Have you heard about Stremio, the hot new media center app for streaming video on demand?
In this detailed 3000+ word guide, I‘ll be walking you through everything you need to know to get Stremio up and running on your Fire TV or Android TV device.
By the end, you‘ll be able to enjoy seamless access to movies, shows, live television, and more through Stremio‘s catalog of add-ons.
Here‘s a quick overview of what we‘ll cover:
- What is Stremio and how it works
- Is it legal to use Stremio for streaming?
- Step-by-step instructions to install on Firestick & Android TV
- Tips for setting up Stremio and integrating MX Player
- An overview of the best Stremio add-ons for content
- Troubleshooting guide for common issues
- Stremio vs Kodi comparison
- Frequently asked questions
Let‘s get started!
What is Stremio?
Stremio is a media center application that brings video entertainment from multiple sources into one unified hub.
It provides an easy-to-use single interface for organizing and accessing:
- Movies and TV shows on demand
- Web videos from YouTube, Twitch, etc.
- Live television channels
- Locally stored media files
- Podcasts, music, and more
The software is available across platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire OS, Android TV, and more.
Some key features offered by Stremio:
- Intuitive calendar for keeping track of upcoming movie releases and TV show air dates.
- Content recommendations based on your viewing behavior and preferences.
- Support for casting to external devices like Roku and Chromecast.
- Option to integrate external players like VLC or MX Player for enhanced playback.
- Catalog of community-built add-ons for expanding your streaming content library. More on this later!
Stremio aims to consolidate all video entertainment options into one sleek package. It‘s earned a reputation as the free and open-source alternative to subscription services like Netflix or Plex.
Stremio Usage Stats:
As per publicly shared statistics, Stremio has been gaining steady popularity over the past few years:
- Over 5 million monthly active users as of October 2022.
- 1.2 million app downloads from Google Play Store.
- 4+ rating from over 278,000 reviewers on the Play Store.
- Available in nearly 100 countries, with the highest usage seen in the US, Brazil, Germany, Philippines, and Canada.
These numbers indicate Stremio is emerging as a major player in the media center space. The convenience it offers is appealing to cord-cutters looking for free alternatives to paid streaming platforms.
Next, let‘s look at the important question of whether streaming through Stremio is actually legal.
Is Stremio Legal to Use for Streaming?
This is a common area of confusion among new Stremio users. Let‘s break down the legality issue:
Using the Stremio app itself is 100% legal. The developers officially publish it as a free and open-source media center software.
However, some of the third-party add-ons accessible through Stremio provide access to pirated content. Streaming copyright-protected material without permission is illegal.
So in summary:
- Stremio itself is legal
- But some add-ons may facilitate piracy by letting you stream movies and shows illegally
As a user, it is your responsibility to avoid any piracy add-ons that promise free access to copyrighted content.
I recommend sticking to legal add-ons like YouTube, Twitch, Filmon TV, Reddit Videos, etc. These only provide access to free public domain content or streams offered through official licenses.
To ensure you never access any illegal content, I highly recommend always connecting to a trusted VPN before using Stremio. A VPN will encrypt your streaming activity and prevent snooping by your ISP or government.
I‘ll show you how to set up a VPN along with Stremio once we get to the installation walkthrough.
First, let‘s look at how to install Stremio on the two most popular streaming platforms – Firestick and Android TV.
How to Install Stremio on Firestick and Fire TV
Here are step-by-step instructions to download and install Stremio on any Fire TV streaming device like the Firestick, Fire TV Cube, or Fire TV Omni:
Prerequisites
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Make sure your Fire TV device is connected to stable high-speed internet. Stremio will be buffering if your speeds are slow.
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Get a free VPN subscription to protect yourself while streaming. I recommend Surfshark or NordVPN.
Install Downloader App
Downloader is an app on Fire OS that lets you install unsigned third-party APK files.
Follow these steps to get Downloader on your Firestick:
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From the Firestick home screen, go into the "Find" section.
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Search for "Downloader" using the on-screen keyboard.
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Select the Downloader app from the search results.
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Click "Download" to install it.
Once installed, open the Downloader app. You‘ll have to accept the terms of service before proceeding.
Enable Apps from Unknown Sources
By default, your Firestick is set to block installation of third-party apps from outside the Amazon Appstore.
To allow installing Stremio, we have to enable unknown sources:
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Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options.
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Turn on the toggles for both ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources.
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Press the home button to return to the main screen.
Download Latest Stremio APK
Inside the Downloader app:
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Enter the URL:
https://www.stremio.com/downloads -
Scroll down and select the Stremio for Android ARM 7+ APK. This will download the latest version compatible with Fire OS.
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The APK download will start automatically. Wait for it to finish.
Install Stremio APK
Once the APK download is complete:
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Go to Downloads in the Downloader app.
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Select the Stremio APK file.
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Click the "Install" button to begin installation.
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After it finishes installing, you‘ll see an "App Installed" message.
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Press "Done" to exit Downloader.
Awesome! You‘ll now find the Stremio app ready to open on your Firestick‘s home screen or app drawer.
And that‘s it! You‘ve successfully installed the latest version of Stremio on your Fire TV streaming device.
Next, let‘s set up Stremio and get it ready to start streaming.
How to Install Stremio on Android TV
For Android TV boxes like the NVIDIA SHIELD or Xiaomi Mi Box, the installation process is much simpler.
Just follow these quick steps:
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On your Android TV‘s home screen, open the Google Play Store.
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Search for "Stremio" in the Play Store search bar.
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Select the official Stremio app from the search results.
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Tap "Install" to download Stremio.
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Once installed, you can launch it from the app drawer.
That‘s all there is to it! Stremio is now ready to use on your Android TV device.
Easy right? Now let‘s move on to the fun part – setting up Stremio and adding streaming add-ons!
Stremio Setup on Firestick and Android TV
After installing Stremio, here are some recommendations for getting set up:
Connect to a VPN
I highly suggest connecting a VPN before you start streaming anything through Stremio.
A trusted VPN will encrypt all traffic leaving your streaming device. This obscures your IP address and online activity from snooping by internet providers, government, or copyright watchdogs.
It adds a vital layer of privacy and security to your streaming.
Surfshark and NordVPN are my top picks for Fire TV and Android TV boxes.
Follow my step-by-step guides to install either VPN:
Once connected, the VPN will quietly run in the background while you use Stremio.
Integrate MX Player for Better Playback
Here‘s a pro tip to improve streaming performance in Stremio – integrate MX Player as the default video player.
MX Player is optimized for streaming on Firestick and Android TV hardware. Using it can prevent choppy playback or buffering issues.
Follow these steps:
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Install MX Player if you don‘t have it already.
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In Stremio, start playing any video.
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Click the "Switch Player" icon in the top-right corner.
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Select "Always" when prompted to change players.
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Allow permission requests from MX Player.
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Enjoy smoother streaming!
And that covers the basics of setting up Stremio for first-time use.
Now let‘s get into the best part of Stremio – all the add-ons!
Stremio Add-Ons for Movies, TV Shows, Live TV
The real power of Stremio lies in its wide catalog of add-ons developed by the community.
These add-ons connect you to both legal and illegal sources of media content across the web. They add tons of streaming options beyond the core Stremio platform.
Here are some of the most popular add-ons to supercharge your Stremio experience:
Entertainment
- The Pirate Bay+ – Large on-demand library of movies, shows, and live TV channels.
- RARBG Torrents – High-quality video content across films and series.
- Fetch TV Series – TV shows sourced from Torrents in 720p and 1080p.
- OpenSubtitles – Provides subtitles for movies in different languages.
- Cinemeta – Offers information and metadata about movies.
Sports
- SportsHD – Live streams and highlights from football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and more.
- LiveSport – Covers live matches across soccer, MMA, boxing, motorsports.
Technology
- Twitch – Official add-on to watch Twitch game streaming.
- YouTube – Allows playing YouTube videos in Stremio.
- Ted Talks – Streams popular talks and lectures on technology, business, and science.
News & Education
- DW News – Live news in English and other languages from Deutsche Welle.
- Filmon.tv – Free live TV channels from around the world.
- TED Talks – Educational and inspirational lectures from global experts.
To install any add-on:
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Go to the "Add-ons" section in Stremio.
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Search for the add-on or browse the catalog.
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Click on an add-on and tap "Install".
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Wait for the installation to finish.
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You‘ll now see the new add-on ready for streaming!
I recommend sticking to legal add-ons like YouTube, Twitch, and Filmon TV to avoid any piracy issues.
Add-ons like The Pirate Bay could potentially open the door to illegal streaming, so use them at your own discretion.
Now let‘s look at some troubleshooting tips in case you face any problems using Stremio.
Troubleshooting Guide: Fix Stremio Issues
Stremio is generally stable but you may encounter some glitches or errors occasionally. Here are some common troubleshooting fixes:
Problem: Stremio gets stuck loading or shows a blank screen.
Fixes:
- Restart your Firestick/Android TV box
- Clear Stremio cache and data
- Uninstall and reinstall Stremio
Problem: Certain add-ons like Pirate Bay don‘t work.
Fixes:
- The add-on may be temporarily down. Try again later.
- Check Stremio‘s status page for any known issues.
- The add-on could have been removed. Install an alternative.
Problem: Streams buffer or low video quality.
Fixes:
- Check your internet speeds and reconnect if needed. 25+ Mbps recommended.
- Connect to a different VPN server location.
- Lower the default stream quality in Stremio settings.
Problem: Subtitles, metadata, or calendar missing.
Fixes:
- Enable the "Community-sourced extras" module in settings.
- If using a VPN, try disconnecting it.
- Refresh Stremio cache and restart.
Still facing issues? Consult Stremio‘s comprehensive FAQ page or post on their community forums for help.
And that covers some common troubleshooting tips for Stremio problems. Next up, let‘s see how it compares to Kodi.
Stremio vs Kodi Comparison
Kodi and Stremio are two of the most popular media center apps. Let‘s compare them across some key factors:
| Stremio | Kodi | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Simple and easy to navigate | Steeper learning curve, more complex |
| Content | Focused on video entertainment – movies, TV shows, sports | Covers music, podcasts, games, along with video |
| Add-ons | Offers curated catalog of community addons | Requires manually finding and installing individual addons |
| Hardware | Optimized for low-powered devices like Firestick | Needs high-performance hardware for best experience |
| Customization | Limited customization options | Highly customizable via skins, scraped metadata |
| Pricing | 100% free | Free open-source software |
| Legality | Potential to access illegal content through third-party addons | Same risk of piracy through unofficial addons |
In summary:
- Stremio offers greater simplicity and ease of use, while Kodi gives advanced customization options.
- Both provide access to similar catalogs of community-developed addons.
- Stremio is faster and smoother on underpowered streaming devices.
- Kodi shines for local media libraries and scraping robust metadata.
So your choice ultimately depends on your priorities and tech comfort levels!
Next up, let‘s address some frequently asked questions from new Stremio users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common queries regarding Stremio:
Is Stremio safe to use?
Yes, Stremio is safe and scanned to be 100% free of viruses or malware. However, be careful when installing third-party add-ons.
Does Stremio work with VPNs?
Absolutely! I strongly recommend always using a VPN like Surfshark or NordVPN while streaming on Stremio.
Can I use Stremio on my iPhone or iPad?
Yes, Stremio offers official apps for both iPhone and iPad available on the App Store.
Which is better – Stremio or Kodi?
As discussed earlier, it depends on what you prioritize more – simplicity or customization. Try both to see which suits your needs.
Is Stremio legal to use?
Stremio itself is 100% legal. However, some of its third-party add-ons provide illegal content. Avoid those to stay on the right side of the law.
What are the best Stremio add-ons?
I recommend YouTube, Twitch, Filmon TV, and Ted Talks to get legal streams. See the add-on overview earlier for more top picks.
And that concludes this detailed guide on installing the fantastic Stremio app across Fire TV and Android TV devices!
I hope all the tips above help you get Stremio running smoothly for hours of entertainment. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.
Happy streaming!
