How to Enable Developer Options on Amazon Firestick (2026 Guide)
If you want to Jailbreak the Amazon Firestick, first you need to enable Developer Options!
If you have ever tried to install an app on your Firestick that isn’t in the official Amazon Appstore—like Kodi, Stremio, or SmartTube—you have probably hit a brick wall. You download the file, try to open it, and Amazon tells you that for “security reasons,” you can’t install it.
The solution is a hidden menu called Developer Options.
For years, this menu was easily accessible. However, Amazon has recently hidden it behind a “secret handshake” to discourage users from sideloading third-party apps. Even more confusing, the new 2026 Firestick models (Vega OS)have changed the rules entirely.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to enable Developer Options on every version of the Amazon Firestick, from the classic 4K Max to the new 4K Select.
Why Do You need to Enable Developer Options?
By default, Amazon locks its devices down to create a “walled garden.” They want you to use their Appstore so they can vet the apps (and collect the fees).
Enabling Developer Options unlocks two critical features:
- ADB Debugging: Allows you to communicate with your Firestick from a computer or phone (useful for advanced file management).
- Apps from Unknown Sources (Sideloading): This is the big one. It flips the switch that allows you to install APK files (Android apps) directly, bypassing the Amazon Appstore.
Don’t miss : Amazon blocking apps on Firestick
Method 1: The “7 Clicks” Trick (Works for 99% of Firesticks)
Compatible Devices: Firestick 4K Max (1st & 2nd Gen), Firestick 4K (older Gen), Fire TV Cube, Firestick Lite.
If your device is running Fire OS 7 or Fire OS 8 (which is based on Android), the method to unlock this menu is identical to unlocking an Android phone.
Step 1: Go to Settings
Boot up your Firestick and navigate to the Settings cog on the far right of the home menu.
Step 2: Find the “About” Section
Scroll down and select My Fire TV. (On some older devices, this might be labeled as Device & Software). Click on the first option at the top: About.
Step 3: Click 7 Times
This is the “secret” step.
- Highlight the name of your device (e.g., Fire TV Stick 4K Max).
- Press the Select (Center) button on your remote 7 times rapidly.
- Watch the bottom of the screen. You will see a countdown: “You are 3 steps away from being a developer.”
- Keep clicking until it says: “No need, you are already a developer.”
Step 4: Enable Sideloading
Press the Back button on your remote once to return to the My Fire TV menu. You will now see a new option that wasn’t there before: Developer Options.
- Click Developer Options.
- Turn ADB Debugging to ON.
- Click Install unknown apps.
- Find the app you will use to download files (usually the Downloader app) and toggle it to ON.
Note: On older interfaces, this setting was a simple toggle called “Apps from Unknown Sources.” On newer Fire OS versions, you must grant permission to each specific app (like Downloader) individually.
Method 2: The “Firestick 4K Select” & Vega OS Problem
Compatible Devices: Fire TV Stick 4K Select (2025 Release) and future Vega-based devices.
If you just bought the new Fire TV Stick 4K Select, you might have followed the steps above and realized… nothing happens.
That is because the 4K Select runs on Vega OS, Amazon’s new Linux-based operating system. Unlike previous Firesticks, Vega OS is not based on Android.
Can You Sideload on Vega OS?
The short answer: No. Because Vega OS is not Android, it cannot run standard .APK files. Even if you manage to find a hidden menu, standard Android apps like Stremio, CinemaHD, or Zoom won’t work because the operating system doesn’t speak their language.
The Workaround
Currently, there is no public “jailbreak” for Vega OS devices.
- Recommendation: If sideloading is important to you (e.g., you rely on third-party streaming apps), return the 4K Select and purchase a Firestick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or a Fire TV Cube. These models still run Fire OS 8 (Android-based) and fully support sideloading.
Troubleshooting: “Enable Developer Options” Still Missing?
If you clicked 7 times and the menu still hasn’t appeared, try these fixes:
1. Check for System Updates
Amazon sometimes pushes “buggy” updates that hide menus.
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for Updates.
- Install any pending updates and let the device restart.
2. You Might Be Clicking Too Slowly
The system registers the clicks as a “code.” You need to click the Select button fairly quickly—like a double-click on a mouse, but 7 times in a row.
3. Restart Your Firestick
Sometimes the UI simply glitches.
- Hold down the Select and Play/Pause buttons on your remote simultaneously for 5 seconds to force a restart.
- Once it reboots, try the 7-click method again.
Important Safety Note: Always Use a VPN
Once you enable Developer Options and start sideloading, you are stepping outside of Amazon’s safety net.
- Privacy: Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see everything you stream on third-party apps.
- Throttling: ISPs often slow down your internet speed if they detect high-bandwidth streaming from “unofficial” sources.
It is highly recommended to run a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your Firestick to encrypt your traffic and keep your viewing habits private. Most VPN apps (like IPVanish or NordVPN) are available directly in the official Amazon Appstore, so you don’t need to sideload them.
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Final Thoughts
Enabling Developer Options is the first step to unlocking the true potential of your Firestick. While Amazon is trying to tighten the screws with their new Vega OS, millions of devices generally available today still allow you to take full control. Just make sure you check the model version before you buy!
