Your Fireplace TV Stick’s micro-USB port does greater than you suppose

If I needed to pinpoint one factor specifically I like about Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks, it is how straightforward they’re to make use of. Setting them up is easy, and so is downloading your favourite streaming companies like Netflix and HBO Max, in addition to accessing all kinds of free content material by way of FAST apps like The Roku Channel and Pluto TV.

One other factor I respect is that, moreover streaming, you can even download tons of apps in your Fireplace TV Stick that allow you to do distinctive belongings you may not initially consider, similar to listening to the radio or music streaming companies, checking the climate radar, or watching your individual native media. You possibly can even recreation on it now, just like a console, due to Xbox Cloud Gaming and Luna.

However one function I’ve lately come to understand, which is commonly missed on Amazon’s Fireplace TV Sticks, is the capabilities of its micro-USB port. To be truthful, it is easy to overlook the micro-USB port even exists. When you arrange your Fireplace TV Stick, you normally need not use it once more except you are switching the gadget it is linked to. Nonetheless, there are lots of methods the micro-USB port can do greater than you notice to boost your streaming expertise, even whether it is outdated in comparison with USB-C. Listed here are 4 methods to make use of the micro-USB port in your Fireplace TV Stick, past simply powering it.

Join it to Ethernet

Create a extra steady connection along with your router

One of many easiest methods to spice up your Fireplace TV Stick’s efficiency is by connecting an Ethernet adapter by way of its micro-USB port. All of Amazon’s Fireplace TV Sticks have dependable Wi-Fi, with the Fireplace TV Stick HD and 4K Choose supporting Wi-Fi 5, the 4K Plus providing Wi-Fi 6, and the 4K Max that includes Wi-Fi 6E. Nonetheless, relying on your house Wi-Fi sign power and velocity, connecting an Ethernet adapter to your Fireplace TV Stick might be a greater choice.

The principle profit is that it supplies a extra dependable, steady connection between your Fireplace TV Stick and your router. For those who typically expertise buffering or high quality drops whereas streaming, utilizing Ethernet might be the answer you want.

Amazon presents a lesser-known adapter for its Fireplace TV Sticks known as the Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fireplace TV Units, priced at $15. It means that you can join an Ethernet cable to your Fireplace TV Stick whereas nonetheless powering it. Nonetheless, it is essential to notice that Ethernet speeds on Fireplace TV Sticks are restricted to 10/100 Ethernet (100 Mbps) resulting from micro-USB constraints, so it is a good suggestion to run a velocity check in your Fireplace TV Persist with see if it’s appropriate to your setup.

Model

Amazon

Enter

Ethernet

Output

Micro USB

Watch exhibits and flicks domestically

A Fireplace TV Stick can do extra than simply stream content material

Though Fireplace TV Sticks are primarily used for streaming exhibits and flicks from the web, you can even use them to observe your individual local media due to their micro-USB port. To do that, you will want a storage gadget similar to a USB stick or exterior onerous drive, together with a USB OTG (On-the-Go) cable. Because the micro-USB port on the Fireplace TV Stick doesn’t instantly join to straightforward USB-A storage gadgets, a USB OTG cable is important. Fortunately, you will get USB OTB cables on Amazon that work with Fireplace TV Sticks for round $6 to $10.

This cable appears like a Y, that includes a USB-A port, a micro-USB port, and a micro-USB connector. The USB-A port connects to your exterior storage gadget, whereas the micro-USB connector plugs into your Fireplace TV Stick, permitting it to detect and browse the storage. Then, with the micro-USB port on the OTG cable, you may join the Fireplace TV Stick’s energy adapter so all the pieces truly features.

From there, your Fireplace TV Stick will mechanically acknowledge when an exterior storage gadget has been linked, permitting you to make use of a third-party app like VLC media player to play any films and TV exhibits saved on it.

Model

AuviPal

Cable Sort

Micro-USB to USB Adapter

Sideload apps instantly

Simply set up extra apps with out having to wirelessly switch the APKs

Along with utilizing your Fireplace TV Stick’s micro-USB port to observe exhibits and flicks from an exterior storage gadget, you can even use it to sideload apps. Normally, the frequent option to sideload apps on a Fireplace TV Stick is to make use of an app like Ship Information to TV – SFTTV, which you’ll be able to obtain from the Amazon App Retailer in your Fireplace TV Stick and from the Play Retailer in your Android gadget. This app allows you to obtain the APK file in your Android telephone and wirelessly switch it to your Fireplace TV Stick.

Nonetheless, along with your Fireplace TV Stick’s micro-USB port, a USB OTG cable, and a USB stick, you are able to do this with out wirelessly transferring the APK. Merely obtain the APK file for the app instantly onto a USB stick, join the USB stick with your Fireplace TV Stick utilizing the OTG cable, and use a file supervisor app like Downloader to put in it. For those who’re sideloading a number of apps directly, this technique will be a lot simpler than transferring APK recordsdata wirelessly by way of an app.

Enhance your Fireplace TV Stick’s storage capability

Create extra space for apps and video games

Credit score: Pocket-lint

Fireplace TV Sticks inherently have restricted space for storing, with the HD, 4K Choose, and 4K Plus fashions providing solely 8GB, whereas the Fireplace TV Stick 4K Max presents 16GB. For those who want additional house for apps, you may join an exterior storage gadget by way of its micro-USB port and a USB OTG cable, then format it as extra storage to your Fireplace TV Stick.

In your Fireplace TV Stick, go to Settings > My Fireplace TV > USB Drive to handle all of the settings for this, together with formatting the drive so it really works with Fireplace OS. Nonetheless, understand that when you format a drive to work as extra storage to your Fireplace TV Stick, it should wipe all its contents.