Sideload on Chromecast without installing sketchy apps?

Does anyone know a way to sideload apps on the Chromecast without installing some sketchy "file uploader HD" app?

All the guides I can find online recommend installing some random file transfer app.

Can't get termux or f-droid, nor Firefox, chrome or even apkpure

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Use adb on your computer. Adb is how you officially debug android devices so it's as far away from sketchy as can be.
- Iirc that requires a usb connection at least in the first instance right? I guess only one way to find out if the usb c charging port on the Chromecast dongle supports any kind of data transfer
  
  You can just do it wirelessly, just like you would with any other phone
  
  The answer is yes it does, this is how I did it. Maybe you can prove me wrong but I don't think I've ever seen a USB-C port that was incapable of data transfer, I actually thought it was part of the standard
  
  If it's rooted, you can just ssh to it
  
  You can do it via wifi
I use LocalSend, I wouldn’t call it “sketchy” although it is a “file uploader” app.
- Just recently discovered LocalSend, it's super nice (if you have some devices that don't run KDEConnect).
I just install apps on my android tv with adb. But it all sucks, no useful alternative app store has an actual useful UI that works on the big screen. Updating is a pain, there's an app or two that help but they all a pain because it's almost impossible to navigate on the big screen with a remote control.

So, really, use adb.
Not sure how yours works, but on some "remote-only" devices you can use a (potentially sketchy) USB split cable with power connector and an additional USB port for a keyboard / keyboard-mouse combo so you can use a regular browser to download and install apps.

14 comments