this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2025
22 points (95.8% liked)

Asklemmy

47726 readers
1 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy 🔍

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Does anyone know a way to sideload apps on the Chromecast without installing some sketchy "file uploader HD" app?

All the guides I can find online recommend installing some random file transfer app.

Can't get termux or f-droid, nor Firefox, chrome or even apkpure

top 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Use adb on your computer. Adb is how you officially debug android devices so it's as far away from sketchy as can be.

[–] flashgnash@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Iirc that requires a usb connection at least in the first instance right? I guess only one way to find out if the usb c charging port on the Chromecast dongle supports any kind of data transfer

[–] k2helix@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can just do it wirelessly, just like you would with any other phone

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Are you talking about the same device? Op is talking about a Chromecast, not an android TV.

[–] baronvonj@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

The last non-AndroidTV Chromecast model was discontinued over 3 years ago. Seems reasonable to assume AndroidTV model, if OP doesn't specify, at this point

[–] k2helix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Yes I was, that's how I did it initially on my Chromecast with Google TV. No wires involved, just adb.

[–] flashgnash@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'll have to give that a go thought you needed wired to authenticate first

[–] k2helix@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

iirc you don't, at least I remember to have installed some apps via adb from my phone and I didn't use a cable.

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

You can do it via wifi

[–] JustAnotherKay@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

The answer is yes it does, this is how I did it. Maybe you can prove me wrong but I don't think I've ever seen a USB-C port that was incapable of data transfer, I actually thought it was part of the standard

[–] CaptainBasculin@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If it's rooted, you can just ssh to it

[–] flashgnash@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It is unfortunately not and I think to be able to root it I'd need to get some kind of files onto it in the first place anyway wouldn't I?

Also unsure what rooting it would do to DRM controlled streaming, which I would rather not hobble the quality of

[–] babydriver@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use LocalSend, I wouldn’t call it “sketchy” although it is a “file uploader” app.

[–] jlow@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

Just recently discovered LocalSend, it's super nice (if you have some devices that don't run KDEConnect).

[–] devfuuu@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I just install apps on my android tv with adb. But it all sucks, no useful alternative app store has an actual useful UI that works on the big screen. Updating is a pain, there's an app or two that help but they all a pain because it's almost impossible to navigate on the big screen with a remote control.

So, really, use adb.

Not sure how yours works, but on some "remote-only" devices you can use a (potentially sketchy) USB split cable with power connector and an additional USB port for a keyboard / keyboard-mouse combo so you can use a regular browser to download and install apps.