In this guide, I’ll show you how to install YouTube TV on FireStick. The method works on all Fire TV devices, including FireStick Lite, FireStick HD, FireStick 4K, FireStick 4K Max, and Fire TV Cube.
YouTube TV is one of the best IPTV options for cord-cutters. First, the channel lineup is comprehensive, catering to various entertainment preferences.
Whether you watch TV for sports, lifestyle, politics, breaking news, music, reality shows, movies, TV dramas, or kids’ content, the 100+ channels have you covered.
Secondly, YouTube TV’s intuitive user interface makes it user-friendly. The mobile, desktop, or smart TV app makes navigating the channels and settings easy.
Even more impressive, the YouTube TV FireStick app is officially available in the Amazon App Store.
Other factors that make YouTube TV a favorite among users are the unlimited DVR and ample storage. You can record your favorite shows and programs to watch later.
Despite its pricey monthly subscription, YouTube TV remains one of the top IPTV services in the United States and the best apps for FireStick.
Let’s learn how to install and set it up on FireStick below.
Attention FireStick Users
Governments and ISPs across the world monitor their users' online activities. If you use third-party streaming apps on your Fire TV Stick, you should always use a good FireStick VPN and hide your identity so your movie-viewing experience doesn’t take a bad turn. Currently, your IP is visible to everyone.
I use ExpressVPN, the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device, including Amazon Fire TV Stick. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don't like their service, you can always ask for a refund. ExpressVPN also has a special deal where you can get 4 months free and save 61% on the 2-year plan.
Read: How to Install and Use Best VPN for FireStick
How to Install YouTube TV on FireStick
YouTube TV is officially available on the Amazon App Store, so the direct download method works perfectly. However, if the official app is unavailable for your device, I’ll show you an alternative way to install the live TV app.
If you can install the YouTube TV FireStick app from the Amazon Store, you do not need to follow the alternative method.
- Method 1 (Primary): Install the official YouTube TV FireStick app via the Amazon Store
- Method 2: Sideloading YouTube TV app on FireStick (Install an unofficial YouTube TV app through an APK file)
Method #1: Install the YouTube TV App from the Amazon App Store
YouTube TV app is officially available on the Amazon App Store. Follow these steps to install the app on FireStick:
1. Click Find> Search from the home screen of the FireStick/Fire TV.
If you still use the old FireStick interface, navigate to the top-left corner and select the lens icon.
2. Search for YouTube TV by typing in the app’s name. Click YouTube TV when it appears in the search results.
3. Select the YouTube TV icon on the next window.
4. Now, click Get if this is your first time downloading YouTube TV on your FireStick.If you have downloaded and installed the app before, click the Download option (which will appear in place of Get).
5. Wait while the YouTube TV app is downloaded.
6. Click Open and run the app. Later, you may also access the YouTube TV FireStick app from the Your Apps & Channels section.
This is how you install YouTube TV on FireStick from the Amazon Store.
Highly recommended if streaming with free or low-cost services 👇
How to Stream on FireStick Anonymously
As soon as you install the right apps, your FireStick is all ready to stream your favorite content. However, before you start, I would like to warn you that everything you stream online is visible to your ISP and Government. This means, streaming free movies, TV shows, Sports might get you into legal trouble.
Thankfully, there is a foolproof way to keep all your streaming activities hidden from your ISP and the Government. All you need is a good VPN for Fire Stick. A VPN will mask your original IP which is and will help you bypass Online Surveillance, ISP throttling, and content geo-restrictions.
I personally use and recommend ExpressVPN, which is the fastest and most secure VPN. It is compatible with all kinds of streaming apps and is very easy to install on Fire TV / Stick.
We do not encourage the violation of copyright laws. But, what if you end up streaming content from an illegitimate source unintentionally? It is not always easy to tell the difference between a legit and illegal source.
So, before you start streaming on your Fire Stick / Fire TV, let’s see how to use ExpressVPN to keep your streaming activities hidden from prying eyes.
Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Meaning, you can use it free for the first 30-days and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund.
Step 2: Power ON your Fire TV Stick and go to Find followed by Search option.
Step 3: Now type “Expressvpn” (without quotes) in the search bar and select ExpressVPN when it shows up in the search results.
Step 4: Click Download to install the ExpressVPN app on Fire TV / Stick.
Step 5: Open the app and enter the login credentials that you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription. Click Sign in.
Step 6: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for FireStick.
You can also read more detailed info on using ExpressVPN with Fire TV / Stick.
Method #2: Sideloading YouTube TV on FireStick
Note: While this YouTube TV version is downloadable as an app, it technically redirects you to the official YouTube TV website via a browser. On FireStick, the best browser to access this content is the Silk Browser.
Note: You may skip this section if you have already installed YouTube TV on Amazon FireStick using the first method
If you want to download the YouTube TV FireStick app outside the US, you can get this third-party APK. If you already have a YouTube TV subscription, you can use this app outside the US with a VPN. You will still need a US-issued Credit/Debit card or a PayPal account with a US profile to subscribe to YouTube TV services.
We will side-load this app from an external site to FireStick using an APK file. You need the Downloader app and changes in the FireStick settings to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources. For detailed information, refer to our guide on how to install third-party apps on FireStick with Downloader.
If you already have the Downloader app and the correct settings enabled, skip to the sideloading process. Here’s what you need to do, in a nutshell:
1. Select Search > Find on the FireStick home screen (or the lens icon in the top-left corner of the old FireStick interface). Type Downloader and install it on your device:
2. Return to the FireStick home screen and click Settings>My Fire TV>Developer Options>Install Unknown Apps. Then, go to the Downloader option and turn ON the toggle.
Note: Some Fire TV models may show apps from unknown sources. In that case, turn ON the toggle.
Now that you have adjusted the Downloader app and the settings, it’s time to sideload the YouTube TV app. Here are the steps:
1. Open the Downloader app you just installed. If any prompts are displayed, remove them. Click the URL box.
2. Enter the following URL when this popup keypad is displayed: https://tinyurl.com/ytvapk1234, and click Go.
Note: FireStickTricks.com does not host or distribute the APK file. The above URL directs to an external site where it is hosted.
3. The URL leads to the site where the APK is hosted. The download should begin immediately. If it doesn’t, press the Click Here link.
4. Wait for the file to download.
5. After downloading the APK file, you’ll be prompted to install the app. Click Install.
6. Click Done when the YouTube TV app is installed.
7. You no longer need the YouTube TV APK file. To save storage space on your device, click Delete and remove the file.
8. Click Delete again.
9. Exit the Downloader app and go to Your Apps & Channels. The installed YouTube TV app will be in the app library.
10. The app will prompt you to select your preferred browser upon launching. Choose Silk Browser.
11. The app directs you to the YouTube TV website homepage. Click Sign In or Try 10 Days for $0, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up YouTube TV.
Alternative Way To Watch YouTube TV on FireStick: Via Silk Browser
You could also use the Silk Browser to access YouTube TV on FireStick. This browser comes preinstalled with FireStick. In case you uninstalled it, here is how you download the browser and tune in to YouTube TV:
1. From the FireStick home screen, select Find>Search (lens icon) in the top-left corner.
2. Type Silk Browser on the search bar.
3. Click Silk Browser in the search results.
4. Click the Silk Browser icon on the next window.
5. Click Download to download and install the app.
6. Open the Silk Browser and access https://tv.youtube.com/.
How to Install Official YouTube on Amazon FireStick
Some users confuse YouTube TV with the YouTube video-sharing app. If you opened this post for the YouTube video-sharing app, follow the below steps to install the official YouTube app on FireStick:
IMPORTANT!!! If you have any unofficial, third-party version of YouTube on FireStick, make sure you UNINSTALL it first before installing this official version.
Pro Tip: Get a VPN for Fire Stick to bypass online surveillance and ISP throttling and watch geo-blocked content on Netflix / YouTube.
1. Select Search > Find on the Fire TV home screen.
Or, if you have the old FireStick interface on the home window, go to the upper left corner and select the search option (the lens icon)
2. Type YouTube in the search bar. When the name appears in the search results, click it.
3. Click the YouTube app tile from the list of the apps that appear in the following window.
4. Click Get if this is your first app install. If you have installed the app before, click Download.
5. Wait while the app is downloaded and installed on your device. It may take some time, so be patient.
6. Click Open to run YouTube. You may run it later from Your Apps & Channels
Getting the YouTube Fire Stick App Ready
If you wish to use YouTube on FireStick regularly, I encourage you to move the app to the home screen for easy access. Here’s our comprehensive guide to creating app shortcuts on the Fire TV home screen.
Below is a quick overview.
Create a YouTube App Shortcut on the FireStick Homescreen
Follow these steps:
1. Hold the Home button on your remote and select Apps from the menu.
2. You must now see the list of all your installed apps. Newly installed apps are usually toward the bottom of the list. So, navigate to the bottom and select the YouTube app.
3. Click the ‘Options’ button on your remote and select ‘Move’ from the popup at the bottom right of the screen.
4. You can now move the YouTube app icon anywhere you want. To see it on the FireStick home screen, move it to the top row. Then, press the ‘Select’ button to drop the icon and place it in the desired spot.
5. Go to the FireStick home screen and see the YouTube app.
Start Using YouTube
When you launch the YouTube app on FireStick for the first time, the following window appears. Click Get Started.
While YouTube allows you to watch content while signed out, I recommend signing in. This will unblock restricted content and allow you to personalize your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history.
You can sign in by adding your Google Account or YouTube Kids profile. You can also scan the QR Code to activate it or go to yt.be/activate and enter the provided code.
If you are not ready to sign in, click Use Signed Out.
You will still be able to watch plenty of content.
If you decide to sign in later, you can go to the Sign In section in the left menu and follow the onscreen instructions.
Wrapping Up
This post discussed how to install YouTube TV on FireStick. The service offers over 100 live TV channels that let you watch sports, news updates, weather, business, movies, TV shows, kids’ content, and more without cable. Have you set up YouTube TV on your device? Which channels or TV programs do you love the most? Let us know in the comments.
Related:
- How to Install YouTube Kodi Addon
- How to Watch IPTV on Kodi
- SmartTubeNext- How to Install Ad-Free Youtube on FireStick
- Best YouTube TV Alternatives
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Hey I got YouTube but dont know how to get youtubetv? Did I do something wrong?
Hi Chris, this YouTube app doesn’t support YouTube TV (even though it says Smart YouTube TV). You can access YouTube TV via a web browser like FireFox, Silk, etc.
Seriously best instructions ever! So easy to follow and didn’t miss a detail!
I tried to install YouTube TV via Downloader and when I click on “Stable Release” for the Smart YouTube TV app it doesn’t bring up a new screen to give the the Install option. Can you assist. I have the newest 4k Firestick. Should have gotten a Roku….
Hi Greg, when you click Stable Release, wait for a few seconds for the Downloader app to connect to the server and download the file.
same with me on Fire TV
Hi, worked for me again. Have you enabled Java Script in the Downloader app Settings?
Same exact thing here – when I click “Stable release”, nothing happens. I let it sit there for over 5 minutes, and nothing. Where does the download go? Or do you think pop-up is not popping up, or what? Great stuff you have on the site!
Hi Chuck, I just followed the instructions yet another time and it worked again smoothly for me. There is a chance your ISP is blocking the server access. Try it with a VPN
So can my google/youtube account be deleted. I’m getting worried every second so please respond. Thank you.
Hi, I don’t think so.
But if you want, you can always sign out of your Google/YouTube account. On the left menu sidebar, select your account icon (the one that shows your profile picture). Now, click the account with which you signed in. Next, click Remove from TV. This will let you sign out of the YouTube app on Fire stick.
Thank you so much! I am not tech savvy at all but I am able to follow strait forward instructions. We missed YouTube because we used it on the tv for karaoke and use an external system for the microphone/ vocals. We haven’t been doing it as much because it kind of sucks to use tv cast for the YouTube videos. So excited to have YouTube back! This was so simple that even this 51 yr old mom could do it!
Hi Deb, glad we could help!
That is not Youtube TV. That is normal Youtube. Why do people keep posting these guides with the wrong app?
Hi Lannie, that’s the name the developers of the app chose to give it, “Smart YouTube TV”. We are simply relaying the information as is. However, we have added a big note at top specifying that it is not a Live TV app of YouTube.
Is there a way to get he Live YouTube TV app then?
Hi Tiffani, you can’t install the YouTube TV app on FireStick. However, you can access it through a browser such as FireFox, Silk, etc.
I can’t get this to work as of 2/21/19… To note, I’m on the newest FireTV stick 4K, and the downloader app says there may be ongoing issues and asks for email specifics. When I navigate to the Smart YouTube TV page and click the link, it does nothing. If I try it from my computer as a test, it will download the APK file, but I don’t know how to get that to the Firestick so it doesn’t benefit me. I believe this is a temporary (I hope) issue between the most current 4K Firestick and the downloader app. Any workarounds greatly appreciated.
Hi Rob, it works for me fine. Please go to the Downloader app Settings and make sure JavaScript is enabled.
If it still doesn’t work, let me quickly tell you how to transfer APK files from your computer to FireStick.
– Go to FireStick Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options and enable ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources
– Download ES File Explorer on FireStick
– Open FireStick and on the right side of the window where you see a bunch of icons, click View on PC option
– Click Turn On button on ES File Explorer window next
– ES File Explorer will show an FTP path, something like ftp://192.167.1.6: 5431
– Open a folder on your computer and type in this FTP path in the address bar
– This will let you access all the FireStick folders. Simply copy and paste the APK file from your computer to one of the FireStick folders
Thanks Patrick. It absolutely will not download direct. I even reset the firestick to factory settings and started over. IT just hangs once you click the link.
Anyway, thank you much for the education above. This allowed me to get it installed this morning and should prove useful in the future. Keep up the good work.
Rob
I’m having the very same issue. I have used Downloader with other APK files but this one fails to download. I too will try the above ES file Explorer recommendation.
Lol if you can install apks is better to install “youtube for android tv” and its awesome.
will this allow me to play my 4k movies on my amazon FireTV 4K?
Hi Mario, which 4K movies are you referring to?
The ones I have purchased via google play. For example I can play 4k footage from videos from the youtube app on my xbox one and Firetv 4k but both will only let me play my purchased movies in HD quality even though they show as 4k.
Hi Mario, make sure you sign in to the app with the same Google ID which you used to purchase videos. Launch the app on FireStick and on the left panel select the Library folder (it is the last one on the panel just under the subscription option). Click Purchases to view your purchased videos.
Great app but the name can be confusing as it is called Youtube TV.
Hi Nate, yes that’s right. That’s why we have added a little note around the start telling the difference.