SmartTube: Turn Any Android TV Into an Ad-Free YouTube Beast in 10 Minutes

Tools & Scripts
, , , ,
1

SmartTube: Free “YouTube Premium” For Your TV (Without Subscribing To Anything)

:world_map: One-Line Flow: Install SmartTube from the official GitHub once, kill every YouTube ad on your TV forever, and still keep your normal account, history, and subs.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: What is SmartTube?

SmartTube is a free, open-source YouTube app for Android TV / Google TV / Fire TV / TV boxes.

It does the stuff YouTube Premium should’ve done from day one:

  • No ads. No mid-rolls. No “skip ad” button. Nothing.
  • Up to 4K / 8K, 60fps, HDR if your TV + internet can handle it.
  • Works with your normal YouTube account (subs, history, playlists).
  • Works even on TVs/boxes without Google services.
  • Remote-friendly UI built for big screens, not stretched phone garbage.

Main project:
https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube
Releases page:
https://github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/releases

:firecracker: Quick recap of the drama (why people panicked)

Short soap opera version:

  • Developer’s build machine got malware.
  • Old SmartTube builds (around versions 30.43–30.47) were marked risky.
  • Google Play Protect and Amazon started freaking out and blocking the app.
  • Dev wiped those builds, rotated the signing key, and released a clean, re-signed build (30.56 Stable and up).

What this means for you:

  • Uninstall any ancient SmartTube you randomly grabbed months ago.
  • Only install from the official links in this post.
  • If you installed SmartTube during the “sus” window and you’re paranoid, factory-reset your TV/box once and move on with life.

:floppy_disk: How to install SmartTube the lazy way (Android TV / Google TV / Fire TV)

Goal: clean, safe install with zero shady APK websites.

:one: Install Downloader

  • On your TV, open Play Store (or Amazon Appstore on Fire TV).
  • Search for “Downloader by AFTVnews” and install it.

:two: Allow unknown apps (once)

  • Go to TV Settings → Apps / Security → Install unknown apps.
  • Allow it for Downloader.

:three: Use the official SmartTube links

Inside Downloader, either:

  • Type this in the URL box:
    kutt.it/stn_stable → Stable build
    kutt.it/stn_beta → Beta build
    (they both redirect to the official GitHub release),
    or

  • Use the official Downloader codes:

    • Stable: 28544
    • Beta: 79015

Download → Install → Done.

No extra magic. No third-party stores. No “mod apk” nonsense.

:dna: Which APK do you pick on GitHub?

On the releases page you’ll see different files:

  • arm64-v8a → 99% of modern TVs / boxes / sticks. Start with this.
  • armeabi-v7a → very old / cheap 32-bit Android boxes.
  • x86 → emulators / weird Intel mini-PC setups.

If you don’t know, just grab arm64-v8a.
If it refuses to install, then try armeabi-v7a.

:control_knobs: First-time setup: the switches worth flipping

Once SmartTube is installed:

1. Sign in without typing your life story with the remote

  • Open SmartTube → hit Sign in.
  • Use the on-screen TV code flow on your phone/laptop.
  • You’re now in with your normal YouTube account. History, subs, playlists — all there.

2. Turn on SponsorBlock (optional but beautiful)

  • Go to Settings → SponsorBlock.

  • Enable it and pick what to auto-skip:

    • Sponsored segments
    • “Smash that like button” nagging
    • Intros/outros
    • Fake “intermissions” in music videos

You can still whitelist channels you actually want to support.

3. Lock your quality and stop blurry surprises

  • Open any video → press the HQ button.
  • Set default quality (e.g. 1080p or 4K) so YouTube doesn’t randomly drop you to 480p because your ISP sneezed.

4. Smooth playback (if things stutter)

  • In Settings → Player, pick:

    • Codec: VP9 for most devices, AVC/H.264 if your box is ancient.
    • Buffer: Medium or High if your internet is moody.

You don’t need to understand codecs; just try VP9, if it dies, use AVC.

:hammer_and_wrench: Quick fixes for the usual “wtf is this” moments

:cross_mark: Videos not playing at all?

  • Update inside app: Settings → About → Check for updates.
  • Change codec in the HQ menu (AV1 → VP9 → AVC).
  • If you use hardcore ad-blocking DNS/VPN, turn it off once to test.

:hourglass_not_done: Constant buffering?

  • In Settings → Player, set buffer to High.
  • In HQ menu, drop max quality to 1080p.
  • Avoid Wi-Fi from the neighbor’s microwave. Ethernet is king.

:name_badge: Play Protect screaming at you?

  • Check your version: if you’re on 30.56 Stable or newer, you’re on the new clean signature.
  • Make sure you installed from kutt.it/stn_stable / kutt.it/stn_beta or directly from the official GitHub, not a random site.
  • If your TV “disabled” the app, re-enable it in Settings → Apps → Disabled.

:brain: Extra power without nerd mode

Simple backup so you don’t lose your setup

  • Inside SmartTube: Settings → Backup & Restore.
  • Use Google Drive backup if available.
  • If you ever factory-reset or move to a new TV, you can pull everything back in a couple of taps.

Quick remote tricks

  • Long-press a video → add to playlist, mark “watch later”, etc.
  • Long-press channel → hide or pin.
  • Use Settings → General → Key remapping to turn left/right into “next video” instead of scrubbing if you prefer.

:puzzle_piece: What if your TV is not Android?

You can’t install SmartTube directly, but you’re not completely doomed.

Or just plug in a cheap Android TV / Google TV / Fire TV stick. One small box solves everything.

:milky_way: Tools that play nice with a SmartTube lifestyle

For phone / PC:

SmartTube on TV + any of these on phone/PC = full YouTube control, no paid Premium needed.

:shield: Security + “don’t be dumb” section

Golden rules:

If anything feels off, check the official places:

:clapper_board: Summary: What you actually do

  1. Install Downloader on your TV.
  2. Open it and go to kutt.it/stn_stable or use code 28544.
  3. Install SmartTube (arm64-v8a for most people).
  4. Sign in with your YouTube account via TV code.
  5. Turn on SponsorBlock + set your preferred quality.
  6. Delete the stock YouTube app from your home screen and never look back.

Enjoy YouTube on your TV the way it should’ve been from the start.

7 Likes
2

awesome share.my firetv became more interesting lol

1 Like
3

Unable to install on amazon firestick.