Guide

TizenTube Cobalt: Setup on Android TV, Google TV, and Fire TV

What TizenTube Cobalt is, which devices support it, and how to install, update, and troubleshoot it — based on the project's current documentation.

CurrentLast updated: 2026-09-09Last checked: 2026-09-09

TizenTube Cobalt is an open-source app, built on the Cobalt app container, that brings the same general idea as TizenTube — ad blocking, SponsorBlock support, and playback tweaks — to Android TV, Google TV, and some Fire TV devices. Despite the shared name and author, it's a separate codebase from TizenTube, not a version of it that happens to also run on Android.

It's not made, distributed, or endorsed by Google, Amazon, or YouTube.

Quick answer

TizenTube Cobalt targets Android TV and Google TV as its primary platform, and the project's own documentation recommends a Google TV certified device for the best experience. It also runs on Android-based Fire TV devices (the ones released before Amazon's shift to VegaOS — see the Fire TV guide for which models that includes). The current release requires Android 7 or newer.

Compatibility

Platform	Status	Notes
Android TV	Supported	Primary supported platform, according to the project's documentation — it recommends a Google TV certified device for the best experience.
Fire TV	Partial	Supported on Android-based Fire TV devices (the current release supports Android 7 or higher). Like other Android apps, it's not expected to work on newer Fire TV devices running Amazon's VegaOS instead of Android.
Samsung TV	Unsupported	TizenTube Cobalt exists specifically to bring TizenTube's approach to non-Tizen devices — on an actual Samsung Tizen TV, use the original TizenTube instead.
Android	Unknown	The project is built and documented around TV-certified devices; phone/tablet behavior isn't clearly documented.
Firefox	Unsupported	TizenTube Cobalt is a native app container (built on Cobalt), not a browser extension.

Android TV and Google TV are the project's documented primary target. Fire TV support exists on Android-based devices, but not on newer Fire TV Stick models running VegaOS, since that isn't Android at all. Samsung Tizen TVs aren't supported by this project — that's what the original TizenTube is for instead. Phone/tablet behavior isn't clearly documented, so treat that as unconfirmed rather than assuming either way.

Requirements

An Android TV or Google TV device, or an Android-based Fire TV device (see the compatibility note above).
Android 7 or newer, per the current release.
The ability to install apps from outside the Google Play Store / Amazon Appstore (sideloading) on that device.

Before you start

Sideloading works differently depending on your device type:

On Android TV / Google TV boxes and TVs, you'll typically need a file manager app capable of opening .apk files, or a computer with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) set up to install over the network or USB.
On Fire TV, Amazon's Downloader app (available in the Amazon Appstore) is the commonly used way to fetch and install an APK by URL, or ADB works here too.

Enable installing apps from unknown sources in your device's settings before you start, since neither the Play Store nor the Amazon Appstore distributes this app.

Installation

The project's own documentation keeps this deliberately general: download the current release and sideload it using whichever method fits your device. At a practical level, that means:

Open the official TizenTube Cobalt releases page and note the current release for your device.
On your TV or Fire TV device, install a file manager or Downloader-style app capable of fetching and opening an APK (if you don't already have one), and enable installing from unknown sources.
Retrieve the release file on the device — either by entering the release's direct link in an app like Downloader, or by transferring the file via ADB or a file manager.
Install it, following your device's normal prompt for installing an app from outside its app store.
Launch TizenTube Cobalt from your apps list.

The official docs don't spell out every device-specific step

The project's README describes installation at a general level ("sideload or install the app on your device, using a file manager, ADB, or platform-specific method") without a single canonical walkthrough for every device. If a step above doesn't match what you see, defer to the official repository and its release notes over this summary.

Updating

As with installation, the project's documentation doesn't describe an in-app auto-update mechanism as of this writing. Check the releases page periodically and reinstall the current release the same way you installed it the first time.

Uninstalling

Remove it the same way you'd remove any sideloaded app on your device — through your TV or Fire TV's normal app management settings (usually under Settings → Apps).

Troubleshooting

The app won't install Confirm your device is actually Android-based and running Android 7 or newer — this won't install on Samsung Tizen TVs or on newer VegaOS-based Fire TV devices, since neither runs the Android app format this uses. Also confirm installing from unknown sources is enabled for the app you're using to sideload.

Installed, but it won't open or crashes on launch Double-check you installed the release matching your device type, and that your Android version meets the current minimum. If a recent update introduced the issue, the project's GitHub Issues page is the place to check whether others are seeing the same thing.

Not sure if your Fire TV is compatible Compatibility depends on whether your specific Fire TV model still runs Android-based Fire OS or has moved to VegaOS — see the Fire TV guide for how to tell them apart.

Limitations

Not distributed through the Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore, so installation always means sideloading.
Official documentation doesn't provide a single detailed, device-by-device installation walkthrough — some setup steps are general knowledge about sideloading rather than project-specific instructions.
As an independent project, there's no guarantee of continued compatibility if Android TV, Google TV, or Fire TV platform requirements change.
Not compatible with newer, VegaOS-based Fire TV devices, or with Samsung Tizen TVs.

Alternatives

If you're on a Samsung Tizen TV rather than Android TV or Fire TV, TizenTube is the version built for that platform. SmartTube is a separate, unrelated project covering similar Android TV / Fire TV ground with a different interface and feature set — see SmartTube vs. TizenTube for a comparison of that side of things. For a no-setup option, the official YouTube app paired with YouTube Premium works the same way on every device.

Frequently asked questions

Is TizenTube Cobalt the same as TizenTube?

No — they're separate codebases from the same author. TizenTube is a standalone app for Samsung Tizen TVs (with an older TizenBrew-module release still available too); TizenTube Cobalt is a separate standalone app built on the Cobalt app container for Android TV, Google TV, and some Fire TV devices.

What Android version do I need?

The current release requires Android 7 or newer. An earlier release had raised this to Android 8, but Android 7 support was restored in a later update — check the project's release notes for the exact current requirement.

Does it work on my Fire TV Stick?

Only on Fire TV devices that still run Android-based Fire OS. Newer Fire TV Stick models running Amazon's VegaOS aren't compatible, since VegaOS doesn't run Android apps at all.

Is this an official Google TV or Amazon product?

No. It's an independent, open-source project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Google, Amazon, or YouTube.

Official source

For the most accurate and current information, check the project's own website, repository, or documentation.

Visit official source: TizenTube Cobalt on GitHub (github.com)