Jailbreaking is the process of removing the manufacturer restrictions on a device. It allows you to install a variety of apps on your device. There are many streaming apps that offer free content. These apps are not available on unlocked devices like Fire TV and Firestick.
So, you can jailbreak your Firestick to access apps offering free content. But, despite the benefits there are also some risks involved in Jailbreaking. Let us explore the pros and cons of jailbreaking. Also, we will dive into the difference between regular vs jailbroken Firestick.
What is a Regular Firestick?
A regular Fire TV stick is a device that lets you stream content from a variety of apps. You can stream movies, TV shows, exclusive sports events and Live TV.
Regular Firestick comes with some restrictions. For example, you cannot install third party apps. Also, you cannot install apps from unofficial app stores. Amazon does not allow you to access apps outside their own app store. Also, you cannot stream from apps that offer pirated or copyright content.
What is Jailbreaking?
To understand a jailbroken firestick, first we need to understand what is jailbreaking. Jailbreaking has nothing to do with the term jail. Its a process used by developers to install unauthorized software on a device.
Jailbreaking is the process of removing or bypassing restrictions on an electronic device. Once you jailbreak a device, you can install third party apps on your device. But it voids the device warranty and even the support from the brand.
What is a Jailbroken Firestick?
Now in this case, it is the Amazon Firestick. As mentioned above Amazon puts certain restrictions on Firestick. Jailbreaking is the process of removing all those restrictions. It allows the user to gain full access to the operating system and all its features. But, you don’t need to make changes to system files while jailbreaking your device.
All you need is to change the settings of your Fire TV Stick. So, Jailbreaking means enabling the installation of third party apps. This is the primary reason why people decide to jailbreaking any streaming device.
Benefits of a Jailbroken Firestick
Many people jailbreak a Firestick due to the benefits it offers. The best benefit is that you can install third party apps to stream content. Third party apps are the ones that are present on unofficial app stores. They are not available on official stores like Amazon app store.
You get access to a wide range of third-party apps and free content. For example, you can install the Kodi app that offers you access to content from a variety of apps. Like Kodi, there are many other apps you can install on your Firestick.
The best part of third party apps is that they offer you free content. You don’t need any paid subscriptions. You can watch premium content without paying anything. Even some third party apps offer paid content. It’s the users wish whether they subscribe to them or not.
Regular Vs Jailbroken Firestick
Now as we know about a regular and jailbroken Firestick, let us know the differences between the both.
Installation of Apps
A regular Fire stick allows you to install apps only from official app stores like Amazon. But, on a jailbroken Fire stick, you can install apps from unofficial stores. It means you can access a lot more content from a jailbroken Fire stick.
Access Free Content
Accessing free content on a regular Fire stick is close to impossible. You can access free content only on YouTube and a few other apps. Most of the apps on your device are paid and allow you to stream content with a paid subscription.
However, with a jailbroken device you can stream free content from many apps. Some third party apps offer premium content free of cost. Although, the content may be legal or illegal.
Warranty
A regular Firestick comes with one year of manufacturer warranty. It covers all the manufacturing defects. If you face a problem with the Firestick within one year of purchase, Amazon has got you covered. But, when you jailbreak a Firestick, the warranty gets void automatically. You will not get any repair, replacement or support on a jailbroken device.
Piracy and Copyright Issues
The content available on genuine Firestick apps is genuine and original. You don’t fear any risk of piracy or copyright issues. The content you stream from third party apps is usually pirated or copyrighted. Even if you install genuine third party apps, there is no guarantee of the legality of their content.
You may face issues for streaming pirated or copyright content. So, you need to do some settings to keep yourself safe. You should change the privacy settings on jailbroken Firestick. Another thing you need to do is to disable the data collection option by Amazon.
After making relevant changes on your device, Amazon and other authorities will not be able to track what you stream. Now you can safely sideload third party apps and stream content on your Firestick.
Risk of Viruses and Malware
A regular Firestick receives updates and bug fixes from Amazon. It gets updated with features and security updates. This keeps up its maintenance and security against threats. However, Amazon does not offer any updates or bug fixes for jailbroken devices.
So, without security updates, your device is at a risk of viruses and malware. Viruses or malware can corrupt the software of Firestick as well as your TV or device on which you use it.
Summing Up
A jailbroken device offers you many benefits like access to free content. However, one should not decide to go with jailbreaking considering only the benefits. It is good to consider both the pros and cons before jailbreaking any streaming device.
It is always better to stream content on regular Firestick as you get support for any issues you face. But, if you are a tech savvy person, and deal with issues, you can go with jailbreaking.
