The market for streaming devices is huge. As of 2020, it was worth over 10 billion dollars, with that number expected to double by 2027. It’s no surprise that a company as big as Amazon would leave money on the table in a market with such potential. That was how the Fire TV line of digital streaming products was born.
The Fire Stick was released by Amazon just a few months after the console version of Fire TV launched. This provided a more compact form for people who wanted the same functionality as the bigger device. As of 2021, Amazon finds itself high up, as one of the leaders in the digital streaming market, with its only real competitor being Roku.
When a device like the Fire TV Stick becomes so popular, it is almost expected that people will attempt to push the boundaries of what it can do, as long as it can plug into a computer. That’s why it shouldn’t be surprising that people have been able to jailbreak this little device.
Of course, it’s not surprising that you might have many questions. For instance, what is jailbreaking in the first place? Also, what can you do with a jailbroken Fire Stick? So, I get it. You have a whole lot of questions. The good thing is, you’ll find all the answers here, so let’s get right into it.
Do you have a particular question about using jailbroken Fire Stick? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
What is a jailbroken Firestick?
Digital devices like smartphones, video game consoles, and streaming devices have certain protections to prevent people from using apps that can bypass paid applications, subscriptions, and other system-level features. Unfortunately, a jailbreak is breaking through these protections and opening the device to perks.
Jailbroken Fire Sticks are simply those you have successfully jailbroken, which allows you to install additional applications and unlock the boundaries Amazon has placed on the device.
Why jailbreak Amazon Fire Stick?
So, what can you do with a jailbroken Fire Stick? Well, there’s a whole lot that you can do once you manage to perform an Amazon Fire Stick jailbreak. It all boils down to one major thing, though.
Jailbreaking lets you install third-party apps on your Fire Stick. While you can typically do this, an Amazon jailbroken Firestick will allow you to install apps not even available on the Amazon App Store. These apps are where the fun happens.
For instance, Kodi is one of the best apps to show off the benefits of jailbreaking Firestick. Think of Kodi as a media player application. It is available for various platforms and can be used to watch locally stored video files and music.
However, the real magic with Kodi comes from the add-ons. Kodi has many add-ons that provide benefits that make jailbreaking worth it for most people. For instance, some add-ons let you stream TV shows and movies that you would typically need to pay to access!
You can even play games on Kodi by using emulators. This can turn Jailbroken Fire Sticks into complete media centers.
Is it illegal to jailbreak a Fire Stick?
While there are many benefits of jailbreaking Firestick, it is essential to understand the legal implications of doing this. Can you get in trouble for using a jailbroken Fire Stick?
The simple answer to this is no. Jailbreaking your Amazon Fire Stick is not illegal. You can’t get into any trouble with the law simply by performing an Amazon Fire Stick jailbreak. However, that’s not all there is to it. What makes this tricky to understand is what you do on that Fire Stick after your jailbreak.
Suppose you only watch content that you legally own. In that case, there’s no crime in using Kodi like that on an Amazon jailbroken Firestick. However, when you use this streaming device to access copyrighted content you don’t own, it becomes illegal. So whether you’re downloading this content or streaming it with certain add-ons available on Kodi, it is essentially piracy.
What can you do with a jailbroken Firestick?
So then, what can you do with a jailbroken Fire Stick that makes it worth it in the first place? Well, you can do quite a bit.
First off, you can install third-party applications on the Fire Stick. Then, of course, as described above, you can install Kodi. However, there is so much more than you can do on jailbroken Fire Sticks apart from that one application.
For instance, you can opt for the Cinema HD app, which allows you access to extensive libraries of free content that you can stream and watch. However, similar to Kodi, just know that accessing copyrighted information from your Fire Stick can get you into trouble with the law. There are also tons more streaming apps that you can use.
You can download Silk Browser, which gives you a browsing experience closer to what you’re used to with a computer or a mobile phone.
If you’re more of a gamer and want to get into some really cool retro games, you can turn towards RetroArch. Downloading and installing this emulator is not illegal, though the source of the games you play on it is where the big question mark comes up. It is technically illegal to download games you don’t own to play on the emulator. However, many of these games are very old, and most companies won’t bother following up legally.
Is a jailbroken Fire Stick worth it?
It all comes down to what you plan to use your Amazon jailbroken Firestick for. If you’re looking for a way to get more out of that little dongle at the back of your TV, then this will certainly be worth it.
Suppose you’re on a budget and hoping to save money by watching content for free. In that case, you’ll find this one of the major benefits of jailbreaking Firestick. Just keep in mind the legal implications. I don’t condone illegal content.
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
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