How to install YouTube on a Xiaomi TV: All the Ways of 2026

Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV, Xiaomi TV A) run on Android TV or PatchWall proprietary shell, but even that doesn’t guarantee the presence of a pre-installed YouTube. Users often face no app in the store, errors in installation or blocking of Google services. In this article, current ways to install YouTube on Xiaomi TV with the latest updates in 2026, including bypassing restrictions on Chinese versions of firmware.

If your TV is released after 2020, it’s likely to support the official Google Play Store, but even then, there may be problems with regional restrictions. Older models (e.g., Mi TV 4A 2018-2019) will require alternative methods, from manually installing APKs to using third-party launchers.

Before you start, check:

• 📺 Model TV (find on the box or in Settings) → It's about TV. It's about the availability of Google Play.
• 🌐 Account region: If the TV is purchased in China, YouTube may be blocked at the firmware level.
• 🔄 Android version TV. For installation APK You need a version not lower than Android 9 (for Mi) TV 4S newer).

1. Install YouTube via Google Play Store (official way)

The easiest method is to download the app from Google Play, but it only works for TVs with Google services preinstalled. If you have a Play Store icon on your menu, follow the instructions:

1. Open the Google Play Store on the home screen (if there is no icon, check the All Apps folder).

2.In the search bar, type "YouTube" and select the official application from Google LLC.

3. Click "Install" and wait for the download to be completed.

If the Install button is inactive or if it gives an error, “Device is not certified,” your TV has not passed the Google Mobile Services check (GMS). This is a problem for the Chinese versions of Xiaomi. TV. Solution – change the region of the account or install through APK (see next section).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs with firmware for the Chinese market (CN ROM) Google Play may not be available at all, so go to 2 or 4.

2. Manual installation of YouTube via APK-file

If Google Play is unavailable or gives you errors, you can install YouTube manually through the Google Play Store. APK-This method is suitable for all Xiaomi models TV, And that includes the ones that don't have Google services:

• 📱 USB-drive (flash drive) or access to cloud storage (e.g. Mi Drive).
• 🖥️ Computer or smartphone for download APK.
• ⚙️ The option “Unknown sources” in the settings of the TV.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the latest version of YouTube for Android TV from a trusted source (e.g. APKMirror).Look for files marked tv in the title (e.g. com.google.android.youtube.tv-18.24.36.apk).
2. Copy the APK to a flash drive (formatted in FAT32) or download directly to the TV via your browser (if supported).
3. Connect the flash drive to the TV and open the File Manager (or ES Explorer, if preinstalled).
4. Find it. APK-file and run it. When you see the "Installation locked" warning, go to Settings → Security → Unknown sources and allow installation for your file manager.
5. Once installed, YouTube will appear in the app menu. If the icon doesn't show, reboot the TV.

Critical detail: Xiaomi PatchWall-based TVs (like the Mi TV 5 Pro) may require an APK with arm64-v8a architecture.

⚠️ Attention: Installation APK From unverified sources, you can get infected by a virus. Use only official mirrors (APKMirror, APKPure) and check the hash sums of files.

3. Install YouTube via Mi Account (for Chinese firmware)

Xiaomi TVs sold in China are often devoid of Google services, but have an alternative app store, the Mi App Store, where you can find a Chinese version of YouTube that works through proxy servers, which is suitable for models Mi TV ES, Xiaomi TV S and others with CN ROM.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi App Store (the icon with the Mi logo).
2. In search, type "YouTube" (in English). If the app is not located, try "" (Chinese name).
3. Install the app. If you request, allow access to the Microphone and the Warehouse.
4. After installation, a VPN (such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN) may be required, as the Chinese version of YouTube blocks content outside of China.

If you don’t have YouTube in the Mi App Store, try changing your Mi Account region:

1. Go to Settings → Account and Security → Mi Account.
2. Log out of your current account and create a new one by specifying the region of India or Singapore (there are fewer restrictions).
3. After changing the region, update the list of applications in the Mi App Store.

💡

If YouTube does not open after installation, clear the app cache in Settings → Apps → YouTube → Clear the cache.

4. Use of alternative launchers (for older models)

On Xiaomi TVs 2018-2019 (e.g. Mi TV 4A on Android 8.1), the standard launcher may not support third-party APK installation.

• 📱 ATV Launcher (optimized for Android) TV).
• 🎮 Sideload Launcher (shows all installed) APK).
• 🖥️ Wolf Launcher (with support for widgets).

How to install an alternative launcher:

1. Download the launcher’s APK (like the ATV Launcher) and transfer it to the flash drive.
2. Install the launcher on the TV via File Manager (as in method 2).
3. After installation, open Settings → Applications → Default Launcher and select a new launcher.
4. All the apps installed, including YouTube, will now appear on the menu.

The advantage of this method is that you have full control over the interface and the ability to install any APKs, even if they are not optimized for TV. However, some features (such as voice search) may not work properly.

💡

Alternative launchers address the lack of a YouTube icon on the standard menu, but can reduce performance on weaker models (e.g. Mi TV 4A 32).

5. Install YouTube via ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can install YouTube via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that requires a computer and basic command line knowledge, but is guaranteed to work even on blocked firmware.

What you need:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (to connect TV to PC).
• 📦 Utility. ADB Tools.
• 📄 APK-YouTube file (as in method 2).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your TV: Go to Settings → About TV. Find the line "Build number" and click on it 7 times in a row until the notification "You became a developer" appears.
2. Return to Settings → For developers and enable: “Debugging via USB” “Installation via ADB”

Connect your TV to your computer via USB (use USB 3.0 port for stability).

Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and execute the commands:

adb devices

(The name of your TV should appear.)

adb install path/to/youtube.apk

(Replace path/to/youtube.apk with the actual path to the file).

If ADB can’t see TV, try:

• 🔌 Use the other USB-cable (original from Xiaomi).
• 🔄 Restart the TV and computer.
• 🛠️ Install Google Drivers USB Driver (for Windows).

6. Solving YouTube problems on Xiaomi TV

Even after a successful installation, YouTube may not work properly. Consider common errors and how to fix them:

If YouTube doesn’t work after all the manipulations, try resetting the TV to factory settings:

1. Go to Settings → All settings → System → Reset.
2. Select “Reset All Settings” (app data will be deleted!).
3. After the reboot, re-install YouTube.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi TVs with PatchWall 3.0 firmware+ To avoid this, link your Mi Account to the region of India or Russia before resetting.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing YouTube on Xiaomi TV