TikTok comes to Fire TV Sticks – along with a few changes

TikTok logo
(Image credit: Future)

TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing platform, is coming to your Fire TV devices. If you live in the UK, France, or Germany you’ll be able to watch TikTok content through your Amazon streaming stick, giving you an easy way to enjoy your favorite creators on your home cinema screen.

Users of TikTok on TV will notice many similarities and a few changes from the mobile app. Firstly your usual ‘For You’ and ‘Following’ feeds will remain, giving you an easy way to watch the same content you’d see on your phone. New options like the ‘Discover’ page will enable you to find and watch videos from curated trends that the app recommends, letting you more easily find new ways for TikTok to entertain you.

If you don’t own a streaming stick, though, you may still be in of luck. TikTok is also launching on Samsung Smart TV, Google TV, and Android TV. If your smart TV runs one of these OS you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite short-form videos on the big screen too.

How will TikTok on TV look?

TikTok videos are designed to view on your phone when it's held vertically. So unless you have a rotating Samsung Sero, you're probably wondering how they'll translate to your TV's horizontal display. 

Based on what we've seen, you aren't about to deal with any weirdly cut content, as the whole vertical video will be visible onscreen. It also appears that there won't be boring black letterboxing on either side too, as the image below seems to show. Instead, you'll likely be faced with a faint background based on the central video.

A waffle and strawberry stack being covered with chocolate sauce. This TikTok video shows how TikTok on your TV will look, with the video being used to create a background.

(Image credit: TikTok)

Given that the background also seems to sometimes show content that would be just offscreen normally, it's possible TikTok creators may be able to capture footage additional footage for use as a background.

Viewers may also end up disappointed by the new app if they're watching on a large 55-inch 4K TV screen. Most videos are shot on a smartphone – for watching on a smartphone – and low-res videos could get a bit blurry on flatscreen TVs. As ever, it'll depend on the quality of the video being watched.

Hamish Hector
Senior Staff Writer, News

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.