How to add a second YouTube account on your Xiaomi TV: 4 working ways

Adding a second YouTube account to a Xiaomi TV is a challenge that many users face, especially if the device is used by several family members. Unlike smartphones, where the switching of profiles occurs in two clicks, Smart TVs often limit this feature due to the features of the MIUI TV firmware or the version of the YouTube app. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from standard to bypass, including nuances for different models of Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV 4A/4S/5 Pro, Redmi Smart TV, etc.).

The main problem is that the official YouTube app on Xiaomi TV doesn’t always support multi-accounting out of the box, which is due to Google’s policy that restricts functionality on TVs compared to mobile devices, but there are workarounds, from using a browser to resetting to factory settings, and we tested all methods on MIUI TV 2.0-4.0 firmware and identified those that work consistently.

Important: If your TV is running on Android TV (rather than Xiaomi’s proprietary shell), the process may be different – this is a separate section below. Also note that after YouTube updates or TV firmware, some ways may stop working, in which case we recommend checking out alternative methods in this article.

1. Method: through YouTube app settings (official method)

The easiest, but not always affordable, option is to use the built-in account change feature in the YouTube app, which works on Xiaomi TVs with Android TVs (such as Mi TV Stick or Google-certified models) and some versions of MIUI TV (usually 3.0 and later).

Instructions:

• 📺 Open the YouTube app on your TV.
• 👤 In the upper right corner, find the current account avatar (or profile icon).
• 🔄 Click on it and select Add Account (or Switch Account).
• 🔑 Enter the second Google profile (login and password).

If you don't add an account, your version of the app or firmware doesn't support that feature, so move on to the following.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall shell (Mi series) TV 4X, Redmi X) This method is often blocked. Attempting to add an account can lead to an error.

2. Method: Using a browser for authorization

If the official method didn’t work, you can use the web version of YouTube via the built-in browser, which is universal and works on most Xiaomi models, but has limitations: for example, not all features (like YouTube Premium) can be accessed.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your browser on your TV (usually TV Browser or Internet in the app menu).
2. Go to tv.youtube.com or youtube.com.
3. Click Enter in the upper right corner.
4. Enter the second Google account. If you need confirmation via SMS or email, use your smartphone or PC.
5. After authorization, add the site to the Browser Bookmarks for quick access.

Cons of the method:

• 🎯 No support for remote gestures (such as swipes for rewinding).
• 🔊 Video quality can automatically be reduced to 720p.
• 📱 Some features (such as YouTube Music) are not available.

💡

If your browser on your TV doesn’t open your site, try updating it through Settings → Apps → Browser → Update. Some Xiaomi models have an outdated TV Browser 1.0 installed by default, which doesn’t support modern versions of YouTube.

3. Method: Reset YouTube settings to factory

If previous methods didn’t work, you can try resetting the YouTube app itself, which will delete your current account and allow you to log in again, under a different profile, and works on all Xiaomi TV models, but requires reconfiguration.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Installed Applications.
2. Find YouTube in the list and select it.
3. Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
4. Close the settings and open YouTube again – the app will request authorization.
5. Log in under the second account.

Important: This method removes all local app data, including browsing history and bookmarks. If you need to save information from your first account, pre-export it through the YouTube web version on your computer.

Make sure you remember the password from your second Google account.

Save your browsing history (if necessary) via youtube.com/takeout

Check if the TV is connected to the internet.

Close all background applications-->

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (for example, MIUI TV 2.0 on Mi. TV 4A 2018) after reset, the application can automatically log in to the first account, in which case try to disconnect the TV from Wi-Fi at the sign-in stage.

4. Method: Create a second user in Android TV (for certified models)

If your Xiaomi TV runs on a pure Android TV (like Mi TV Stick or Mi Box), you can create a second user on the system.

Instructions:

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Accounts and entrance → Add a user.
• 🆔 Follow the instructions on the screen to create a new profile.
• 🔄 Switch to a new user via the menu in the upper right corner of the screen.
• 📺 Open YouTube and log in to your second account.

Limitations:

• 🔐 Not all apps support multiplayer (e.g. Netflix may require re-authorization).
• 📁 Some TV settings (such as Network or Sound) will be shared by all users.

💡

On Xiaomi PatchWall TVs (most models), the Android TV multiplayer mode is disabled, in which case the only working way is to browser or reset the application settings.

5. Alternative solutions: Smart YouTube TV and third-party apps

If none of the above methods worked, you can install an alternative YouTube viewing app, the most popular option being Smart YouTube TV (an informal multi-account client), but installing it will require you to turn on the developer mode and install the APK manually.

How to install Smart YouTube TV:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the build number string and click on it 7 times in a row.

Settings → For developers

USB debugging

Installation from unknown sources

Smart YouTube TV

smartyoutubetv.github.io

File manager

Advantages of Smart YouTube TV:

• 🔄 Quickly switch between accounts without exit.
• 🎥 Support 4K HDR 60 FPS.
• 🛡️ No advertising (unless you use premium features).

⚠️ Warning: Installing apps from unknown sources could violate Xiaomi's warranty.In addition, Smart YouTube TV is not an official customer, so its work is not guaranteed (there may be blocking by Google).

6. TV firmware update: when it might help

On some Xiaomi models (especially those released before 2020), the restriction on multi-accounts on YouTube is due to outdated firmware. MIUI TV Up to the latest version, you can add support for this function.

How to update firmware:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → On TV. → Updating the system.
• 🔍 Click Check for Updates.
• 📥 If a new version is available, download and install it.

After updating to MIUI TV 3.0 and above on the Mi models TV 4S/4X You can add a second account via YouTube settings (see Method) 1). However, at Redmi Smart TV Even after the update, this function may remain blocked.

If the automatic update does not find new versions, you can try manually installing firmware via USB. For instructions and firmware files for specific models, look at the official Xiaomi website or forums (for example, miui.su).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you add a second account, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Error 1: When you try to add an account, you see a message that says you couldn't log in.

• 🔌 Check your internet connection (reboot your router if you need to).
• 🔒 Make sure that your Google account has two-factor authentication disabled (or use backup codes).
• ⏳ Wait 10-15 minutes and try again (sometimes Google servers temporarily block authorization from new devices).

Error 2: After resetting YouTube, the app automatically logs in again under the first account.

• 📵 Turn off the TV from Wi-Fi before YouTube first starts after reset.
• 🔄 Remove the first Google account from your TV settings (Settings) → Accounts).
• 🛠️ Install Smart YouTube TV (see method 5).

Error 3: YouTube does not play video in the browser (black screen or error Playback is impossible).

• 🎯 Try another browser (for example, TV Bro or Puffin. TV, If they are available to your model).
• 🔊 Turn it off. VPN or proxy (if you use it).
• 📶 Switch from Wi-Fi to cable connection (Ethernet).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions