# Amazon's new Fire TV Stick removes app sideloading

_Published Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 2:08 PM EDT · Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Amazon's new Fire TV Stick removes app sideloading — Primary](https://9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/09/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-vega-os-1.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&resize=1200,628)

Amazon began selling a new Fire TV Stick 4K in the United States for $59.99, replacing Android with its Vega OS. The switch removes sideloading, the ability to install apps outside the device's supported app distribution, and changes how owners can access software on the streaming device.

The device can draw power from a television's USB port and comes with a redesigned remote. Amazon says more than 2,000 apps have been added to Vega OS this year, but that catalog does not restore sideloading for users who relied on it.

## Sources

- [9to5Google](https://9to5google.com/2026/09/30/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-2026/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/9UaL_93wy8opZK7I-TBSSv
Published: 2026-09-30T18:08:58.614Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-30T15:20:00.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-30T21:26:04.858Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)