About
Applicable to devices: Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd generation (2023), Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd generation (2023)
Starting from Android 10, apps that launch at startup (auto-launch) must be granted the permission SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW (also often called “drawing over other apps”).
Usually this is not a problem, since our app detects the missing permission and asks the user to grant it.
The 2nd generation Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max (with rounded corners) run Fire OS 8, which is built on Android 11, and require the same permission. However, Fire OS 8 has no screen to grant it, so the only way to make our signage app launch on startup is to grant the permission with a developer tools command.
Get Started
To grant the permission needed for auto-launch, you need a computer with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) installed.
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About, move to the device name (for example, Fire TV Stick 4K Max) and press it 10 times. You should see the message Developer Mode Enabled.
- Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options and turn on ADB Debugging.
- Make sure your Fire TV and your computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Note down your Fire TV’s IP address: go to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Network and find the IP Address field.
Mac OS
- Download platform-tools.zip file.
- Double-click the downloaded .zip file to unzip it.
- Open the folder, right-click the path bar at the bottom of the window and select Open in Terminal. If the path bar isn’t shown, right-click the folder itself > Services > New Terminal at Folder.
- Execute the following command to connect to your Fire TV Stick:
./adb connect <device-ip-here>, for example./adb connect 192.168.1.115 - A message pops up on the Fire TV asking you to trust the computer. Select Allow.
- To verify that the device is connected, run the command
./adb devices. You should see the device listed. - To grant the permission, run the following command:
./adb shell appops set dk.fadeit.play SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow - The permission is now granted.
Windows
- Download adb.zip
- Unzip the file and open the folder.
- Click the address bar of File Explorer, delete the path there, type cmd and press Enter.
- A Command Prompt window opens in the current folder.
- Execute the following command to connect to your Fire TV Stick:
adb connect <device-ip-here>, for exampleadb connect 192.168.1.115 - A message pops up on the Fire TV asking you to trust the computer. Select Allow.
- To verify that the device is connected, run the command
adb devices. You should see the device listed. - To grant the permission, run the following command:
adb shell appops set dk.fadeit.play SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow - The permission is now granted.
FAQ
This is too complicated, what is my alternative?
We recommend returning your new Amazon Fire TV Stick and buying either the .Onn or the Google TV Streamer entry-level media player.
