Bilibili APK for Android TV Sideload Guide 2026
Install Bilibili on your Android TV. Sideload guide, TV-optimized builds, and remote tips.
Getting the Bilibili APK on Android TV working takes one decision and about ten minutes. You can’t find Bilibili in the Play Store on most televisions, so you install the APK yourself — and unlike what most guides claim, there is a TV-native build (com.bstar.intl.tv, v1.6.0) made for remotes and big screens. This guide covers both paths, Fire TV specifics, display fixes, and remote tips.
The Part Most Guides Get Wrong: A Native TV Build Exists
Most guides claim “Bilibili doesn’t make an Android TV version.” That was never quite true. APKMirror lists bilibili (Android TV) 1.6.0, published by BALABOOM PTE. LTD. — Bilibili’s international publisher — under package name com.bstar.intl.tv. It’s a genuine leanback build: TV-optimized interface, remote-friendly navigation, and support for Google-account login.
The real data on it:
- Version: 1.6.0, uploaded September 6, 2024
- Size: roughly 21 MB (the 320dpi bundle variant)
- Minimum Android: 6.0 (works on any Android TV / Google TV running 6.0 or newer)
- Requirement: Android TV only — APKMirror flags it as “cannot be installed on your phone or tablet”
- Earlier versions on the same listing: 1.5.0, 1.4.0, 1.3.1, 1.3.0, 1.2.1, 1.1.3
One honest caveat: the TV build is updated far less often than the phone app. v1.6.0 dates to 2024, so the interface looks a generation behind the current mobile app. If you want the newest features and UI, sideloading the phone build is the alternative — the trade-off is touch-first menus on a television.
Native TV Build vs Sideloaded Phone Build
| Native TV build (com.bstar.intl.tv) | Phone/HD build (com.bstar.intl) | |
|---|---|---|
| Version (as of Oct 2026) | 1.6.0 (Sept 2024) | v3.83.0 (Sept 29, 2026) |
| Size | ~21 MB | 82.11 MB |
| Interface | Designed for remotes and TVs | Phone UI, stretched on TVs |
| Navigation | D-pad works out of the box | Air mouse strongly recommended |
| Updates | Rare | Frequent |
| Best for | Set-and-forget watching on the couch | Latest features, danmaku-heavy viewing |
Recommendation: start with the native TV build. It installs the same way, behaves like a proper TV app, and removes most of the remote-control headaches. Only fall back to the phone build if you specifically need newer features.
Which Devices Can Run It
✅
Works Well
Android TV and Google TV televisions (Sony, Philips, TCL, Sharp), Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, Xiaomi Mi Box / TV Stick 4K, and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K / Fire TV Cube. Aim for 2 GB of RAM or more.
❌
Won’t Work
Roku, Samsung Tizen TVs, LG webOS TVs, and Apple TV can’t install Android APKs at all. If you own one of these, use a cheap Android TV stick or cast from your phone (see the FAQ).
🔥
Fire TV Note
Fire TV Sticks run Amazon’s Android fork, so APKs install fine — but Amazon hides Developer Options by default. The 4K and Cube models handle Bilibili comfortably; older HD-only sticks are sluggish.
What You Need Before Installing
📦
The APK File
Native TV build 1.6.0, or phone build v3.83.0 (Sept 29, 2026, 82.11 MB, Android 7.0+).
📲
Transfer Method
A FAT32 USB stick, or the free “Send Files to TV” app installed on both your phone and TV.
📁
File Manager
File Commander or X-plore File Manager — both available in the TV Play Store.
How to Install the Native TV Build
1
Download the APK on your phone or PC
Grab bilibili (Android TV) 1.6.0 from APKMirror’s listing on a device with a real browser. Downloading on the TV itself is possible but miserable with a remote.
2
Transfer it to the TV
Option A — USB stick. Copy the APK to a FAT32-formatted flash drive, plug it into the TV’s USB port, and open it with your file manager.
3
Allow installs from your file manager
Android TV blocks unknown sources by default. Go to Settings > Apps > Special app access (on some TVs: Settings > Security & restrictions > Unknown sources), select your file manager, and toggle Allow from this source.
4
Open the APK and install
In the file manager, find the APK (internal storage under Downloads, or the USB drive), select it, and choose Install. The Bilibili icon appears in your app drawer. Delete the APK afterward to free space.
5
Sign in
Launch the app. Google-account login is supported on the TV build; otherwise sign in with your Bilibili account credentials. Subscriptions, watch history, and favorites sync across devices.
How to Sideload the Phone Build Instead
If you’d rather run the latest mobile app, the steps are identical with a different file: download com.bstar.intl v3.83.0 (Sept 29, 2026, 82.11 MB, Android 7.0+), transfer it the same way, allow unknown apps for your file manager, and install. Older versions are on our old versions guide page. Expect more babysitting on a TV: stretched layouts and touch-only buttons make the display fixes and remote tips below essential. For the mobile download guide, see our homepage.
Installing on a Fire TV Stick
Fire TV needs two extra steps before anything else:
Unhide Developer Options
Amazon hides this menu. Go to Settings > My Fire TV > About, highlight your device name, and press the center button 7 times until “You are now a developer” appears. Back out one level and you’ll see Developer Options.
Enable installs from unknown apps
In Developer Options, turn on Apps from Unknown Sources (and ADB Debugging if you plan to push APKs from a PC). Then allow your specific installer — Downloader or your file manager — under Install unknown apps.
The easiest method: Downloader
- Install Downloader from the Amazon Appstore on the Fire TV.
- Enter the direct download URL of the APK (type it carefully, or use Downloader’s browser).
- When the download finishes, choose Install.
Alternatively, use Send Files to TV exactly as described above — install it from the Amazon Appstore on the stick and from the Play Store on your phone.
Fixing Display and Playback Problems
Edges cut off (overscan)
The most common TV issue: parts of the interface disappear past the screen edges. In your TV’s picture settings, look for Overscan, Screen position, or Screen fit and switch it to show the full picture (often labelled “Just Scan”). This fixes most “the app looks zoomed in” complaints instantly.
Stretched or oversized UI (phone build)
The native TV build sidesteps this. On the phone build, disable any TV “zoom” or “auto-fit” picture mode and keep the TV at native resolution. Some distortion is unavoidable with a touch-first layout.
Blurry video
Blur is almost always the TV upscaling a low-bitrate stream, not an app bug. Raise playback quality inside the app to 720p or 1080p, and confirm your TV is set to its native resolution.
Installed app doesn’t appear in the launcher
Android TV hides sideloaded apps from the main row. Install Sideload Launcher (free, in the Play Store) — it lists every installed app and lets you open Bilibili from there. On Fire TV, sideloaded apps appear under Apps & Channels automatically.
App crashes on launch
Clear the app’s cache (Settings > Apps > Bilibili > Clear cache). If it persists, uninstall and try the other build — older sticks sometimes run the lighter TV build (21 MB) far more stably than the 82 MB phone build.
Remote Control and Navigation Tips
- Get an air mouse. The single biggest upgrade for the phone build: a cheap 2.4 GHz wireless mouse (or air-mouse remote) lets you tap and scroll like a touchscreen.
- D-pad basics: directional buttons navigate, center/OK selects, Back exits screens or closes the player. Play/pause usually works during playback.
- Precise seeking: use the on-screen seek bar with the air mouse rather than the remote’s skip buttons.
- Searching and login: the TV on-screen keyboard is slow. A paired wireless keyboard — or QR-code sign-in from the mobile app — saves real time.
- Danmaku on TV: floating comments can overwhelm a big screen. Toggle them off per-video with the player’s danmaku switch, or lower their density in playback settings.
Updating the App
Sideloaded apps don’t auto-update. Download the newer APK and install it over the existing app — login and data are preserved. The phone build updates often, the TV build rarely. If an update misbehaves, the old-versions page (old versions guide) has rollback options. PC users have a separate path on our PC guide page.
Pros and Cons of Bilibili for Android TV
✅ Pros
- Big-screen experience: videos and danmaku comments shine on a television.
- Native TV build (com.bstar.intl.tv) with a remote-friendly leanback interface.
- Free to download and use, with Google-account login on the TV build.
- Subscriptions, watch history, and favourites sync across phone, PC, and TV.
- Works on Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV Stick, and Nvidia Shield.
❌ Cons
- No native Bilibili app in the TV Play Store — you must sideload it manually.
- Sideloading requires enabling unknown sources and installing a file manager.
- Remote navigation can be fiddly; the phone build really needs an air mouse.
- The TV build (v1.6.0) is outdated compared with the phone app (v3.83.0).
- No automatic updates — manually download and reinstall newer APKs.
Conclusion
The best Bilibili APK for Android TV for most people is the native TV build — com.bstar.intl.tv v1.6.0: small, remote-friendly, and free of the phone build’s stretched-UI headaches. Install it with a USB stick or Send Files to TV, allow unknown apps for your file manager, and you’re watching in about ten minutes. Reach for the phone build (v3.83.0) only when you want the newest features, pair it with an air mouse, and fix overscan first when the picture looks wrong. Fire TV owners: unhide Developer Options, use Downloader, and the rest is the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official Bilibili app for Google TV?
There is an Android TV build (com.bstar.intl.tv, v1.6.0) published by Bilibili’s international publisher and listed on APKMirror, with a TV-optimized interface and Google-account login. It is not distributed through the Play Store on TVs, so you still install it manually — but it’s far closer to an official TV app than a sideloaded phone APK.
Why is the TV version so old (1.6.0 from 2024)?
The TV build isn’t updated on the phone app’s schedule, which is already past v3.83.0. The 1.6.0 build still plays current content fine; it just lacks newer UI features. If the interface feels dated, sideload the phone build instead.
Can I install Bilibili on a Roku, Samsung, or LG TV?
No. Roku, Samsung’s Tizen, and LG’s webOS cannot install Android APKs, so no sideloading method exists for them. Your options are an external Android TV / Fire TV stick, or casting from the Bilibili mobile app to a Chromecast-compatible TV.
Does the native TV app support danmaku comments?
Yes, with per-video on/off toggles — though comment styling controls are more limited than on mobile.
Can I just cast Bilibili from my phone instead?
Yes. The mobile app supports casting to Chromecast and compatible TVs, which dodges sideloading entirely. The downside: your phone stays tied up during playback, and you lose the standalone TV-app experience.
Do I need a VPN to watch Bilibili on a TV?
Not for the app itself. Some Bilibili content is region-restricted depending on your account’s registration and location — that applies equally on phone, PC, and TV. A VPN doesn’t change what your account is entitled to.
Will sideloading void my TV’s warranty?
No. Installing an APK through Android’s own unknown-sources permission is a built-in OS feature, not rooting. It doesn’t void warranties — though the safety of what you install is on you.