Have you ever wanted to access all of YouTube‘s amazing video content right from the comfort of your TV? Well if you own an Amazon Firestick, you can do exactly that by installing the official YouTube app in just a few quick steps!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be showing you how to install YouTube on your Fire TV Stick and get watching in minutes. You‘ll also learn tips to create the ultimate ad-free viewing experience. Let‘s get started!
Why Every Firestick Owner Should Install YouTube
With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube is by far the biggest online video platform. Here are some great reasons to install it on your Firestick:
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Millions of videos – get access to billions of videos across all topics imaginable. Everything from movie trailers, music videos, viral clips, tutorials and more is available.
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Personalized experience – by signing in with your Google account, you can get customized video recommendations based on your watch history and subscriptions.
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Works offline – subscribe to YouTube Premium to download videos and watch later without an internet connection. Handy for flights or road trips!
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Background play – keep watching or listening to videos while using other apps on your Firestick.
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Ad-free options – install modified YouTube apps to remove ads and enjoy uninterrupted viewing.
According to GlobalStats, over 720,000 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube every single day! With this enormous selection of content, YouTube on Firestick is an essential install.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install YouTube on Firestick
Thanks to a handy app called Downloader, installing YouTube on your Fire TV device is super quick and easy. Just follow these steps:
1. Install Downloader App on Firestick
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Go to the Firestick home screen and use the search option to find "Downloader". This is a free app on Amazon‘s appstore.
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Select Downloader from the search results and click download.
- Once installed, open the Downloader app.
2. Download YouTube APK Using Downloader
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In the URL bar of Downloader, enter:
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/youtube/youtube-2-12-08-release/youtube-2-12-08-4-android-apk-download/ -
Click Go and tap
Downloadon the next screen.
This will download the latest version of YouTube‘s Android APK file.
3. Install YouTube and Launch
Once the download completes, you will see an Installed button. Click it to install YouTube on your Firestick.
You will now find the YouTube app ready to launch from the Firestick home screen or Your Apps menu!
Here‘s a quick video summarizing the installation process:
Next up, let‘s look at how to sign in and access your personal YouTube account.
How to Sign in to YouTube on Firestick
By signing in with your Google account, you can access all your YouTube subscriptions, watch history, playlists and recommendations.
Follow these steps to sign in:
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Open the YouTube app and select Sign In.
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You will get a numeric code on your TV screen.
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On your phone or computer, go to youtube.com/activate and enter this code.
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Select your Google account and click Allow to link your Firestick YouTube app.
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Your account will now be active and signed in on YouTube Firestick app!
And that‘s all there is to it. Super simple right?
Alternate Methods to Access YouTube on Firestick
Don‘t want to install the official YouTube app? Here are a couple alternate options:
Use Silk Browser
Your Firestick comes pre-installed with the Silk browser app. You can simply access the YouTube website to search and play videos.
However, this won‘t give you the optimized mobile app experience. Features like background play won‘t work either. So the Silk browser method is best for casual or temporary use.
Install YouTube Kodi Addon
Kodi is a popular entertainment center app for Firestick. The official YouTube addon within Kodi also lets you search and stream YouTube videos.
But again, you won‘t get personalized recommendations or ability to sign in. The Kodi YouTube addon is best for those already using Kodi as their main streaming app.
Tips for Using YouTube on Fire TV Stick
Once you have YouTube installed, here are some handy tips to get the most out of it:
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Use Alexa voice commands like "Play Toy Story on YouTube" for hands-free control.
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Enable parental restrictions in YouTube‘s settings for kid-friendly viewing.
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Rearrange app icons on the home screen so YouTube is in your favorite spot.
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Download videos for offline viewing when internet speed is limited.
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Multitask with YouTube running in the background while using other apps.
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Hide the YouTube app icon with the Hide Apps setting if needed.
Fixing YouTube Not Working on Firestick
In some cases, you may face issues with YouTube crashing or videos not loading. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
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Check your internet connection speed. Slow speeds disrupt streaming.
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Restart your Firestick and router if connectivity is limited.
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Reinstall the YouTube app using Downloader. This fixes corrupt installations.
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Clear YouTube app cache and data from device Settings > Applications.
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Use a VPN service if YouTube is blocked by your ISP or region.
Reinstalling the app typically resolves most YouTube not working problems.
How to Remove Ads on YouTube Firestick
YouTube‘s video ads can be annoying. Luckily, there are ways to enjoy ad-free YouTube:
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YouTube Premium – Paid subscription for ad-free viewing across devices. Also enables background play and offline downloads.
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YouTube Vanced – Modified YouTube app for Android that blocks all ads. Easy to install on Firestick.
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Ad blockers – Apps like Blokada can remove ads across multiple apps and sites. Needs manual setup.
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Kodi addons – Certain YouTube addons within Kodi let you skip or disable video ads.
For the best user experience, I recommend YouTube Vanced. It takes just a minute to install and seamlessly removes 100% of video ads.
Top 10 Free Movies on YouTube
YouTube has an incredible selection of free, full-length movies across genres. Here are some of the best to get you started:
| Movie | Genre | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Terminator | Sci-fi | 8.0 |
| Legally Blonde | Comedy | 6.2 |
| Groundhog Day | Comedy | 8.0 |
| Night of the Living Dead | Horror | 7.9 |
| Brad Pitt Eats and Answers Interview Questions | Talk Show | 8.8 |
| Inside Man | Crime | 7.6 |
| Snowpiercer | Sci-fi | 7.1 |
| Juno | Comedy | 7.5 |
| Midnight in Paris | Fantasy | 7.7 |
| Silver Linings Playbook | Romance | 7.8 |
I hope you enjoy some of these amazing free movies! The ability to stream them instantly on your TV via YouTube Firestick makes the experience even better.
Final Thoughts
Installing YouTube on your Amazon Firestick gives you access to virtually endless entertainment options. You can catch up on the latest viral videos, movies trailers, music hits and much more.
By signing in with your Google account, the experience becomes even more personalized with subscriptions, watch history and custom recommendations.
The installation process only takes a few minutes using the Downloader app. I hope this guide has shown you how quick and easy it is.
Now relax back on your couch and let the YouTube videos roll! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.
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