Sony TV Sideloaded Apps Not Working

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allstarnz

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#311886 23-Feb-2024 17:37

Do the Sony TV's in NZ do something different, or something out of the ordinary? I'm trying to help a relative sideload apps, but they just keep crashing. I'm perplexed.

They have a Sony X85K. They can install the apk just fine, but when they launch them, they just crash.

I'm assisting them remotely and they're following the steps correctly.

I've verified that the apk are the correct version on (Canadian) X90J and Chromecast with Google TV.

I'm stuck what to try next. Suggestions?

nzkc

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#3199258 23-Feb-2024 19:06

Works for me. Ive only side loaded the F1TV app - but its fine.

Might just be a case of its not compatible with your TV. But sometimes there's a few variants eg: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/formula-one-digital-media-limited/f1-tv-android-tv/f1-tv-android-tv-3-0-23-1-r29-0-sp102-1-1-release-release/

Maybe try a different one.

robjg63

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#3199273 23-Feb-2024 20:13

Just because its an Android apk, doesn't mean its going to run on your device.
An apk might run on a phone, but not be the right apk for another type of device.
It can be messy/difficult to get the correct one - assuming there is a version for your platform.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

allstarnz

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#3199372 24-Feb-2024 10:08

thanks for the suggestions. I'm well familiar with ensuring I use the Smart TV app and not the phone one. As noted, I had verified they were the right version on another Sony TV and a Chromecast.

Just wondered if the NZ Sony variants had some anomaly I wasn't aware of.

mattwnz

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#3200538 27-Feb-2024 15:11

I had one that worked fine on a chromecast , but not on a sony tv. It worked but not properly.

Kookoo

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#3200544 27-Feb-2024 15:33

Storage on your specific model maybe? My x90j comes with 16GB. The Sony skinned Google TV OS plus all the bloatware apps take up most of it, leaving me with about 1GB. So you might have just enough space to install them, but trying to run them takes you over and they crash.

Hello, Ground!

garbonzai

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#3200549 27-Feb-2024 15:45

Could it be Google Play Protect??

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allstarnz

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#3202270 2-Mar-2024 08:27

Kookoo:

Storage on your specific model maybe? My x90j comes with 16GB. The Sony skinned Google TV OS plus all the bloatware apps take up most of it, leaving me with about 1GB. So you might have just enough space to install them, but trying to run them takes you over and they crash.

I know the feeling!! I have that TV too. There's just simply not enough space on it. Also, Apple TV doesn't work now :(

allstarnz

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#3202271 2-Mar-2024 08:27

garbonzai:

Could it be Google Play Protect??

actually, you may be on to something here. I will go look into this.

robjg63

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#3202274 2-Mar-2024 09:25

I dont know what apps you are trying to get working, but just as a left field suggestion...

Have you considered trying an Amazon Fire TV stick for the 'smarts' of the TV?

They aren't on special at the moment, but regularly have pretty substantial discounts. (If your people are in Canada it looks like they are about $50 CAD)

I bought a Chromecast with Google TV a couple of years back and it nearly drove me crazy in the same way your Sony is driving you crazy. They are essentailly 99% the same thing.

I watch a couple of 'non NZ' services and had the same sort of problems trying to get the correct versions of the apps from various sites.

If you ever manage to get working sideloaded apps installed - they probably wont ever update either and at some point will break again.

You of course know that Google Play Store wont let you access 'other' region apps.

The advantage with the Amazon Fire TV stick is that it does let you change your region, you can then download the desired app(s) and switch to another region, download those apps etc etc and switch back to your home region. Once the apps are installed they keep themselves up to date. If you need a geo-unblocker for actual content that is a separate issue.

App makers seem to keep the AFTV apps well updated on the AFTV platform as well.

I never have to fiddle about with apps on the Fire TV stick - It just works.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Jaxson

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#3229555 13-May-2024 09:58

Hey just adding to this conversation, make sure you have the right version of the apk file.

Pretty much what's being said here, there are usually 3 based on the chipset and bit level, so you have to research the right one for your device (or just try all 3 and see which one is compatible/works).

I had to do this to sideload the F1TV app, but do have this working well on my older 2016 Sony Android TV model KD-55x7000D

nzkc:

Works for me. Ive only side loaded the F1TV app - but its fine.

Might just be a case of its not compatible with your TV. But sometimes there's a few variants eg: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/formula-one-digital-media-limited/f1-tv-android-tv/f1-tv-android-tv-3-0-23-1-r29-0-sp102-1-1-release-release/

Maybe try a different one.