
In order to add Third Party Apps on Vizio Smart TV, we need to sideload the apps and then access the APK file from Vizio Smart TV. After that, we can install them easily.
Additionally, you can get Third-Party Apps via streaming devices such as Firestick, Chromecast, MI TV Stick, and casting or mirroring them from your mobile or tablet. However, I am not addressing that method, so we have two main options.
- Adding Third Party Apps on Vizio TV Via Sideloading
- Using Third Party Apps Via Kodi
- Downloading Third Party Apps Via Streaming Devices
Table of Contents
How To Get Third Party Apps On Vizio Smart TV?
In the absence of Casting, Mirroring, or a streaming device, the only two viable methods for Sideloading Third Party Apps on the Vizio Smart TV are to install Kodi, which has hundreds of Third Party Addons and Option two is to use a USB device to Add APKs.
Sideloading Third Party Apps on Vizio Smart TV
The pre-installed applications in your Smart TV are only some of the apps you can download. You can also find Third party apps for movies, games, and other media content.
Third-party apps are easy to find and download, but you must choose the one that best suits your entertainment needs.
Once you’ve found it, you can download it from Google Play or save it to your USB drive, after which you can transfer the app to your Smart TV using a USB flash drive.
Also, To open APK files from your USB device, ensure you have the ES File Explorer app or the Downloader App installed on your smart TV. If it isn’t installed, you can download it from Google Play Store.
Steps to Add and Install Third-Party Apps on Vizio Smart TV Via USB:
- On your Vizio smart TV, go to the Settings menu first.
- After that, Navigate to Security & Restrictions.
- Now, Locate Unknown Sources and make sure it is turned on.
- Take your USB flash drive and copy the APK files onto it.
- Connect the USB drive to your smart TV.
- Now, The third-party app should be opened in the File Explorer either ES or Downloader.
- In the final step, select the Install option and accept any prompt that appears
When you first try, adding Third Party Apps to your Vizio TV might seem like a complicated process, but once you get the hang of it, you will realize how simple it is. And this is the best way to get Apps that are not available on Vizio TV’s App Store.
In addition to this, the second-best option that I liked best is through Kodi. As you might have heard about Kodi and how powerful it is since it is an open-source platform on which tens of thousands of developers are working worldwide.
Other Ways To Add and Install the Third Party Apps on Vizio Smart TV
Via Kodi
Kodi is open-source and free media center software that can be installed on multiple platforms to organize and stream your favorite movies, tv shows, music, and more.
Kodi has Addons instead of Apps, which are clones of the Apps that work within Kodi. You can find clones of hundreds of streaming applications that you can add to your Vizio Smart TV and make them work.
Therefore, besides the USB Sideloading Method to add Third Party Apps that are not available on Vizio TV, this is the second-best option that meets all the needs.
Via Streaming Devices
Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Nvidia Shield TV are examples of streaming media devices that can be used with your Vizio Smart TV and allow hundreds of different ways to add more apps whether they are Third Party or the ones which are not available on Vizio App Store.
Here’s how you can use one of these devices to get more apps that are not available on the Vizio App store and third party apps on your Vizio Smart TV.
- Connect your streaming device to your smart TV.
- Press the Input button on your TV remote.
- Once you have selected your device, you can go to the Google Play Store to download more apps.
Wrapping Up
In summary, these are the ways in which you can get Third Party Applications on your Vizio Smart TV. I have used them in the past and still use them to install and stream third-party apps and have found all of them to be the best methods for getting apps that aren’t already included on Vizio TV.
FAQ
How do I add 3rd party apps to Vizio Smart TV?
In order to add Third Party Applications to your Vizio Smart TV, you need to enable Apps from Unknown Sources in the Vizio Settings and Download the APK file into the USB drive and then transfer and install it using the File Explorer on your Vizio TV.
Can you sideload apps on Vizio TV?
Yes, the Vizio Smart TV runs on Android Operating System, so you can easily Sideload apps.
How do I download apps on my Vizio TV without the V button?
With the Sideloading method, you can install any app on your Vizio Smart TV without using the “V” button on the remote.
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Kazhiko Kuro is the Founder of StreamingStash.com. Over a span of 8+ years, He has tested, researched, and written hundreds of articles and guides on how to fix common issues with TVs, streaming media players, streaming services, and related devices. See our Editorial Guidelines and Content Integrity.
