How do i use my HDD on my MiBox S and how to install apps

by Deathshadegr

Hello there .

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I just got a MiBox S as an android TV and i wanted to know how to install apps like Speedtest for example that its not in the play store and also how i can connect my HDD to the bos and play video files ?

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when i connect my HDD into the box the default file browser of the android says that there is only X amount of available space and nothing else . do i need a specific file explorer for it ? i've read about ES File explorer how i can install it since its not on play store ?

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Thanks in advance !

AlexandreF

You can try X-Plore, Solid Explorer or Files by Google, maybe?

Mard0g

apps not in play store because they are made for touch/phones. You can get the app from apkmirror but you may need a mouse to use it. Put it on a thumb drive and install with X-plore or whatever you choose. VLC or Kodi should play your movies once you point then to your drive.

mustang_vst

  1. Download apkpure store on your phone.

  2. Download file commander on your phone

  3. Login to file commander to get free online storage

  4. Transfer apkpure store app you downloaded onto your file commander online drive folder.

  5. Download file commander on your mi box s from Google playstore.

  6. Download HAL launcher on your mi box s from Google play store.

  7. Open file commander on your mi box s and log in , you will find the online storage drive where you had moved apkpure appstore. Install it.

Installation will ask for you to enable installation of non playstore apps enable them.

  1. You won't find sideloaded apps from menu, this is where HAL launcher helps, open HAL launcher to access all sideloaded apks. Look for apkpure app there and run it.

From this store you can download apps you wanted which aren't available on play store, remember to use Hal launcher to open apps that you sideloaded.

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USB HDD is a main in the butt on Android devices except shieldtv.

Of you have a spare fast USB stick I suggest to insert it and format it as internal memory, this USB stick will not work outside of mi box s , but should give you now the added storage one requires on Android TV.

USB HDD can be also formatted as internal or external storage ,but because internal storage is HDD will not work with pc you have to decide weather you want to keep it permanently to mibox s or not. Also if the USB HDD is older version it will require more electricity to run, so you can't have more of them connected to the mibox s.

A USB HDD that was previously formatted on PC will work on Android without needing to format again, but you will only have read access on it.

Some apps will have ability to have access to write to a sub folder on your USB HDD if it's formatted as external HDD, but file explorer apps will still not have ability to read/write to USB.

What's the purpose of you wanting to connect a USB HDD ? Is it just for media playback ? Is it for gaming /apk storage?

seudonym_

Icons of apps installed outside of Google Play do not usually show up on the GUI. What i did was i installed a browser from Google Play, used that browser to download and install updowmtown app. Icon of this app shows on the GUI. I then install apps from updowntown and to use them i have to first open that app, go to its installed apps list and launch app from there. Hope this helps.