How to Install YouTube Kids on Your Amazon Fire Stick

If you have kids, you know how important it is to protect them from the inappropriate content on the internet. Even on YouTube, which is carefully curated, your kid can run into content not suited for them. That’s why YouTube made YouTube Kids – a completely safe, age-appropriate version of the app.

But can you install YouTube on your Amazon Firestick? After all, it has an Android-based system, and you already have the regular YouTube app on it. Well, it’s a bit more tricky than that.

The Workaround

Here’s how to install YouTube Kids on Firestick. Forget about Google Play for now. We will explain everything later.

The only way to install YouTube Kids on your Firestick device is by using a method called “sideloading.”

Keep in mind that, although this method isn’t as seamless as downloading an app from an online store, it isn’t too complicated either.

Luckily, this will help you install the Google Play store on your Firestick device, so you won’t have to worry about how to do this again.

Allowing Apps from Unknown Sources

Start by enabling apps from unknown sources.

1. From the Homepage scroll over to Settings on the menu at the top of your Firestick.
2. Now, in the Settings menu scroll to the right and select My Fire TV.
3. In the next screen, navigate to Developer options and select it.
4. Next, go to Apps from Unknown Sources and turn it On.
5. A popup message will appear, prompting you to confirm turning on Apps from Unknown Sources. Select Turn On to confirm.

Download a File Manager

You can find a file manager app from the Amazon App Store. Browse for “file manager” in the search section of the Amazon store.

Downloading APK Files

If you want to use Google Play on your Firestick, you’ll need to learn what APK files are.

To install an Android app “manually,” so to speak, you need to download its installation or an “APK” file. APKMirror is one of the most popular websites for downloading such files.

Download Google Services Framework, Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, and Google Play Store APK files. You can find each one of them on the APKMirror website.

If you’re using the ES File Explorer (downloaded from the Amazon Store), tap the plus icon and paste the links to each of the four Google apps mentioned above. Google Play should automatically install to your device.

Download YouTube Kids

Finally, open Google Play and download YouTube Kids. You shouldn’t have any problems with the app.

It’s an Android Device, Right?

Yes, the Firestick is an Android-based device. And yes, YouTube Kids features an Android and an iOS version. So, to install YouTube kids, all you need to do is go to Google Play and download it. Why would there be any problems?

Unfortunately, if you’ve ever tried installing Google Play on Firestick, you couldn’t find it. Yes, Google Play is the official Android app database. But the Amazon Firestick doesn’t run your typical Android OS.

Firesticks use a forked version of the Android OS. That means that the platform was made by Amazon, using Android resources. Therefore, you get all the functionalities that Android devices boast, but not the resources, such as Google Play. Instead, you get Amazon’s version of the app store. And, it doesn’t feature YouTube Kids.

YouTube Kids on the Amazon Firestick

Although this isn’t an official solution, you don’t need to worry about the legality of things, either. Every APK file on APKMirror is an official release from the developer.

In any case, using YouTube Kids on the Amazon Firestick is possible, although things might be a bit tedious. However, once you’ve installed Google Play on your Firestick, you’ll be able to install YouTube Kids and any other Android app.

Have you tried installing YouTube Kids on your Firestick? Did you find this guide helpful? Feel free to let us know and ask any questions in the comment section below.