MX Player is one of the most trusted and widely-used media players on Android devices. It’s known for its smooth performance, broad format support, and compatibility with external codecs and subtitles. Unlike apps like VLC, which focus on direct playback, MX Player is often used in the background as a default video player for third-party streaming applications—making it an essential tool for many FireStick users.
Why You Might Need MX Player on Firestick?
While you can use many players for streaming, some streaming apps won’t function properly without MX Player installed. In fact, apps like Cinema HD, TeaTV, BeeTV, Nova TV, and several IPTV players require MX Player to handle video playback efficiently. Without it, you may experience buffering, unsupported formats, or even playback failure.
Additionally, some live TV services rely on MX Player’s engine to decode video content. If you’re using a live TV app that’s not playing properly, the missing piece might just be MX Player.
Is Installing MX Player Difficult?
Not at all! Many people assume that installing third-party apps on FireStick is complicated, but that’s a myth. The process takes just 2–3 minutes when done correctly. This guide is written to walk you through each step with zero guesswork.
A Quick Note on FireStick and Android
It’s helpful to understand that your Amazon FireStick runs on a custom version of Android, even though it has its own interface and ecosystem. This means APK (Android Package) files—like MX Player—can be installed manually.
However, because FireStick does not have Google Play Store, apps like MX Player must be sideloaded, which means installing them from outside the Amazon App Store.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
By the end of this walkthrough, you’ll know:
- Why MX Player is important for streaming
- How to safely enable third-party installations on FireStick
- How to install the Downloader app (Amazon-approved)
- How to sideload the MX Player APK
- How to launch and configure MX Player on your FireStick
Step-by-Step Instructions to Install MX Player on FireStick
Here’s a brief overview of what you need to do:
- Enable installation from unknown sources in FireStick settings.
- Install the Downloader app from the Amazon App Store.
- Download MX Player APK from a safe and reliable source using Downloader.
- Install MX Player and delete the APK file to save space.
- Launch and optionally set MX Player as the default player in your streaming apps.
Step 1: Prepare Your FireStick for Installation
Before you can install MX Player, you need to enable the option to install apps from outside the Amazon App Store.
Here’s how:
- Turn on your FireStick and stay on the Home screen.
- Navigate to the top menu and select Settings (gear icon).
- Scroll and click on My Fire TV.
- Select Developer Options.
- If you see “Apps from Unknown Sources”, turn it ON.
- If you see “Install unknown apps”, click it and then enable it for the Downloader app (we’ll install that next).
Enabling this allows you to install third-party apps (totally safe when using trusted sources).
Step 2: Install the Downloader App
You need an app that can download files from the internet. That’s what Downloader is for.
To install Downloader:
- Go back to the Home screen.
- Select the Search icon (magnifying glass) or use the Alexa voice remote and say “Downloader”.
- From the search results, select the Downloader app (orange icon with a white arrow).
- Click Download or Get, then Open the app.
- On first launch, allow any permission requests it asks for.
Step 3: Download and Install MX Player APK
Now you’re ready to download the MX Player installation file (APK).
Here’s how:
- Open the Downloader app.
- In the URL field, type the following:
https://bit.ly/mxplayer-fire
(This is a shortened, commonly-used link that points to the latest stable MX Player APK. Make sure it’s still active before downloading, or I can provide another.) - Press Go.
- The app will start downloading the MX Player APK file.
- Once downloaded, you’ll see an installation screen.
- Click Install.
- After installation is complete:
- Click Done (not Open yet).
- You’ll go back to Downloader. It’ll ask if you want to delete the APK to save space.
- Click Delete, then confirm Delete again.
Step 4: Launch MX Player on FireStick
To find and open MX Player:
Go back to the FireStick Home screen.
Scroll over to Apps (or press the remote’s home button and select Apps).
Look for MX Player in your list of installed apps.
Click to launch it.
You can move it to the front of your apps row:
Highlight the MX Player icon.
Press the Options button (three horizontal lines) on your remote.
Select “Move to front” for easier access.
Optional: Set MX Player as Default Player in Streaming Apps
If you’re using apps like Cinema HD, BeeTV, or TeaTV, you can set MX Player as the default player for smoother playback.
For example, in Cinema HD:
- Open Cinema HD.
- Go to the hamburger menu (three lines in the top-left).
- Select Settings → Choose Default Player.
- Select MX Player.
Now all videos will play using MX Player.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning to use your FireStick for advanced streaming, MX Player is more than just a nice-to-have—it’s often a must-have. It enables smoother playback, fewer app crashes, and compatibility with a wide variety of video formats and streaming services.
By following this guide, you’ll not only install MX Player the right way, but you’ll also have a better understanding of how third-party apps work within the FireStick ecosystem—making you a more informed and capable user.
If you have a Firestick and want to improve your viewing experience, install MX Player for the old Firestick. MXPlayer is one of the most versatile video players that you can download for free from the Google Play store.
This method is straightforward and convenient because the user can download it directly from the store, and you don’t have to jailbreak your Firestick or do anything else.
Now, follow the steps below carefully.
· Open the Firestick home page on your TV and click the search box.
· A window with a virtual keyboard will open, using this MX player and pressing the Search button.
· Click the first result displayed there, then click the Get button below the icon.
· It will automatically start downloading and installing the application. Once the application is installed, click Open to launch MX Player.
· The first boot will ask you to allow access to the media files, so allow it.
What is the difference between MX Player and MX Player Pro?
Is MX Player growing faster than MX Player Pro? Check out the Android market data for MX Player and MX Player Pro and compare Google Play statistics. View current Android market data and history Compare market popularity, performance, average rating, downloads, and percentage of market leaders. There is no difference. Professional players have no ads. If anything, you can get the ac3 playback Mkv codec for the MX player from xda. This will give you some more playback options or switch to VLC.