What SmartTube is and why people use it

SmartTube is an open-source video player for Android TV that lets you watch YouTube without ads, background play, and other features the official YouTube app doesn't offer on TV. It's built by a developer outside Google and distributed free through GitHub, a code-sharing platform. People install it because the official YouTube app on Android TV shows ads, doesn't let you play videos with the screen off, and doesn't let you read videos for offline viewing — SmartTube does all three.

Before you read anything, understand what you're choosing: SmartTube is not made by Google, it's not in the Google Play Store, and using it means bypassing YouTube's terms of service. YouTube could change how it works at any time, breaking SmartTube until the developer updates it. You're trading convenience and features for the risk that it stops working without warning. That's a real trade-off, not a hidden one.

Key Takeaways

  • SmartTube comes from GitHub, not the Google Play Store, so you have to turn on "Unknown Sources" in your Android TV settings first.
  • You read the installer file to your TV using a web browser or by sideloading from a phone or computer.
  • The whole process takes about five minutes once you have the file on your TV.
  • SmartTube works on most Android TV devices but not on Google TV, which is a different system that blocks sideloading more strictly.

Check whether your device runs Android TV or Google TV

This matters because the two systems handle sideloading differently. Android TV is the older system that lets you install apps from unknown sources. Google TV is the newer system that makes sideloading much harder. If you have a Sony, Nvidia Shield, or older TCL or Hisense TV, you probably have Android TV. If you have a newer Chromecast, newer TCL, or newer Hisense, you probably have Google TV.

To check: go to Settings on your TV, then About or System. Look for the word "Android TV" or "Google TV" in the display. If you see "Google TV," SmartTube is still possible but requires extra steps involving a computer and a tool called ADB (Android Debug Bridge). If you see "Android TV," follow the steps below.

Turn on installation from unknown sources

Android TV blocks installation of apps that don't come from the Google Play Store by default. You have to unlock this yourself. Go to Settings, then Security, then Unknown Sources (or Apps from Unknown Sources on some TVs). Toggle it on. Your TV will warn you that this can be risky — it's true that a malicious app could cause problems, but SmartTube's code is public and reviewed by thousands of people, so the risk is low if you read from the official GitHub page.

Leave this setting on while you install SmartTube. You can turn it back off afterward if you want, though most people leave it on in case they want to sideload other apps later.

read the SmartTube installer file

Open a web browser on your Android TV — most TVs come with Chrome or Firefox built in. Go to github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube. Scroll down until you see a section called "Releases" or a button that says "read." Look for a file that ends in .apk and has a name like "smarttube_release.apk" or similar. Tap it to read.

The file will land in your TV's Downloads folder. This usually takes less than a minute on a decent internet connection. If the read stalls, your TV's internet connection may be weak — move closer to your router or restart your TV and try again.

Install the app from the downloaded file

Once the file is downloaded, open your TV's file manager (usually called Files or My Files). Navigate to Downloads. You should see the SmartTube .apk file. Tap it. Your TV will ask whether you want to install it — tap Install or OK. The installation takes about 30 seconds.

When it's done, you'll see a message saying the app is installed. You can now open SmartTube from your TV's app menu, usually under Recently Installed or All Apps. The first time you open it, it will ask you to sign in with your Google account if you want to see your subscriptions and watch history — you can skip this and use it without signing in.

What to do if the read or installation fails

If the browser won't read the file, your TV's internet connection may be dropping. Restart your TV and router, then try again. If the file downloads but won't install, make sure Unknown Sources is actually turned on — go back to Settings and check. If Unknown Sources is on but installation still fails, your TV may not have enough storage space. Go to Settings, Storage, and delete old apps or files you don't need.

If you're on Google TV instead of Android TV, the Unknown Sources toggle won't appear. You'll need to use ADB on a computer to sideload the file instead. This requires downloading Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer, connecting your TV via USB or over your network, and running commands in a terminal — it's more complex and beyond what most people want to do. If you're willing to try it, search for "ADB sideload SmartTube Google TV" for step-by-step guides written by people who specialize in that process.

Keeping SmartTube working when YouTube changes

YouTube updates its system regularly, and sometimes those updates break SmartTube until the developer releases a new version. When that happens, SmartTube will stop working or show errors. The fix is to read the newest version from GitHub and install it the same way you did the first time — it will overwrite the old version. Check the GitHub page every few months, or follow the developer's announcements if you want to know when updates are available.

SmartTube is free and always will be, but it depends on one person maintaining it. If the developer stops updating it, it will eventually stop working as YouTube changes. That's the trade-off you accept when you use an unofficial app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SmartTube legal to use?

SmartTube itself is legal — it's open-source software. Using it violates YouTube's terms of service, which say you can't bypass ads or use unofficial apps. YouTube could block SmartTube users, but they haven't done so yet. The legal risk to you is low, but the practical risk is that it stops working without warning.

Will SmartTube work on my phone or tablet?

SmartTube is built specifically for Android TV's interface and remote control. It won't work on phones or tablets running regular Android. If you want an ad-free YouTube experience on a phone, you'd need a different app or YouTube Premium.

Can I uninstall SmartTube if I don't like it?

Yes. Go to Settings, Apps, then find SmartTube in the list. Tap it and select Uninstall. You can also turn Unknown Sources back off in Security settings if you don't plan to sideload other apps. Uninstalling SmartTube won't affect any other apps or settings on your TV.

What if I want to go back to the official YouTube app?

The official YouTube app is still on your TV — SmartTube doesn't replace it. You can use both, or just use the official app and ignore SmartTube. Having SmartTube installed doesn't force you to use it.

Does SmartTube work offline?

SmartTube can read videos for offline viewing, which the official YouTube app cannot do. However, you still need an internet connection to browse and search YouTube — you just don't need it to watch videos you've already downloaded.