Yes, Roku TV has YouTube built in or available as a free channel
Most Roku TV models come with the YouTube app already installed on the home screen. If your TV is a newer model made in the last five years, you can open YouTube directly without downloading anything. Older Roku TVs may require you to add YouTube from the Roku Channel Store, which takes less than a minute.
YouTube on Roku TV works the same way as on other devices — you sign in with your Google account, search for videos, and watch full-screen. The remote control lets you pause, rewind, and adjust volume. If you have a YouTube Premium subscription, those features carry over to your Roku TV as well.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube is free to read and use on Roku TV, and most newer models have it pre-installed on the home screen.
- You sign in using your Google account, the same one you use on your phone or computer.
- YouTube Premium subscriptions work on Roku TV and remove ads from videos you watch.
- If YouTube is not on your home screen, you can add it from the Roku Channel Store in under a minute.
How to open YouTube if it is already on your Roku TV
Look at your Roku TV home screen. YouTube usually appears as a red play-button icon in the top row or second row of apps. Press the icon with your remote, and the app opens in about five seconds.
The first time you open YouTube, you will see a sign-in screen. Use your Google account email and password — this is the same account you use for Gmail or Google Drive. Once you sign in, YouTube remembers you, and you will not have to enter your password again unless you sign out.
How to add YouTube if it is not on your home screen
Press the Home button on your Roku remote to go to the home screen. Look for a button or option that says "Add Channel" or shows a plus sign. Select it, then search for "YouTube" in the search box.
When YouTube appears in the results, select it and choose "Add Channel." The app downloads and installs in about 30 seconds. Once it finishes, YouTube will appear on your home screen, and you can open it the same way as any other app.
What to do if YouTube will not open or keeps crashing
First, restart your Roku TV. Press the Home button, go to Settings, select System, and choose Power. Pick "Restart" and wait about 30 seconds for the TV to turn back on. This fixes most temporary problems.
If YouTube still will not open, check that your internet connection is working. Go to Settings, select Network, and look for your Wi-Fi network name. If it shows "Connected," your internet is fine. If it shows a warning, reconnect to your Wi-Fi and try YouTube again.
If the app keeps crashing after you open it, remove and reinstall YouTube. Press Home, go to Settings, select Apps, find YouTube, and choose "Remove Channel." Then add it back using the steps in the section above. This clears out any corrupted files that might be causing the problem.
YouTube Premium on Roku TV
If you pay for YouTube Premium, your subscription works on your Roku TV. Sign in with the same Google account you use on your phone or computer, and ads will not appear before or during videos. You can also read videos to watch later, though downloads only work on phones and tablets, not on the TV itself.
YouTube Premium costs about $14 per month for a standard subscription, though the price varies by country. A family plan that covers up to six people costs more but lets each person use their own account. You can start a free trial from YouTube's website to test it before you pay.
Differences between YouTube and YouTube TV
YouTube (the free video app) and YouTube TV (a paid live TV service) are two separate things. YouTube lets you watch individual videos uploaded by creators — music, tutorials, news clips, and so on. YouTube TV is a subscription service that gives you live channels like ESPN, CNN, and local news, similar to cable TV.
Both apps are available on Roku TV, but they are different services. YouTube is free with ads, or ad-free with a Premium subscription. YouTube TV costs about $73 per month and requires a separate subscription. You can have both apps on your Roku TV at the same time.
Using the Roku remote to control YouTube
The Roku remote has buttons that work with YouTube. The arrow buttons move up, down, left, and right through menus and search results. The OK button in the center selects what you are pointing at. The back arrow takes you to the previous screen.
When a video is playing, the play and pause button toggles between playing and pausing. The rewind and fast-forward buttons skip backward or forward by about 10 seconds each time you press them. The volume buttons on the side of the remote control the TV volume, not the video volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay for YouTube on Roku TV?
No. YouTube is free to read and use. You watch videos with ads unless you pay for YouTube Premium, which removes ads. YouTube Premium is optional and costs extra.
Can I use the same YouTube account on my Roku TV and my phone?
Yes. Sign in with the same Google account on both devices. Your watch history, subscriptions, and playlists sync across all your devices, so you can start watching a video on your phone and finish it on your TV.
What if my Roku TV model is very old?
Very old Roku TV models (before 2015) may not support YouTube anymore because Google stopped updating the app for them. Check the Roku Channel Store to see if YouTube is available for your model. If not, you can use a streaming device like a Roku Stick or Fire Stick plugged into your TV's HDMI port instead.
Can I cast YouTube from my phone to my Roku TV?
Yes. Open YouTube on your phone, tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol), and select your Roku TV from the list. The video plays on your TV while you control it from your phone. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
Why is YouTube asking me to sign in every time I open it?
This usually happens if you chose "Sign out" instead of just closing the app. Open YouTube, go to Settings (the gear icon), scroll down to "Sign out," and make sure you did not select it. If you did, sign back in and do not select sign out again.