Advertising on YouTube on Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi TV, Xiaomi TV A/S/P) has become a real problem for users. Unlike mobile devices where you can install blockers or use YouTube Premium, there are fewer options on Smart TVs — but they do. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to reduce or completely remove advertising, including hidden system settings, alternative versions of the application and legal workarounds.
It’s important to understand that Xiaomi doesn’t provide an official way to disable YouTube ads because it violates Google’s terms of use. However, some methods work by using PatchWall firmware or third-party solutions. We tested all methods on Xiaomi Mi TV 4S (2020–2023), Redmi Smart TV X and Xiaomi TV Q2 — the results are summarized in the table below.
If you're willing to sacrifice convenience for no advertising, some methods will require resetting or installing alternative apps. For those who don't want to take risks, we'll also talk about legal ways to reduce impressions.
1. Resetting cache and data of the YouTube app
The safest and fastest way is to clear the app's cache and data, which won't take away ads forever, but it will drop personalized ads and can reduce their number by 30 to 50 percent, a method that works on all Xiaomi TVs with Android TV or Google TV.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Installed Applications.
- Find YouTube in the list (could be called com.google.android.youtube.tv).
- Select Clear the cache, then Clear the data.
- Restart the TV (Settings → About TV → Reboot).
Once reset, the app will return to factory settings, you will have to re-enter your Google account, but the ads will become less intrusive, and the effect lasts from a few days to 2-3 weeks.
⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Clear Data with Remove Updates.The second option will roll the application back to the factory version, which can lead to errors.
☑️ Preparing for YouTube reset
2.Use of alternative versions of YouTube
YouTube's official Android TV app has built-in ad-serving mechanisms that are hard to get around, but there are modified versions of the app that are optimized for TVs.
- 📺 SmartTubeNext is a YouTube fork with ad blocking, background playback support and interface customization. ADB.
- 🖥️ YouTube Vanced (TV) — It's an outdated, but still working solution, and it supports ad blocking and SponsorBlock.
- 🌐 YouTube in the browser - through TV Bro or Puffin. TV You can open the web version of YouTube with ad blockers (e.g. uBlock Origin).
To install SmartTubeNext you will need:
- Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About TV → Software version → 7 times click on “Version”).
- Connect the TV to your PC via Wi-Fi (via ADB) or via USB-OTG cable.
- Execute command: adb install -r -d --fastdeploy smtube_2.6.3.apk (Download the current version from the official website).
SmartTubeNext blocks 95% of ads, including banners and videos before a video, but can conflict with system updates. Once installed, the original YouTube app can be disabled or removed.
What to do if SmartTubeNext is not installed?
3. Blocking Advertising through DNS
Change of change DNS-And the way that we filter out Google's ad domains is by using servers on TV, and it doesn't require you to install any additional apps, and it works at the network level. DNS plug-in:
| DNS-server | Address | Efficiency | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdGuard DNS | 176.103.130.130176.103.130.131 | Block 80-90% of advertising | Can slow down video loading |
| NextDNS | Individual (registration required) | 95% of the lock (configured) | Limitation of 300,000 requests/month |
| CleanBrowsing | 185.228.168.168185.228.169.168 | Block 70-80% of advertising | Does not block sponsorship integration |
How to change DNS to Xiaomi TV:
- Go to Settings → Network → Network settings.
- Select your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) →
- In the DNS field, enter the address from the table (e.g. 176.103.130.130).
- Save the settings and restart the TV.
⚠️ Attention: Some DNS-servers (e.g. NextDNS) may conflict with Xiaomi services such as Mi Home or PatchWall. DNS Lost access to widgets – return the standard settings.
4. Disable personalized advertising in your Google account
Even if you can't completely remove ads, you can reduce them by turning off personalization in Google's settings, which won't delete all ads, but will make them less intrusive and relevant.
Instructions:
- Open YouTube on your TV and log in to your Google account.
- Go to profile (icon in the upper right corner) → Settings → General.
- Select Restricted Mode and turn it on (this will hide some of the ads for “unwanted” content).
- On your computer or phone, open Google Advertising Settings and turn off all switches in the Ad Personalization section.
This method reduces the amount of targeted ads by 40-60%, but does not eliminate them completely, for example, the videos before the video will remain, but their subject matter will become random (not based on your browsing history).
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If you have multiple Google accounts, check your personalization settings for each. Ads can be displayed based on data from any linked profile.
5. Installation of third-party launchers (for advanced users)
PatchWall firmware on Xiaomi TVs limits the user’s experience, but it can be replaced with an alternative launcher, such as an ATV Launcher or a Leanback Launcher.
- 🔄 Install APK-Unlimited files (including modified YouTube).
- 🚫 Block system updates that return standard launcher.
- 📱 Use sideload applications (e.g. Blokada to block ads at the network level).
How to install ATV Launcher:
- Download APK with XDA Developers.
- Transfer the file to the flash drive and connect it to the TV.
- Open the File Manager → Install APK.
- In the application settings (Settings → Applications → Default Launcher), select ATV Launcher.
Once you replace the launcher, you can install any application, including ad blockers, but beware: unofficial launchers can conflict with PatchWall updates and cause crashes.
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Replacing the launcher is the most radical way, but it requires technical skills. If you are not sure about your actions, use other methods from this article.
6. Use of external devices (Fire Stick, Android-prefixes)
If none of these methods worked, consider connecting an external device to an alternative version of YouTube.
- 🔥 Amazon Fire TV Stick – allows you to install SmartTubeNext or uBlock Origin via the Silk browser.
- 🤖 Android-based console (for example, Xiaomi Mi Box S) – supports the same locking methods as smartphones.
- 💻 Mini-PC (on Windows or Linux) – you can connect to the TV on HDMI and use YouTube with extensions to block ads.
The advantage of this method is flexibility, for example, on Fire Stick you can install SmartTubeNext without risking to the main TV system, and external devices are often updated more often than the firmware Xiaomi.
Minus – additional costs (from 2000 to 10 000) ₽) and the need to switch inputs HDMI. If you watch YouTube often, it may be the best long-term solution.
7. Legal ways to reduce advertising (without violations)
If you don’t want to risk the TV’s guarantee or stability, use legal methods:
- 🎫 YouTube Premium is the official way to remove all ads.Cost: 399 ₽/month (you can divide the family tariff for 5 people).
- 📺 YouTube on your computer + Chromecast – stream video from your PC or phone to your TV via Google Cast. You can use uBlock Origin on your computer.
- ⏳ Hand-over of ads – You can skip ads in 5 seconds on YouTube mobile app, this timer is often missing on TV, but sometimes appears after a cache reset.
Xiaomi doesn’t block YouTube Premium, so this is the most reliable way to do it. If you watch videos often, it can be cheaper than buying external devices or experimenting with firmware.
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YouTube Premium not only removes ads, but it also gives you backgrounds, video downloads, and exclusive content, and if you watch YouTube every day, you pay for your subscription.