(7 Fixes) Spectrum App Not Working On Firestick [2023]

What do Batman, Spider-Man, and Wolverine have in common?

Aside from being amazing superheroes…

Their movies are all available on the Spectrum app.

Can’t get it to work on your Firestick?

Well, I don’t have the superpower to resolve it.

But what I do have are something equally awesome…

Fixes!

Continue reading to find out:

How to properly sideload the Spectrum app.
Spectrum’s speed requirement to stream without any lag.
9 effective fixes to get the Spectrum app to work on your Firestick.
And much, much more…

Why is the Spectrum app not working on my Firestick?

The Spectrum app isn’t working on your Firestick because of incorrect installation. To properly sideload the app, you need to install it via Downloader or ES File Explorer. Spectrum also needs at least 10 Mbps to stream. You may power cycle your modem and router if your internet’s unstable.

Spectrum app not working on Firestick: 7 fixes

#1: Delete and sideload the Spectrum app via Downloader

The Spectrum app isn’t officially available on Firestick.

So if you somehow have that on your device…

Chances are, you or someone sideloaded it. Which is the process of installing apps that aren’t on an authorized app store.

For example, there are areas where Netflix isn’t available on Firestick. So some resort to sideloading to install it.

Sideloading an app can be a little tricky. If you don’t do it correctly, the app won’t work at all.

So it’s best to delete the app. And then sideload it via Downloader.

“Wait, what exactly is Downloader?”

It’s one of the best apps for sideloading. It currently has over 580,000 good reviews on the Amazon App Store. And you can easily get it on Firestick.

Don’t worry. I’ll provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to do the following:

Delete the Spectrum app.
Download the Downloader app.
Install Spectrum via the Downloader app.

Let’s proceed.

How to delete the Spectrum app

Press your Firestick remote’s Home button.
Select the Settings icon.
Click Applications.
Navigate to Manage Installed Applications and click it.
Scroll down and select the Spectrum app.
Select the Uninstall option.
Click the Uninstall button to confirm.

After deleting Spectrum, it’s time to install the Downloader app.

How to install Downloader

Click the Home button on your Firestick remote.
Select the Find menu option.
Select Search.
Type in “Downloader” on the search bar using the virtual keypad.
Click the Downloader app from the results.
On the Downloader page, click the Download button.

Your Firestick should then download and install Downloader.

After installation, you’d need to enable it on your Firestick.

How to enable app installation via Downloader

Press Home on your remote.
Click the Settings icon.
Select My Fire TV.
Highlight Developer Options and click it.
Click the Install unknown apps option.
Look for Downloader and toggle it on.

And now it’s time to reinstall the Spectrum app.

How to install the Spectrum app via Downloader

Step #1: Click your Firestick remote’s Home button.

Step #2: Navigate to the Apps icon and click it. It’s the one with 3 boxes.

Step #3: Look for Downloader and click it to launch. It should be under the Apps & Games category.

Step #4: You’ll receive a welcome prompt. As well as a message about terms and conditions. Click OK.

Step #5: You’ll also see another message. This time, it’ll ask you to allow Downloader to access your Firestick’s photos, media, and flies. Click the Allow button.

Step #6: Type in the URL “bit.ly/spctm-fire-tv” on the Downloader’s address bar. Just remove the quotation marks.

Note: Make sure you type the URL exactly as written here. Otherwise, your Firestick won’t be able to locate the Spectrum app.

Step #7: Click the Go button.

Step #8: Wait for the APK file to download. Then click Next.

Step #9: Click Install.

Step #10: Once you see the “App installed” message, click Open.

You should now see the Spectrum app’s home page. Log in with your account details. And start streaming.

#2: Sideload the Spectrum app using ES File Explorer

Now installing Spectrum via Downloader should fix the issue.

However, if you’re somehow still getting an error, there’s an alternative.

You may install Spectrum using the ES File Explorer app instead.

It’s another popular sideloading app. With an average of a 4-star rating from over 175,000 reviewers. And like Downloader, it’s also available on your Firestick’s Amazon App Store.

How to install ES File Explorer

Press your remote’s Home button.
Highlight Find on the main menu tab and click it.
Click the Search option.
Type in “ES File Explorer” on the search bar.
Click ES File Explorer from the result to go to its main page.
Click the Download button.

After downloading, you’ll also need to allow ES File Explorer to install 3rd party apps.

How to enable app installation via ES File Explorer

Click your Firestick remote’s Home button.
Select Settings.
Scroll down to My Fire TV and select it.
Select Developer Options.
Navigate to Install unknown apps and click it.
Click ES File Explorer and turn it on.

Now delete the Spectrum app. You may go back to Fix #1 for the guide.

Once you delete it, wait for a few minutes before reinstalling it.

How to install the Spectrum app through ES File Explorer

Step #1: Press the Home button on your Firestick remote.

Step #2: Select the Apps icon.

Step #3: Go to the Apps & Games tab and look for ES File Explorer. Then click it to launch.

Step #4: Go to the sidebar menu. Scroll down and select Tools.

Step #5: Look for the Downloader icon and click it.

Step #6: Click New. You can find it on the bottom-left of your screen.

Step #7: A message box will pop up. Type in “https://bit.ly/3ihdcza” on the Path text box.

Again, make sure that you type in the URL correctly. Just don’t include the quotation marks.

Step #8: Click the Download Now button.

Step #9: After the ES File Explorer successfully downloads Spectrum, click Open File.

Step #10: Click the Install button.

Step #11: Once the installation process finishes, you may now launch Spectrum. Just click the Open button.

#3: Power cycle your Firestick

After re-sideloading the Spectrum app, it should already be working on your Firestick.

However, if you’re still getting errors, it may be due to a glitch on your device.

And how can you confirm that?

If you see that another channel like Prime Video isn’t working as well.

So try to check the other channels. If they’re also struggling to stream, then you should power cycle your Firestick.

Power cycling or restarting your device is easy and effective.

You may do it in a couple of different ways:

By unplugging.
By going to the Firestick’s Settings menu.

Power cycle by unplugging

Unplug your Firestick from its power source.
Disconnect your Firestick from the TV.
Wait for 30 seconds.
Reconnect your Firestick back to the TV.
Plug it into an outlet.

Power cycle through the Firestick’s Settings menu

Press your remote’s Home button.
Click the Settings icon.
Look for My Fire TV and select it.
Navigate to Restart and then click it.

You may also refer to this video on various ways to restart a Firestick:

#4: Verify if the Spectrum app is down

Like all streaming services, Spectrum also experiences outages.

So it’s worth checking its status as well.

You may visit its support page. Spectrum actually has a virtual agent who can tell you if your area has an outage.

In addition, you may also go to these websites:

And if there’s indeed an outage…

You’ll just have to wait for Spectrum’s engineers to resolve it.

In the meantime, you may browse through your Firestick’s other channels.

#5: Check if you’re having network connection issues

The Spectrum app requires a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps to stream.

So you may also check if your home network meets that requirement.

To do that:

Open a web browser on your phone or laptop.
Go to Google’s home page.
Type in “speed test” in the search bar.
Wait for the Internet speed test box to appear.
Click the Run Speed Test button.

Is your download speed below 10 Mbps?

If it is, just restart your modem and router by unplugging them. Then wait for about 30 seconds. And then plug them back into the outlet.

#6: Ensure that the Spectrum app is up to date

You also need to ensure that your Spectrum app’s up to date.

But since it’s a sideloaded app, the steps are a bit more complicated.

You can’t do it directly from your Firestick. So make sure you have a computer or laptop with you.

But first, you’ll have to enable a couple of settings on your Firestick. You’ll also need to take note of your IP address.

How to enable ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Source

Click your remote’s Home button.
Select Settings.
Select the My Fire TV card.
Go to Developer Options and click it.
Click ADB Debugging and select On.
Click Apps from Unknown Source and toggle it on.
Press your remote’s back button.
Scroll up to About and select it.
Select Network.
Look for your IP address and write it down.

Those 2 settings will allow you to install updates for Spectrum from your computer.

Now grab your laptop and launch a web browser. Then follow the steps below.

How to update your Firestick’s Spectrum app from a browser

Step #1: Go to Jocala Software’s home page.

Step #2: Download and install adbLink. You may find the download link when you scroll down from the home page.

There’ll be links for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Step #3: After installation, launch the adbLink software. Click New.

Step #4: You may enter anything to identify your Fire Stick on the Description tag. It can be your name plus the word “Firestick” or something like that.

Step #5: Type in your IP address on the Address text box and click Save.

Step #6: Click Select Device and find your Firestick. Then click Connect.

Step #7: Download the APK file for the Spectrum app.

Step #8: Click the Install APK button.

Step #9: Look for Spectrum’s APK file from your computer and select it.

Step #10: When you see the “Install APK?” message box, click Yes.

That’s it. When you relaunch Spectrum on Firestick, it should have the latest updates.

#7: Update your Firestick’s firmware

Finally, also ensure that your Firestick’s OS is up to date.

There may be bugs in its current version preventing Spectrum from working.

Here’s how to update its firmware:

Press Home on your remote.
Select Settings.
Select My Fire TV.
Select About.
Click the Check for updates option.
Select Install Update.

You may opt to install updates immediately. Or when your Firestick’s not in use.

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