Device-Specific Setup

Special installation steps and notes for specific Android TV devices including Chromecast, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield, and Xiaomi

While SmartTube works on most Android TV devices, some require additional setup steps or have specific limitations. This guide covers device-specific instructions and known issues.

Chromecast with Google TV

Chromecast with Google TV blocks third-party app installation by default. You need to enable developer options first.

Setup Steps

1. Enable Developer Options

   On your Chromecast:

   1. Open the side menu
   2. Go to Settings > System > About
   3. Scroll down to Android TV OS build
   4. Click it repeatedly until you see a toast message about becoming a developer
   5. Keep clicking until developer mode is activated
2. Enable Unknown Sources

   1. Go back to main Settings page
   2. Select Apps > Security & Restrictions > Unknown sources
   3. Turn on the toggle for your file browser (e.g., Downloader by AFTVnews)
3. Install SmartTube

   Now follow the standard Installation guide to download and install SmartTube

Quick install: Use Downloader by AFTVnews and enter kutt.it/stn_beta or kutt.it/stn_stable

Visual Guide

For detailed screenshots of the Chromecast installation process, see this Android Police guide.

Voice Search Setup

To enable voice search on Chromecast with Google TV:

1. Uninstall Official YouTube App

   You must remove the official YouTube app (no root required)

2. Install Bridge App

   Download and install the ATV Bridge SmartTube app: kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv

3. Test Voice Search

   Use voice search on your remote - it should now open SmartTube

The bridge app intercepts voice search requests and redirects them to SmartTube. It won’t appear in your launcher - it works automatically in the background.

Amazon Fire TV

Fire TV devices work well with SmartTube and are among the easiest to set up.

Installation

Fire TV allows sideloading by default. Simply:

1. Install Downloader by AFTVnews from the Amazon AppStore
2. Open Downloader and enter: kutt.it/stn_beta or kutt.it/stn_stable
3. Follow the installation prompts

Voice Search Setup

Fire TV has special bridge app support:

1. Uninstall Official YouTube App

   Remove the YouTube app (no root required on Fire TV)

2. Install Amazon Bridge

   Download and install: kutt.it/stn_bridge_amazon

3. Use Alexa Voice Search

   Now when you use Alexa to search YouTube, it opens in SmartTube

On Fire TV, you may need to explicitly say “YouTube” when searching (e.g., “YouTube cute cats” instead of just “cute cats”).

Fire TV Compatibility

SmartTube works on all generations of Fire TV Stick, including:

• Fire TV Stick Lite
• Fire TV Stick (2nd, 3rd, 4th Gen)
• Fire TV Stick 4K
• Fire TV Cube

NVIDIA Shield

NVIDIA Shield is a powerful Android TV device that runs SmartTube excellently, with one notable exception.

HDR Limitation

Important: NVIDIA Shield supports HDR in general, but NOT the specific HDR format used by YouTube.

This is a hardware limitation of the Shield, not a SmartTube issue. HDR YouTube videos will play but without HDR enhancement.

What Works on Shield

✅ All video codecs (AV01, VP9, AVC) with hardware acceleration
✅ 4K/8K resolution support
✅ 60fps playback
✅ All SmartTube features
✅ Excellent performance

❌ YouTube’s HDR format

For more details about HDR compatibility, see HDR documentation.

Voice Search Setup (Requires Root)

Unlike Fire TV and Chromecast, NVIDIA Shield requires root access for voice search integration:

1. Root Your Shield

   Search for a rooting guide specific to your Shield model

2. Uninstall Official YouTube

   Use ADB command: adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.youtube.tv

3. Install Bridge App

   Download and install: kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv

Rooting voids your warranty and can brick your device if done incorrectly. Proceed at your own risk.

Xiaomi Devices with Chinese Firmware

Xiaomi devices with Chinese firmware have special restrictions that can block SmartTube beta installation.

The Issue

• Chinese firmware: Blocks SmartTube beta version installation
• International firmware: No issues, works normally
• Stable version: Usually works even on Chinese firmware

Solutions

Solution 1: Use Stable Version (Recommended)

Instead of beta, use the stable version of SmartTube:

1. Download from: kutt.it/stn_stable
2. Install normally
3. Stable version bypasses Chinese firmware restrictions

The stable version is still excellent and receives all major features, just slightly less frequently than beta.

Solution 2: Flash International Firmware

Switch to the international firmware version for your Xiaomi device.

Pros:

• Removes restrictions
• Allows beta version
• Often improves overall device experience

Cons:

• Requires technical knowledge
• Risk of bricking if done incorrectly
• May void warranty

Search for “Xiaomi [your model] international firmware” for specific guides.

Solution 3: Factory Reset Method (2020 and Earlier Devices)

For devices from 2020 or before:

1. Factory Reset

   Perform a complete factory reset on your Xiaomi device

2. Install SmartTube Beta First

   Before doing ANY system updates, install SmartTube beta

3. Update System

   Now you can safely update your system - SmartTube should continue working

This method only works for devices manufactured in 2020 or earlier. Newer devices require Solution 1 or 2.

Xiaomi Compatibility

SmartTube has been successfully tested on:

• Xiaomi Mi Box (all versions)
• Xiaomi Mi TV Stick
• Xiaomi Mi Box S

Android 11 Voice Search Issues

Devices running Android 11 may experience voice search problems.

Symptom

Voice search doesn’t return results, or searches fail to execute properly.

Solution

1. Identify the Problem

   Recent updates to “Google app for Android TV” cause this bug

2. Uninstall Updates

   1. Go to Settings > Apps > Google app for Android TV
   2. Select Uninstall updates
   3. Confirm to revert to the factory version
3. Test Voice Search

   Try voice search again - it should now work correctly

4. Prevent Auto-Update (Optional)

   Disable auto-updates for the Google app to prevent the issue from returning

This is a Google app issue, not specific to SmartTube. The bug affects multiple apps using voice search on Android TV 11.

Other Android Devices

For generic Android TV devices and TV boxes:

Voice Search (Requires Root)

Most generic Android devices require root for voice search integration:

1. Root Your Device

   Search for a rooting guide specific to your device model

2. Uninstall Official YouTube

   Use ADB: adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.youtube.tv

3. Install Bridge App

   Download and install: kutt.it/stn_bridge_atv

Installation Notes

Generic Android TV boxes work well with SmartTube:

• No special setup required (unlike Chromecast)
• Usually allow sideloading by default
• Follow standard Installation guide

If you encounter issues, check the Troubleshooting guide for common solutions.

Unsupported Devices

SmartTube ONLY works on Android-based devices. It is NOT compatible with:

❌ Samsung Tizen TVs
❌ LG webOS TVs
❌ Roku devices
❌ iOS / Apple TV
❌ Smartphones and tablets (not optimized, no support offered)

The app cannot easily be ported to non-Android platforms. If you have an unsupported TV, consider using an Android TV stick or box instead.

Alternative for Unsupported Devices

If you have a non-Android TV:

1. Buy an Android TV stick or box (recommended options):

   • Chromecast with Google TV (~$50)
   • Amazon Fire TV Stick (~$30-50)
   • Xiaomi Mi Box S (~$60)
   • Generic Android TV boxes (~$30-100)

2. Connect it to your TV’s HDMI port

3. Install SmartTube on the Android device

Need Device-Specific Help?

If your device isn’t covered here or you need specific help:

1. Search the FAQ for more information
2. Check the Troubleshooting guide
3. Ask in the Telegram support group
4. Report device-specific issues on GitHub