Today here we will learn how to hack or jailbreak Samsung Smart TV. If you don’t have a Samsung TV, we also go through the steps to show you how to jailbreak your smart TV such as Panasonic, Sony, LG etc..
The easiest and best way to jailbreak your Samsung Smart TV is to install an application called Kodi.
- Samsung Smart TV
- Amazon Firestick
- LG Smart TV’s
- Sony Smart TV
- Panasonic Smart TV
- Other workarounds
Method 1: Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen/Android TV)
How you jailbreak your Samsung Smart TV will depend on the operating system your Smart TV is running on. There are 2 different operating systems for a Samsung smart TV.
- Samsung TV run powered by Android.
- Samsung TV run powered by Tizen.
If your Samsung TV run is powered by Android, the process is simple.
Download ‘Kodi’ through the Play store by searching ‘Kodi’ and hitting the ‘Install’ button.
If you’re using a Samsung TV powered by Tizen, the process is not that simple as this operating system is not compatible with Kodi and it seems like Kodi isn’t coming to Tizen anytime soon.
Not to worry, there is still a way around it.
Only Android TV or you can buy an android box with HDMI port for your non-smart TV. Occasionally, if your Samsung TV won’t turn on, read Why my Samsung TV Won’t Turn On And What to do About it.
Method 5: Workarounds for Non-Supported Smart TVs (Samsung & LG)
If you can’t run Kodi natively on your smart TV, you can try installing Kodi on Raspberry Pi or using a media streaming device such as an Amazon Firestick. The last option is installing a jailbreak version of Kodi (please proceed with caution and install a VPN if you are hacking with this method)
- Use Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire tv
In case you’re not a gamer, we recommend checking out the Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. This is a range of devices capable of streaming movies on Kodi, aside from running applications natively. We have published a guide on how to install Kodi on Fire Stick in an effort to help you with this process.
- Install Kodi on a Raspberry Pi
As said earlier, there is no way to run Kodi on LG’s WebOS or Samsung’s Tizen. However, there are ways around it so you install Kodi on Raspberry Pi and connect it to your smart TV.
We have previously published an in-depth guide on how to install Kodi on Raspberry Pi. Use the provided link and get this project started.
- Use a Media Streaming Device
Installing Kodi on a Raspberry Pi model can be a process many don’t like to go through as it does take a bit of tinkering of the system. So, for those who are looking for a simpler way, Kodi boxes are devices available for purchase and capable of running Kodi natively. They are standalone hardware units connected to smart TVs via HDMI connections and capable of connecting to the Web for streaming outside of your local library content.
- Use a Set-top box
Buy a set-top box and install Kodi (XBMC) on that. The best ones are Android-based that can be flashed to run OpenELEC (Kodi / XBMC Player » Matricom) and install OpenELEC on that.
If you shop around, you can do this for under $100 and it will run much better than anything you can do with a “smart” TV or Apple device.
Although, if you have a Sony smart TV you may be in luck as far as installing Kodi from the Google Play Store. I have not done this, but it looks promising.
- Android smart TV: Android TV and also the Fire TV Fire TV – Amazon Official Site – Streaming Media Player
- Fire OS TV: Firefox OS — Beyond smartphones — Bringing the power of the Web to Panasonic TVs
- Tizen OS : An open source, standards-based software platform for multiple device categories.
- Web : LG Smart TV – ultimate convenience and value running TV apps via internet / wifi
But in my opinion, only Android TV provide us with its app ecosystem and make it sustainable for developer and users.
- Jailbreak Smart TV by Installing Jailbreak KODI
- Another way to install Kodi on your smart TV if your device is not natively compable is to install the jailbreak version of Kodi via the CetusPlay app. Before processing please Warning: Why you must NOT USE Kodi without VPN?
- Install CetusPlayfrom Google Play Store on your Smart TV or download APK for phone CetusPlay
- Before installation it will ask permission to allow ‘unknown sources’. Tap “OK” when it show the warning.
- When the installation is complete, open CetusPlay and search ‘KODI’
- You will only have to click on it to install it
- Once KODI is installed, transfer the APK file to your smart TV
- While using File Manager install the APK file on your Samsung or Android
How to a Samsung Smart TV without Kodi.
Samsung Smart TV’s usually comes with a Linux Kernel operating system which Android to Tinex operate on top of. Your Samsung TV must have a built in ARM processor with firmware <=1018.0.
Required tools for rooting Smart TV are Toolchain, Samsung SDK, XBMC or GIT. If you choose to jailbreak your smart TV using this method, please follow the steps below.
- Turn on your Smart TV and go to settings using the TV remote
- Select Setup Options and enter the appropriate Pin Code
- Select a language according to your choice and proceed
- Select a country from there and proceed further
- An Auto Tuning option will appear, from there go to channel type and select Digital. Now Auto Tuning will proceed
- Select ‘Next’, then NO after scanning is complete and proceed
- Select your internet service location to process further
- Now, click on the aerial option and go next
- Enter the required Pass Code and continue
- The screen will show you an Update option. Click ‘update now’. Your update will start and will take some time to complete
Once the update is complete, it will ask permission to turn off the TV. Select YES, then turn on your TV to access all the ‘new’ features on your Smart TV.
Method 1: LG Smart TVs (WebOS)
Let’s say this clearly – there is no way to run Kodi on WebOS. The only way for this to be possible is if Kodi’s developers decide to develop a separate version of Kodi for WebOS. Still, there are many reasons why this won’t happen:
- Development of Kodi for WebOS means putting a lot of effort into a not-as-attractive option. It is true that this OS and Linux share the same basic code but they are drastically different, which is what makes this process complex.
- Even though there are many LG TV models out there, not many people use WebOS on a daily basis. You can easily see how it’s better for Kodi’s developers to focus on more popular platforms.
- Finally, there really isn’t a reason for Kodi to be present on WebOS. There are other ways to install Kodi on Smart TVs – and that’s via one of Raspberry Pi models. This is an affordable way to keep your Kodi installation separate from your TV.
Scroll down to the Non Supported TV section.
Method 3: Sony Smart TVs (Android TV)
The new SONY Smart TVs were the one of the first TV’s using Google Android TV software. They allow you to install XBMC/Kodi directly from the Google Play Store, no complex Jailbreak needed.
- Google Play Store:Launch this application (Play Store), look up Kodi using the search tool and download the application. You will be able to run it natively, without any restrictions.
- Screen Sharing:Android comes with its own screen sharing feature called Google Cast (or Chromecast). This includes downloading Kodi to your Android phone or tablet and sharing its screen with your TV.
Method 4: Panasonic Smart TVs (My Home Screen)
Panasonic has decided to build their TVs around a customized platform called My Home Screen. It is built upon Firefox TV but comes with a custom-tailored interface however, you won’t find Kodi among those applications.
Since Kodi doesn’t come as a native application, it needs to be run using an alternative method. This includes investing in a Raspberry Pi board or buying a Kodi box
Method 4: Nvidia TVs (Android TV)
Nvidia Shield TV provides great high-resolution streaming with gaming It is powered by Android, which means that you can install Kodi to also have access to millions of applications and games. All you need to do to install Kodi on Nvidia Shield TV is to open the Google Play Store and download the application.
Method 5: Amazon Fire TV app
The Amazon Fire TV app store offers a decent selection, but there are probably apps you’d like to install which aren’t available. Luckily, there are ways to bypass the store entirely and install apps from different locations.
Disclaimer: ErrorCodeGuru does not encourage or condone using sideloaded apps or a VPN to stream content illegally. We advise researching your country’s laws and the terms of use for specific streaming platforms before using a VPN to access their content.
How to jailbreak an Amazon Firestick or Fire TV: the short version
- Enable installation of apps from unknown sources in the settings menu.
- Install the Downloader app.
- Enter the URL of the .APK file you’d like to install.
- Follow the prompts to install your chosen app.
Keep reading for the detailed tutorial which includes screenshots.
Important: Always use a VPN when streaming
Warning: Why you must NOT USE Kodi without VPN?
Here are the reasons that you should consider looking at it without SKIPPING.
- Using ILLEGAL Kodi Addons are Dangerous without a VPN:Most of the Kodi users are installing the ILLEGAL Kodi addons on their system to access all the latest movies, TV shows, sports, music, and much more for FREE, than a legal Kodi addon where it has the least content in it. But do you know what? The video content on illegal addons is a scraped and copyrighted material. If you are accessing them on Kodi, then your activities will be monitored by your ISP by tracking your IP and gives all the information to the government or companies if they request for it. This will land you in trouble. To stay away from this, you will have to connect to a VPN where it hides your identity by rotating your IP address while streaming Kodi content. This is how you will be safe from the prying eyes.
- Bypass Geo-Restriction:As you probably know, some official addons like BBC iPlayer, NBC Sports, Hulu, IceFilms have geo-location restrictions. This also applies to other addons like Acestream which fetches the data from torrents. To unblock these restrictions, you will have to DEFINITELY use a VPN no matter what.
The above are the 2 reasons that forcing us to recommend a VPN to the Kodi users for safer streaming. In fact, after testing several VPNs for Kodi, we finally came up with a one non-stop solution and that is ExpressVPN, the top rated Kodi VPN so far.
Conclusion
Hacking or Jailbreaking your smart TV could be tricky at times but it allows you to watch more TV channels without any additional costs.
As smart TV can be easily connected to the internet, these hacks could possibly put your data at risk to more vulnerabilities with an unreliable security system. Therefore, you need to be very careful while trying to Jailbreak Samsung or any Smart TV.
Smart TVs are tricky, most have proprietary operating systems and are no easy to sideload new apps.
Jailbreaking FAQs
Is jailbreaking legal?
There’s actually very little legislation regarding the legality of jailbreaking devices you own. In the US, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act allows you to jailbreak your devices for personal and non-commercial use. This was brought about after Apple tried, unsuccessfully, to challenge an exemption appeal raised by the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 2009.
In Europe, jailbreaking falls under Council Directive 91/250/EEC, which says “a person having a right to use a computer program should not be prevented from performing acts necessary to observe, study or test the functioning of the program, provided that these acts do not infringe the copyright in the program”. Simply: as long as you’re not trying to duplicate the Fire TV’s operating system or profit from Amazon’s copyrighted content, it’s completely legal to jailbreak your device.
Does jailbreaking void my device’s warranty?
If you “pseudo-jailbreak” your Amazon Firestick using the steps above, it will not affect your warranty in any way. We simply installed a couple of apps from the default store, after all.
However, if you decide to alter the standard firmware of a device using third-party scripts or software, and cannot subsequently return it to its factory state, you may well be voiding the warranty. This depends entirely on the company’s warranty policy, so it’s a good idea to read this thoroughly before attempting to root anything.
Is jailbreaking my Fire TV stick worth it?
If you can find everything you’d ever want to use in the Amazon Fire app store, there’s no need to follow the steps above: you can just install the required apps and start streaming. However, by jailbreaking your device, you can install apps from anywhere, even if they aren’t available by default.
This significantly broadens your choices, and enables you to install newly-released apps before they’re even introduced to the Amazon store. These factors alone make the Downloader app worth installing.
How long does jailbreaking a Firestick take?
You can go from enabling Installation from Unknown Sources to streaming in under ten minutes. Obviously, the time taken will increase if you have a particularly slow internet connection, or if you’re trying to download an unusually large file, but most apps should download in two minutes at most.
What are the risks of jailbreaking my Firestick?
There aren’t any, as long as you follow our guide. If you decide you don’t want any of the apps you’ve installed via our method, you can simply press the Menu button on the remote and uninstall them as you would any other app.
In the worst case scenario, an installed app might crash your Firestick or Fire TV. If this happens, it’s more than likely the app hasn’t been coded properly, or you’ve accidentally installed a 64-bit version instead of the 32-bit one. Just reboot your device, uninstall the app, and reinstall the correct version, and everything should work as intended.
It’s important to note that you are responsible for vetting the apps you sideload onto the Firestick. The apps in the Amazon store are checked for legitimacy, but if you install apps from a different source, there are no such protections. You can mitigate the risk by only installing reputable apps hosted on trusted platforms like APKMirror.com.
You can learn to install Android SDK on Windows computer using method we discussed in our next article.
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