CloudStream APK

CloudStream is a free, open-source video app for Android. Here is the key thing to understand: it plays video, but it does not come with any video.

• You install the app and the home screen is empty.
• You then add a repository, which is just a list of add-ons.
• From that list you install extensions. Each extension connects the app to one source.
• Only then does content show up.

That sounds like extra work, and it is. But it is also the point:

• Normal streaming apps give you a fixed library that someone else picked.
• CloudStream gives you nothing, and you build the library yourself.
• The app stays small and fast because it is only a player, a link finder and a downloader.

Who makes it:

• Built by the recloudstream community on GitHub.
• Released under the GPL-3.0 licence.
• No company owns it. No ads. No accounts. No paid version.
• Anyone can read the code, report a bug or send a fix.

Most guides jump straight to a feature list. It helps more to clear up what this app does not do, because nearly every support question comes from something on this list.

• It is not a content library. CloudStream stores no movies, no episodes, no files. An empty screen after install is normal, not a bug.
• No website owns it. Any site calling itself the “developer” is not telling the truth. The developer is the recloudstream community.
• There is no iOS version. No iPhone app, no iPad app, no IPA file. If a site offers “CloudStream for iOS”, it is offering you something else.
• There is no mod or premium APK. Everything is already free, so a mod has nothing to unlock – only something to hide.
• It is not a VPN. It does not hide your traffic or your IP.
• It is not a Kodi add-on. It is its own Android app with its own plugin system.
• The app does not check extensions. Extensions are made by other people. Some are great. Some break in a week and never get fixed.

Once you understand the chain, troubleshooting gets much easier. There are four parts:

Why this matters:

• The repository holds no content. It is only an index – a list of what exists and where to get it.
• The extension does the real work. It knows where a site’s search page is and how to pull a playable link out of it.
• The app never touches the source website directly. The extension does.
• So when a source site changes its layout, that extension stops working. The app is fine. The repo is fine. One provider just goes quiet until a volunteer updates it.

Knowing which layer broke tells you what to do: update an extension, switch repositories, or just ignore it and use a different provider.

Before you install, check these:

• Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher – older versions will not run current builds.
• About 150 MB free space for the app, plus more if you download videos.
• Permission to install unknown apps for your browser or file manager.
• A stable internet connection – streaming quality depends on your connection and the source, not the app.

Compatibility matrix

The current stable release is v4.8.0. Use the latest build unless you have a good reason not to – older builds slowly stop working as source websites change.

Older versions

Sometimes an older build makes sense:

• A new release has a bug on your specific device.
• An extension you need has not been updated for the newest plugin system.

Our version archive keeps earlier builds with their notes so you can roll back cleanly. Just do not go too far back – old builds lose extension support and miss security fixes.

On an Android phone or tablet

Step 1 – Allow installs from your browser

• Open Settings → Security & privacy → Install unknown apps.
• The exact path changes by brand, so search “unknown apps” in Settings if you cannot find it.
• Pick the browser you will download with.
• Turn on Allow from this source.

Step 2 – Download the APK

• Tap the download button on this page.
• Wait for it to finish. Do not open a half-downloaded file.

Step 3 – Install

• Open your Downloads folder or the notification.
• Tap the APK, then tap Install.
• Play Protect may warn you because the app is not from the Play Store. Review it and continue.

Step 4 – Set it up

• Open CloudStream.
• Pick your language and layout.
• Now go to adding a repository. The app does nothing until you do.

On Android TV or Google TV

1. Install Downloader or a file manager from the Play Store on your TV.
2. Go to Settings → Device Preferences → Security & restrictions and allow unknown apps for that tool.
3. Open the tool, type the download URL, and get the APK.
4. Install it, then open CloudStream from your apps row.
5. Tip: use a shortcode instead of a full URL when adding repos. Typing long links with a remote is painful.

On Firestick / Fire TV

1. Go to Settings → My Fire TV → About and click the device name seven times. This turns on Developer Options.
2. Go back to My Fire TV → Developer Options and turn on Install unknown apps.
3. From the home screen, search for and install the Downloader app.
4. Give Downloader permission to install unknown apps.
5. Open Downloader, enter the APK URL, download and install.
6. Open CloudStream and finish setup.

On Windows PC

CloudStream is an Android app, so your PC needs to run Android. Two ways:

Emulator (works on any PC)

• Install BlueStacks, LDPlayer or MEmu.
• Drag the APK onto the emulator window.
• It installs automatically. Open it from the emulator’s app drawer.

Windows Subsystem for Android

• If your Windows version supports WSA, sideload the APK using ADB.
• Runs better than an emulator, but takes more setup.

Full guide: CloudStream for PC.

On Mac and Chromebook

Mac

• Use an Android emulator that supports macOS.
• Apple Silicon Macs have fewer emulator choices than Intel Macs.

Chromebook

• Works only if your Chromebook runs Android apps.
• Turn on Linux/developer mode, then sideload the APK.
• Many school and office Chromebooks block this.

On iPhone or iPad

There is no CloudStream for iOS. None. No official build, no unofficial build, no IPA.

If a website offers you one, it is not CloudStream. See our iOS alternatives guide instead of installing something unknown.

This takes about thirty seconds and it is the best thing you can do to stay safe when sideloading. CloudStream is open source, so official builds come with checksums. That means you can prove a file is untouched instead of just hoping.

1. Check the package name. Go to Settings → Apps → CloudStream → App details. It should say com.lagradost.cloudstream3. A different package name means a different app.
2. Check the file size. Compare it with the size listed for that release. A big difference is a warning sign.
3. Check the SHA-256 hash.
   • Windows: run certutil -hashfile cloudstream.apk SHA256 in Command Prompt.
   • Mac or Linux: run shasum -a 256 cloudstream.apk.
   • Compare the result with the hash published for that release.
4. Check the signature if you want to be thorough. Use APK Analyzer or apksigner verify --print-certs. All real builds share one signature – which is also why a fake build cannot install as an update over a real one.
5. Skip anything labelled “mod” or “premium”. There is no paywall to remove.

A repository is a list of extensions. Add it once, then install, update or remove extensions from it whenever you like.

You can add a repo two ways:

• Paste the full URL, or
• Type the short shortcode, which the app expands for you. Much easier on a TV remote.

Repository list

31 repositories · 20+ languages · updated monthly

Tap the copy icon beside any shortcode to copy it, then paste it straight into the app’s Add repository box. Use the filter buttons to narrow the list to your language.

Two things worth knowing:

• Check if a repo is still alive. These are volunteer projects and some go quiet. Before you blame the app, check whether the repo has had any activity in the last few months. We track this on our repository status page.
• More repos is not better. Twenty repositories makes search slower and results messier. Three or four good ones covering the languages you actually watch will beat a bloated setup every time.

1. Open CloudStream and tap the Settings icon.
2. Tap Extensions.
3. Tap Add repository (the floating button at the bottom right).
4. Enter a name (optional – just for you) and paste the URL or type the shortcode.
5. Tap Add repository.
6. A warning pops up saying third-party extensions are not checked by the CloudStream team. Read it, then tap Open repository.
7. The extension list loads.

1. Browse or search the repository’s extension list.
2. Tap the download icon next to any extension.
3. Installed ones show a checkmark or an uninstall icon.
4. Go back to the home screen. The button that said None now lists your providers.
5. Tap one to browse it.

Chromecast

1. Make sure your phone and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi.
2. Start playing something.
3. Tap the cast icon at the top of the player.
4. Pick your device.
5. The TV takes over playback and your phone becomes the remote.

Subtitles – language, look and sync

• Change the language: in the player, tap the gear icon → Subtitles, then pick a track or search for one.
• Change the look: go to Settings → Player → Subtitle settings. You can change font, size, colour, outline, background and position.
• Fix bad sync: use the offset control in the subtitle menu.
• Positive numbers delay the subtitles.
• Negative numbers move them earlier.
• The live preview shows the change as you slide, so you do not have to guess.

Audio tracks and dubbed versions

Subtitles are not the only language option. Many sources carry more than one audio track.

• Start playing, then tap the gear icon → Audio.
• Any extra audio tracks the source provides are listed there.
• Pick the language you want. Playback continues from the same point.

What you will realistically find:

• Anime – the widest dub coverage by far. English dubs are common, and some sources carry regional dubs too.
• Films and series – dual-audio releases show up regularly, but coverage is patchy and unpredictable.
• Regional dubs – usually come from language-specific extensions rather than general ones.

If the Audio menu only shows one track, that source only has one. Back out and try a different provider for the same title – dub availability changes completely from source to source.

Anime tracker sync

1. Go to Settings → Accounts.
2. Pick your tracking service and log in through the browser prompt.
3. Approve CloudStream.
4. Done – your episode progress now updates as you watch, and your existing list shows up inside the app.

This is one of CloudStream’s best features and almost nobody explains it. If you already keep a watchlist, this removes all the manual updating.

Backup and restore

Do this before you change phones, install a big update, or clear app data.

• Backup: Settings → Backup → Create backup. This saves your settings, library, watch progress and repo list to a file. Store it somewhere outside the app folder – cloud storage or your PC.
• Restore: Settings → Backup → Restore backup, then pick your file.

External player (VLC, MX Player)

1. Go to Settings → Player.
2. Switch the default player from internal to external, or choose Ask every time.
3. Now when you press play, Android asks which player to use.

Useful if you want better audio track handling or your device struggles with certain formats.

Source priority

1. Go to Settings → Extensions → Provider priority (the name changes slightly between builds).
2. Drag your providers into the order you want.
3. The app checks the top ones first when looking for links.

Put your two or three most reliable providers at the top. Links resolve noticeably faster.

Installing the app is the easy part. These habits are what separate a setup that works for months from one you fight with every week.

Anime is where CloudStream is at its strongest, and it is worth explaining why rather than just claiming it.

What actually makes it good for anime:

• Tracker sync. Connect an anime tracking service once and your episode progress updates as you watch. No other part of the app saves as much manual effort.
• Sub and dub in one place. The audio track menu lets you switch between them per episode instead of hunting for a separate release.
• Proper subtitle control. Fansub timing is often slightly off. The live offset slider fixes it in seconds.
• Anime-focused extensions. Several repositories specialise in anime and Asian drama, so you get seasonal coverage rather than a thin general catalogue.
• Watch status that fits how anime works. Plan to Watch, On Hold and Dropped map neatly onto long-running series and seasonal backlogs.
• New episode alerts. Subscribe to an ongoing series with the bell icon and you get told when the next episode appears.

Setting up an anime-first configuration:

1. Install one anime-specialised repository plus one general repository as a fallback.
2. In provider settings, assign your anime extensions specifically to the anime category.
3. Connect your tracker in Settings → Accounts.
4. Set provider priority so your most reliable anime source sits at the top.

CloudStream is usually described as a movies-and-series app, but the extension system does not actually limit it to that. What you can access depends entirely on which extensions exist.

Content types you may find, depending on your extensions:

• Movies and TV series
• Anime, including OVAs and specials
• Asian drama – Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai
• Cartoons and kids’ content
• Documentaries
• Live TV channels
• Sports streams

Important caveats, because most sites skip these:

• Live TV and sports are not built into the app. They only appear if you install an extension that provides them. The core app has no channel list.
• Live sources are the least stable category. Channels change addresses constantly, so live extensions break more often than on-demand ones.
• Live content cannot be downloaded. The download feature works on on-demand titles only.
• Live streams are the most likely to have licensing problems. Sports rights in particular are tightly held and enforced. Be aware of what you are connecting to.

If live TV is your main goal, CloudStream is probably the wrong tool. It is built as an on-demand player, and live works as a side effect of the extension system rather than a designed feature.

Recent releases have focused on player polish and downloads rather than big new features. Changes across the recent release cycle include:

• Swipe gestures for brightness and volume
• Pinch to zoom and aspect ratio control during playback
• Live preview when adjusting subtitle offset
• Subtitle width and position options
• Multi-select downloads and a proper download queue
• System dark theme support and refreshed themes
• Software decoding toggle for problem videos
• Better support for external players
• Torrent streaming for compatible sources
• Memory leak fixes and general stability work

For the exact, commit-by-commit changelog, check the project’s GitHub releases page – or our full changelog archive for a readable version-by-version history.

CloudStream has no marketing roadmap, because it is a volunteer project rather than a company product. What it does have is a public issue tracker and open pull requests, so the direction of development is visible to anyone who looks.

Where recent effort has been going:

• Player refinement – gestures, zoom, decoding options and external player handling have all seen steady work.
• Download management – queuing and multi-select landed recently, and download handling continues to get attention.
• Extension API stability – reducing how often extensions break between app versions is an ongoing goal.
• TV interface polish – focus handling and remote navigation on Android TV.
• Translations – community contributors keep adding and improving interface languages.

What we would treat carefully:

How to actually track development:

• Watch the GitHub releases page for stable builds.
• Read open issues and pull requests to see what is genuinely being worked on.
• Follow the community Discord for pre-release discussion.

We update this page when a new stable release lands, and our changelog archive keeps the version-by-version history.

You usually do not need to uninstall first, whatever other guides tell you.

1. Download the latest APK.
2. Open it and tap Install.
3. Android replaces the old version in place.
4. Open the app.

Your settings, library, watch history and repositories all survive. Uninstalling first wipes all of it.

Only uninstall first if Android refuses the update – that happens when the two builds are signed with different keys. Back up before you do.

These are two different questions, so here are two different answers.

Is the app safe?

Is it legal?

• The app itself is legal. Building a media player with a plugin system is not against the law anywhere, and the project is hosted openly on GitHub.
• What you watch through it depends on the source. Some extensions connect to services that have permission to distribute – public-domain archives, free ad-supported services, official APIs. Others connect to sites that do not.
• The app does not tell the difference, and neither do we. Copyright law varies a lot between countries.
• You are responsible for the extensions you install and what you watch. If you are unsure, stick to extensions pointing at licensed or public-domain material, and check the rules where you live.

Rather than posting made-up testimonials, here is an honest summary of the themes that come up again and again in public community discussion – GitHub issues, the Discord server and Android forums. The praise and the complaints are both worth knowing before you install.

The honest version:

• Want to press play and have something appear? A paid streaming service is better, and CloudStream will annoy you.
• Want an open, configurable Android app where you decide what sources exist? CloudStream is one of the best-built options out there – as long as you accept that maintenance is part of the deal.

More detail: CloudStream vs Stremio · CloudStream vs Kodi · CloudStream alternatives

• Source code: https://github.com/recloudstream/cloudstream
• Official extension repo: https://github.com/recloudstream/extensions
• Community wiki: the CloudStream community wiki
• Discord: the official recloudstream server
• Bug reports: GitHub Issues on the main repository

Reporting problems the right way:

• Bug in the app? Report it on GitHub with your device model, Android version and app version.
• One provider broken? Report it to that extension’s maintainer. The core team cannot fix third-party scrapers.

CloudStream asks something of you that paid streaming apps do not: that you understand the thing you are using and set it up yourself. The empty home screen on day one is not a flaw. It is the app being honest that it has no opinion about what you should watch.