YouTube for Android TV

YouTube for Android TV 7.04.301 is the official YouTube app for televisions and set-top boxes running Android TV, made by Google LLC. You download YouTube for Android TV to watch videos, music and live streams on a big screen and control them with a remote, your voice or your phone.

What the app offers

The TV version of YouTube is a different app from the one on phones. Its interface is built for a remote control: large tiles, a left-hand menu with Home, Subscriptions and Library, and a search field that works with voice input through the remote's microphone. You can sign in with several Google accounts and switch profiles, so everyone in the family sees their own recommendations and history. A very handy feature is linking with a phone: when the phone and TV are on the same network, you can cast a video from the mobile app to the TV, add videos to a shared queue, and use the phone as a remote. The app supports high-resolution playback when your TV and connection allow it, as well as YouTube Music, live broadcasts and Shorts. Google posts regular summaries of changes to YouTube on TV in its community updates.

Who it is for

• Owners of Android TV and Google TV televisions and boxes; on most of them the app is preinstalled, and updating it is enough.
• Users of TV boxes without Google Play who need to install the official app manually.
• Families who share one TV and want separate profiles.
• Phone users who prefer to pick videos on the phone and watch them on the TV.

Who it is not for

The app is not meant for phones or tablets: on a touchscreen it is awkward, and the regular YouTube app is the better choice there. It is also not the YouTube TV subscription service with cable channels, which is a separate product.

How to install or update

1. On the TV, open Google Play and find YouTube, or use the direct Play listing.
2. Install or update the app and open it.
3. Sign in by entering the code shown on the TV at the address on screen using your phone.
4. Link your phone for casting in the settings.

The package is about 48.37 MB according to catalogue data. Google's help page covers supported devices.

Safety and price

The app is free with ads; YouTube Premium removes them for a fee. Avoid modified "no ads" builds for TV boxes: they may break sign-in or contain malware.

Pros and cons

• Pro: official app designed for TV.
• Pro: voice search and phone casting.
• Pro: multiple accounts.
• Con: ads without Premium.
• Con: can be slow on cheap TV boxes.
• Con: not usable on phones.

Alternatives

Other TV apps on our site include TikTok for Android TV and YTV Player Pro, and VLC Media Player for local video files.