This step-by-step guide will explain how to install Haystack News on FireStick. You can use the guide to install and use Haystack News on all Amazon Fire TV devices, including FireStick Lite, FireStick 4K (Max), Fire TV Cube, Chromecast, Android TV boxes, and Android devices. Let’s find out what Haystack News offers.
What Is Haystack News?
Haystack News is a free newscast that lets you stream local and global news from hundreds of channels. It was previously known as Haystack TV but was rebranded to Haystack News in May 2020. The app is one of the best platforms for streaming local news coverage, breaking news, interviews, weather, stock market activity, entertainment, political, business, and sports news.
The app is popular because it lets you customize your user experience. You can choose the news categories, sources, and topics that matter to you. For example, if you are interested in entertainment news, you can select channels that offer such news, and if you want weather and live updates, you can choose local media channels. I like the app because:
- It’s free to use, and you don’t need to sign up to view news stories
- It has a premium version for an ad-free viewing experience
- It offers local and global news from over 200 channels
- It has a user-friendly interface
Haystack News is an official app that you can download directly from the Amazon App Store.
Attention, FireStick Users!
Governments and ISPs constantly monitor your online activity, and accessing copyrighted content on your Fire TV Stick could lead to serious trouble. Currently, your IP is visible to everyone. I strongly recommend getting the best FireStick VPN to mask your IP address and securely stream your favorites.
I personally use ExpressVPN, the fastest and most secure VPN available. Not only is it easy to install on any device, it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Plus, if you're not 100% satisfied, you can always get a refund. ExpressVPN is currently also offering a whopping 3 extra months free on their annual plan!
Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick
How to Subscribe to Haystack News
Haystack News is free to use without an account, but you can upgrade to a premium subscription if you want. The premium version costs $4.99 per month and offers a better user experience than the basic version without ads. You can create an account and subscribe to the premium plan on the official Haystack News website.
How to Install Haystack News on FireStick
Follow these steps to install Haystack News on FireStick:
1. Go to the magnifying glass icon on the TV home screen and scroll down to Search.
Note: On older interfaces, first click Find and then go to Search.
2. Type Haystack News in the search box and click on it below the keyboard.
3. Click on Haystack News when the search results appear on the screen.
4. Select Get or Download and wait for the app to download.
5. Click Open after the app installation is complete.
6. Tap Get Started to watch Haystack News content without creating an account.
7. If you have an existing Haystack News account, click Sign In. You can use a Google or Facebook account to sign in.
8. You will be redirected to a new screen with two options to log in. Select Continue with Amazon.
9. Select Allow.
10. You can select the type of headlines you want to view. Select Next.
11. The app automatically detects your location. If you want to set the location manually or enter a different city, click the location box and select or type in the name of your preferred city. Then tap Next.
12. Select Skip.
13. Now you can start watching your favorite news!
This is how you install and use Haystack on FireStick.
Highly recommended if streaming with free or low-cost services 👇
How to Stream on FireStick Anonymously
As soon as you install the right apps, your FireStick is all ready to stream your favorite content. However, before you start, I would like to warn you that everything you stream online is visible to your ISP and Government. This means, streaming free movies, TV shows, Sports might get you into legal trouble.
Thankfully, there is a foolproof way to keep all your streaming activities hidden from your ISP and the Government. All you need is a good VPN for Fire Stick. A VPN will mask your original IP which is and will help you bypass Online Surveillance, ISP throttling, and content geo-restrictions.
I personally use and recommend ExpressVPN, which is the fastest and most secure VPN. It is compatible with all kinds of streaming apps and is very easy to install on Fire TV / Stick.
We do not encourage the violation of copyright laws. But, what if you end up streaming content from an illegitimate source unintentionally? It is not always easy to tell the difference between a legit and illegal source.
So, before you start streaming on your Fire Stick / Fire TV, let’s see how to use ExpressVPN to keep your streaming activities hidden from prying eyes.
Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Meaning, you can use it free for the first 30-days and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund.
Step 2: Power ON your Fire TV Stick and go to Find followed by Search option.
Step 3: Now type “Expressvpn” (without quotes) in the search bar and select ExpressVPN when it shows up in the search results.
Step 4: Click Download to install the ExpressVPN app on Fire TV / Stick.
Step 5: Open the app and enter the login credentials that you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription. Click Sign in.
Step 6: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for FireStick.
You can also read more detailed info on using ExpressVPN with Fire TV / Stick.
How To Use Haystack News on FireStick
If you intend to use Haystack News frequently, you may want to create a shortcut on your FireStick home screen.
To create the app shortcut on your screen, press and hold the home button on your FireStick remote until a menu appears. Click on Apps, and scroll down the menu to locate Haystack News. Scroll to the app, but don’t select it. Press the options button (three horizontal lines) on the remote and click Move to front. You can now find the app on your home screen whenever you turn on your FireStick.
If you’d like more information on adding app shortcuts to your home screen, see our full guide to creating home screen shortcuts.
Haystack News has a simple user interface with a menu on the left side of the screen. When you launch the app for the first time, you’ll see stories at the top of the screen that are related to the topics you selected. Use your remote to scroll through the sections and choose what interests you.
You can also browse through the menu sections on the left. These sections include My Headlines, Editor Picks, SciTech, Weather, Business, Entertainment, Current Events, and Gaming.
You can change the quality of a stream by clicking on the HD button. The video quality can be adjusted from 240p to 1080p.
When you select a news video, it starts playing at the center of the screen, then the channel goes full screen in 40 seconds or 20 seconds. You can set the time it takes for news to go full screen under Settings > Auto Fullscreen on Idle.
If you want to manually select when to go full screen every time, select Off. To manually change a video to full screen, press the enlarge button on your FireStick remote as indicated.
If the news you’re interested in is not among the headlines or suggested topics, you can search for it in the search box. Type the source, subject, or story into the search box and browse the suggestions on the right.
FAQ’s
Is Haystack News free?
Yes, Haystack News is an official app on the Amazon App Store that offers free local and global news.
Does Haystack News offer live news?
Yes, you can stream live news updates on your FireStick or other devices through the Haystack News app.
Which channels can I find on Haystack News?
Haystack News offers news from over 200 local and international channels, including:
- Fox News
- ABC News
- CNN
- BBC News
- Al Jazeera
- Reuters
- AP
- CNET
- Euronews
- Bloomberg News
- Cheddar
- CBC
- CBSN
- Newsy
- Local TV channels depending on your location
Yes, you can upgrade to Haystack News premium for $4.99 per month. The premium version is ad-free.
Wrapping Up
If you’re a news junkie, Haystack News on FireStick is perfect for you. It has lots of local and global news from over 200 channels, including trending news, breaking news alerts, weather, entertainment, politics, and business news. Have you installed Haystack News on your FireStick? Kindly share your experience in the comments section.
Related:
- How to Get Local Channels on FireStick
- How to Install NBC on FireStick
- How to Install DistroTV on FireStick
- How to Install BBC iPlayer on FireStick / Kodi [Outside UK]
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