Downloader Code Checker

Check a Downloader code before you type it in

Enter an AFTVnews code to see the real URL behind it, whether it still works, and what it will put on your Fire TV or Android TV.

See the URL before you open it
Nothing is installed or downloaded
Free, no sign-up

How to check a Downloader code

Enter the code
Type the number from the video, forum post or website - the same one you would enter in Downloader.
We look it up
The checker reads the code's public AFTVnews info page and then tests the destination link.
Decide
See where it goes, whether it works, what file it is and anything that looks off - before your TV goes there.

Understanding Downloader codes

How Downloader codes work

Typing a long web address with a TV remote is slow, so AFTVnews runs a URL shortener built for its Downloader app.

Every short link gets a number instead of letters.

You type that number into Downloader, the app looks it up as aftv.news/12345, and loads the long URL behind it.

The same number works in any browser. Adding a plus sign, as in aftv.news/12345+, shows the destination without opening it.

What the results mean

Working - app download	The link delivers an APK or app bundle that Downloader can install.
Working - opens a web page	Downloader will show a web page in its built-in browser. The download, if there is one, is a link on that page.
Could not confirm	The server answered but refused, timed out or errored. It may still work on your device.
Broken	The file is gone, the domain has expired, or the host shows an error page.
Code not found	No such code, or AFTVnews has disabled it.

Red flags worth a second look

Codes are public and are not reviewed. Anyone can point one at any URL.

Extra URL shorteners after the code - they hide the real destination a second time.
A link that looks like an .apk but opens a web page - usually an ad or landing page in front of the file.
Invalid security certificates or plain http:// delivery.
A Windows .exe - it will never install on a TV, so ask why it is being offered.

A green result means the link works. It does not mean the app is safe.

Before you install the APK

Once the file is on a phone or computer, open it in our APK Checker to see its permissions, signature and Android version requirements.

If an app refuses to open after sideloading, the Play Store Check tells you whether it needs Google Play to launch - common on Fire TV.

CODECS.COM is not affiliated with AFTVnews. Downloader and aftv.news are AFTVnews services; this tool reads the public information page every code already has.

What is a Downloader code?

A Downloader code is a short number, such as 12345, that stands for a longer web address. It comes from the free AFTVnews URL shortener. You type the number into the Downloader app on a Fire TV or Android TV device instead of typing out the full URL with a remote.

How can I see where a Downloader code goes without this tool?

Open aftv.news/ followed by the code and a plus sign in any browser, for example aftv.news/12345+. That shows the destination URL without redirecting. This checker goes a step further and tests whether the destination still works and what it actually delivers.

Is it safe to enter a Downloader code I found on YouTube?

Anyone can create a code for any URL, and codes are not reviewed before they go live. A code that shows Working only means the link responds - it says nothing about whether the app behind it is trustworthy. Check the host, the file type and the red flags, and only install apps from developers you recognise.

Why does the checker say a code does not exist?

Either the number was mistyped, or AFTVnews has disabled the code. Codes are permanent by default, but AFTVnews removes ones reported for copyright complaints, abuse or breaking its terms.

A code shows Access denied, but it works on my Fire TV. Why?

Some file hosts block requests that come from servers rather than home connections, or only serve files to certain countries. The check runs from our server, so an Access denied result means "could not confirm", not "definitely broken".

Does this tool download or install the app?

No. It reads only the first 64 KB of the destination - enough to tell an APK from a web page and read the file size - and then stops. Nothing is saved, installed or passed on to your device.

Is this tool made by AFTVnews?

No. CODECS.COM is not affiliated with AFTVnews. Downloader and the aftv.news short links are AFTVnews services; this checker only reads the public information page every code already has.