Simturax

SmartTube (formerly SmartTubeNext) is a free, open-source, ad-free YouTube client for Android TV and Fire TV devices that requires no Google Services or account login to function.

⚠️ STATUS DISCLAIMER

Current App Status: 🟢 WORKING

Latest Stable Version: v31.94 (June 12, 2026)

Latest Beta Version: v32.10 (August 7, 2026) — Recommended

Last Verified: August 2026

⚠️ CRITICAL COMPATIBILITY WARNING: Starting October 2025, new Amazon Fire TV devices (Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Fire TV Stick HD) run Vega OS instead of Android. SmartTube will NOT work on these devices — sideloading is impossible on Vega OS.

🔒 Security Note: The developer’s development environment was previously infected with malware. Affected versions are 30.43 through 30.47. All builds are now scanned with VirusTotal before release. Public keys may have been compromised. Only download from official sources — APK websites and blogs may contain malware.

If SmartTube doesn’t work on your device, consider these alternatives: YouTube ReVanced (mobile), NewPipe (mobile), FreeTube (desktop), LibreTube (mobile), or simply use the official YouTube app with a browser-based ad blocker.

What Is SmartTube?

SmartTube (formerly known as SmartTubeNext) is a free and open-source media client for Android TVs and TV boxes. It allows you to browse and play YouTube content in a TV-optimized interface — completely ad-free and without requiring Google Play Services or a Google account.

Unlike the official YouTube app, SmartTube is built for users who value privacy, customization, and an uninterrupted viewing experience.

Who Is This Guide For?

• Fire TV & Firestick users who want ad-free YouTube (pre-October 2025 devices only). For help setting up your Firestick, see our set up Firestick settings guide.
• Android TV & Google TV owners tired of YouTube ads. Learn how to install Kodi on Android TV for more streaming options.
• NVIDIA Shield & Chromecast with Google TV users
• Anyone who wants to bypass Google Services requirements
• Privacy-conscious users who don’t want to log in with a Google account

Key Value Proposition

• 🚫 100% Ad-Free — No video ads, banner ads, or pop-ups
• 🔒 No Google Services Required — Works without Play Services or account login
• 🎨 Fully Customizable — Adjust video quality, playback speed, UI buttons, and more
• 🏆 SponsorBlock Integration — Automatically skip sponsorships, intros, and outros
• 📺 Ultimate Video Quality — Supports 8K, HDR, and 60fps playback
• 💬 Live Chat Support — View live chat during streams
• 📱 Picture-in-Picture (PiP) — Watch videos while browsing
• 🔄 YouTube Live Stream Latency Mitigator — Actively monitors and reduces playback delay on live streams

📋 “No-Click” Quick-Reference Cheatsheet

For experienced users — skip the reading and install now.

🟢 SmartTube Status Report & Testing Log

🚀 How to Install SmartTube on Firestick & Fire TV

⚠️ BEFORE YOU START: If you have a Fire TV Stick 4K Select or Fire TV Stick HD (released October 2025 or later), your device runs Vega OS and cannot install SmartTube.

Prerequisite: Enable “Unknown Sources”

1. From the Firestick home screen, navigate to Settings (gear icon)
2. Select My Fire TV
3. Click About
4. Quickly click on Fire TV Stick 7 times until you see “No need, you are already a developer“
5. Press the back button — Developer Options will now appear
6. Click Developer Options
7. Select Apps from Unknown Sources and turn it ON

For more detailed guidance, see our guide on enabling developer options on Fire TV.

Step 1: Install the Downloader App

1. Return to the Firestick Home screen
2. Click Find (magnifying glass icon) → Search
3. Type “Downloader” and search
4. Select the Downloader app by AFTVnews from the results
5. Click Get or Download and wait for installation
6. Click Open to launch Downloader

For more on using Downloader, see our complete Downloader app guide.

Step 2: Download & Install SmartTube APK

Option A — Using Downloader Code:

1. In the Downloader app, click the URL/search bar at the top
2. Enter the code:

• For Beta (recommended): 79015
• For Stable: 28544

1. Click Go
2. ⚠️ Note: These codes require the AFTVnews Downloader browser addon to function. If they don’t work, use Option B below.
3. Wait for the download to complete
4. Click Install when prompted
5. Wait for installation to finish

Option B — Using Direct URL (Recommended):

1. In Downloader, enter:

• Beta (recommended): kutt.to/stn_beta
• Stable: kutt.to/stn_stable

1. Click Go and follow the installation prompts

⚠️ SECURITY WARNING: Do NOT download SmartTube from any app store, APK website, or blog — these may contain malware. Only use the official download methods above.

Step 3: Cleanup Phase (Crucial!)

Deleting the APK file frees up valuable storage space:

1. After installation, click “Done”
2. Click “Delete” to remove the APK file
3. Confirm the deletion

📺 How to Install SmartTube on Android TV & Google TV

Method 1: Using Downloader (Easiest)

1. Install Downloader by AFTVnews from the Google Play Store
2. Open Downloader and enter:

• Beta (recommended): kutt.to/stn_beta
• Stable: kutt.to/stn_stable

1. Follow the installation prompts

For more Android TV installation methods, see our install Kodi on Android TV guide.

Method 2: Using USB Drive

1. Download the SmartTube APK from the official GitHub page on your computer
2. Copy the APK to a USB drive
3. Insert the USB drive into your Android TV
4. Use a file manager app (like FX File Explorer or X-plore) to navigate to the APK
5. Click the APK file and select Install

Note: Android’s preinstalled file manager often does not work for APK installation.

Method 3: Using Send Files to TV

1. Install Send Files to TV on both your Android TV and your phone/computer
2. Download the SmartTube APK on your phone
3. Transfer the APK wirelessly to your TV using the app
4. Open the received file and install

Method 4: Using F-Droid

SmartTube is also available on F-Droid — the free and open-source Android app repository:

1. Install the F-Droid client on your Android TV
2. Search for “SmartTube” or use the package ID app.smarttube.fdroid
3. Install directly from F-Droid

Note: The F-Droid version is verified before release and offers an additional layer of security.

⚙️ Post-Installation: First Launch & Setup

Once installed, you can find SmartTube in your device’s app drawer. Sideloaded apps may not appear immediately — if you can’t find it, navigate to Settings > Apps > See all apps and launch from there.

SmartTube Interface Walkthrough

• Home Screen: Displays recommended videos, subscriptions, and trending content
• Side Menu: Access categories like Gaming, News, Music, and more
• Search: Use the magnifying glass icon to search for videos
• Settings: Customize video quality, playback speed, buttons, and UI

Key Features to Explore

1. Sign In with Google (Optional) — Sync subscriptions, playlists, and watch history
2. Adjust Video Quality — Choose from 480p up to 8K
3. Playback Speed — Speed up or slow down videos
4. SponsorBlock — Automatically skip sponsor segments
5. Picture-in-Picture — Watch while browsing
6. Voice Search — Requires a bridge module (see below)
7. YouTube Live Stream Latency Mitigator — Reduces playback delay on live streams (enabled by default)

🔍 Enabling Voice Search

To enable global voice search, you must install a bridge app alongside SmartTube. This bridge intercepts system attempts to open the original YouTube app and opens SmartTube instead.

On Amazon Fire TV (no root required):

1. Uninstall the original YouTube app
2. Download and install the Amazon Bridge SmartTube app:

• Direct URL: kutt.it/stn_bridge_amazon
• Enter this URL in Downloader by AFTVnews

On Google Chromecast with Google TV (no root required):

1. Uninstall the original YouTube app
2. Download and install the ATV Bridge SmartTube app:

• Direct URL: kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv

On all other Android TV devices:

1. Root access is required
2. Uninstall the official YouTube app using root: adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.youtube.tv
3. Download and install the ATV Bridge SmartTube app: kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv

⚠️ Important: The bridge app will not show up in your launcher and you cannot launch it directly — it is only used internally by the system’s voice search.

Finding SmartTube Later

If SmartTube doesn’t appear in your main app row:

1. Go to Apps & Channels (Firestick) or the app drawer (Android TV)
2. Scroll to find SmartTube
3. Highlight it and press the menu button (three lines) on your remote
4. Select “Move” and move it to the top row for easy access

🔄 How to Update SmartTube

SmartTube includes a built-in updater with changelog:

1. Open SmartTube
2. Navigate to Settings (gear icon)
3. Look for “Check for Updates” or the update option
4. If an update is available, download and install it directly within the app

You can also check for new releases on:

• Telegram: @SmartTubeNewsEN (readable without account). Learn how to read a Telegram chat without opening it.
• GitHub: github.com/yuliskov/SmartTube
• SourceForge: SmartTube mirror page
• F-Droid: app.smarttube.fdroid

Pro Tip: The Beta version gets new features and bugfixes faster than the Stable release.

🧰 Troubleshooting: How to Fix Common SmartTube Errors

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

🔄 Alternatives to SmartTube

If SmartTube doesn’t work on your device or you want other options:

For more streaming alternatives, check our guides on best movie streaming APKs and anime streaming apps.

⚠️ Safety, Legal & E-E-A-T Disclaimers

Legal Status

SmartTube is a client application — it does not host any content. It accesses publicly available YouTube content through unofficial APIs. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with local laws and YouTube’s Terms of Service.

Security & Privacy

• IP Address Exposure: Using SmartTube exposes your IP address to YouTube and your ISP
• VPN Recommended: A VPN hides your IP address and protects your privacy. See our best VPN providers guide for recommendations.
• Official Sources Only: Download ONLY from kutt.to/stn_beta or kutt.to/stn_stable
• Malware Risk: APK websites and blogs may contain infected versions
• Affected Versions: Builds 30.43–30.47 were affected by malware — avoid these versions
• Public Key Warning: Public keys may have been compromised — only download from official sources
• One-Time Connection Codes: SmartTube uses limited-permission connection codes that cannot change your password

Malware Incident Details

The developer’s development environment was infected by unknown malicious software. Once detected:

• A full disk wipe was performed
• A clean setup was restored
• All builds are now scanned with VirusTotal
• The F-Droid version is verified before release

If you used an affected version (30.43–30.47):

• Revoke access at myaccount.google.com/security
• Download the latest version from official sources

Revoking Access

If you’ve signed in with Google and want to remove access:

1. Go to myaccount.google.com/security
2. Find “Your connections to third-party apps & services”
3. Tap “See all connections” and locate YouTube TV or Google Drive
4. Select the app → “Remove access”

Recommended VPN

We recommend using a VPN when streaming with SmartTube to protect your privacy:

• Surfshark — Unlimited device connections, strong encryption
• ExpressVPN — Fast speeds, excellent for streaming
• NordVPN — Large server network, threat protection

See our full best VPN providers guide for more options.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This guide is for educational and informational purposes only. Simturax does not condone copyright infringement. Users should only access content they have the legal right to view.

✅ Conclusion

SmartTube (formerly SmartTubeNext) is the best ad-free YouTube experience available for Android TV and Fire TV devices. With 8K support, HDR, 60fps, SponsorBlock integration, Live Stream Latency Mitigator, and no Google Services requirement, it’s a must-have for anyone tired of YouTube ads.

Key Takeaways:

1. ✅ Name Change: SmartTube = SmartTubeNext (same app)
2. 🔓 Enable Unknown Sources before installing. See our unknown sources on Kodi guide for similar steps.
3. 📥 Use Direct URL: kutt.to/stn_beta (Beta, recommended) or kutt.to/stn_stable (Stable)
4. 🗑️ Delete the APK after installation to save space
5. 🔒 Use a VPN to protect your privacy
6. ⚠️ Vega OS devices (Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Fire TV Stick HD) cannot install SmartTube
7. 🔄 Built-in updater makes keeping the app current effortless
8. 📱 TV-optimized — not for phones or tablets
9. 🔍 Voice search requires a bridge app — kutt.it/stn_bridge_amazon (Fire TV) or kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv (Android TV)
10. 🛡️ Security: Only download from official sources — affected versions were 30.43–30.47

Happy streaming — ad-free!

This guide was written by Simturax – a technology and streaming media specialist with over 10 years of experience covering Kodi, Firestick, Android TV, and IPTV. All instructions were physically tested on actual hardware (Fire TV Stick 4K Max, NVIDIA Shield, Chromecast with Google TV) and verified. We prioritize accuracy, transparency, and user safety above all else.