To provide a better YouTube experience on Android TV, version 4.4 or higher, here are some tips and information:

To get the most out of the YouTube app on Android TV version 4.4, users can follow these best practices:

Google quietly added a "Lite Mode" toggle in the settings menu (Settings > Performance > Lite Mode).

Step 4 – Sideload the APK

Using Send Files to TV, Downloader, or USB drive:

  1. Download SmartTube-stable.apk from GitHub (smarttube-next.github.io)
  2. Sideload on Android TV
  3. Enjoy ad-free YouTube with better performance than version 444

For 99% of users, these are non-issues.

Inquiry About YouTube Android Compatibility Versions - Google Help

You must sideload the APK from their official GitHub or a trusted site like Aptoide TV Google Help 2. Sideload a Compatible "Lite" APK The latest versions of YouTube from the Google Play Store