What Unlinked Is and Why You Might Want It
Unlinked is a third-party media player app that runs on Fire Stick devices. It lets you stream video and audio files from sources outside Amazon's ecosystem — files stored on your home network, cloud storage, or external drives connected to your Fire Stick. Unlike the built-in Fire Stick apps, Unlinked does not require you to use Amazon Prime Video, Alexa, or any Amazon account features to play your own media.
The app is not available in the Amazon Appstore, so you cannot find it by searching within Fire Stick's normal menu. Instead, you install it by enabling a setting called Unknown Sources (which lets your Fire Stick accept apps from outside Amazon) and then downloading the Unlinked file directly to the device. This process is sometimes called "sideloading."
Before you start: installing apps from unknown sources carries a small security risk because Amazon does not review them the way it reviews Appstore apps. Only install Unlinked from a source you trust, and only if you understand that you are responsible for what the app does on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Unlinked is a media player for your own files, not a streaming service, and it does not appear in the Amazon Appstore.
- You must turn on Unknown Sources in Fire Stick settings before you can install any app from outside Amazon.
- You read the Unlinked installation file (an .apk file) to your Fire Stick using a file manager or a computer connected to the same network.
- Once installed, Unlinked appears in your Fire Stick home menu and works like any other app you have added.
- Installing apps from unknown sources is your choice and your responsibility — Amazon does not support or update them.
Enable Unknown Sources on Your Fire Stick
The first step is to allow your Fire Stick to install apps that do not come from the Amazon Appstore. Go to Settings on your Fire Stick home screen, then select Apps, then Unknown Sources. Toggle the switch to On. Your Fire Stick will warn you that apps from unknown sources may pose a security risk — this is Amazon's standard warning, and you can proceed if you understand the risk.
Once Unknown Sources is on, your Fire Stick will accept installation files from any source. Leave this setting on while you install Unlinked; you can turn it back off afterward if you prefer, though many people leave it on to install other third-party apps later.
read the Unlinked Installation File
You need the actual Unlinked app file — a file with a name ending in .apk — on your Fire Stick or on a device connected to the same home network. The most common way to get this file is to read it on a computer or phone first, then transfer it to your Fire Stick.
Search online for "Unlinked apk read" and look for the file on a source you recognize and trust. Once you have the .apk file on your computer or phone, you have two options: transfer it to your Fire Stick over your home network using a file manager app, or connect a USB drive to your Fire Stick and copy the file onto the drive first. The network method is faster if both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Transfer the File to Your Fire Stick
If you are using a computer on the same network, you can use a file manager app on your Fire Stick to access your computer's shared folders. Go to Apps on your Fire Stick, search for and install a free file manager app like ES File Explorer or Solid Explorer from the Amazon Appstore. Open the file manager, navigate to your computer's network location, and copy the Unlinked .apk file to a folder on your Fire Stick — the Downloads folder or the root home folder both work.
If you prefer to use a USB drive, plug a USB drive into your Fire Stick (using a USB adapter if needed), copy the Unlinked .apk file onto the drive on your computer, then plug the drive into your Fire Stick. Use the file manager app to navigate to the USB drive and locate the file.
Install Unlinked from the File
Once the Unlinked .apk file is on your Fire Stick, open your file manager app and navigate to the folder where you saved the file. Tap or click on the Unlinked .apk file. Your Fire Stick will ask whether you want to install it — select Install. The installation takes a few seconds to a minute depending on your network speed.
When the installation is complete, you will see a message saying "App installed" or "Installation successful." You can then close the file manager. Unlinked will now appear in your Fire Stick home menu under Your Apps or All Apps, depending on your Fire Stick model and software version.
Launch Unlinked and Set Up Your Media Sources
Open Unlinked from your Fire Stick home menu. The first time you launch it, the app will ask you to point it to where your media files are stored — this might be a folder on your home network, a cloud storage service, or a USB drive connected to your Fire Stick. Follow the app's prompts to add your media sources.
Unlinked will then scan those locations and display your video and audio files in a browsable menu. You can play files directly from there. The exact steps depend on which version of Unlinked you have and where your files are stored, so check the app's built-in help or documentation if you get stuck on setup.
Troubleshooting Common Installation Problems
If the installation fails, the most common cause is that the .apk file is corrupted or incomplete. Delete the file from your Fire Stick and read it again from your source. If your Fire Stick says "Unknown Sources is off" when you try to install, go back to Settings and confirm that the toggle is actually on — sometimes the setting does not save on the first try.
If Unlinked installs but does not appear in your apps menu, restart your Fire Stick by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. If the app crashes when you open it, check that your Fire Stick has enough free storage space — go to Settings, then About, then Storage to see how much space is available. Unlinked and your media files together may need several gigabytes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to turn on Unknown Sources?
Turning on Unknown Sources itself is safe — it is just a setting that allows installation from outside Amazon. The risk comes from installing apps you do not trust. Only install Unlinked or other apps from sources you recognize, and turn Unknown Sources back off afterward if you want to reduce the risk of accidentally installing something harmful.
Can I delete the .apk file after Unlinked is installed?
Yes. Once Unlinked is installed, the .apk file is no longer needed. You can delete it from your Fire Stick to free up storage space. The app itself will continue to work.
What if I cannot find a read link for the Unlinked .apk file?
The app may no longer be actively maintained or publicly available. Search for alternative media player apps in the Amazon Appstore — many free options like Kodi, VLC, or Plex can play your own media files and are officially supported on Fire Stick.
Do I need a computer to install Unlinked?
Not necessarily. If you can read the .apk file directly to your Fire Stick using a web browser or email app, you can skip the transfer step. However, most people find it easier to read on a computer first and then move the file over.
Will Unlinked work if my media files are on a different device?
Yes, as long as that device is on the same home network and has file sharing enabled. Unlinked can access shared folders on computers, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, and some cloud storage services. Check the app's documentation for which types of storage it supports.