The simplest ways to get YouTube on your screen

You can watch YouTube on your TV through a smart TV app, a streaming device plugged into any TV, or by casting from your phone or computer. The method that works best depends on what equipment you already own and how often you plan to watch.

If your TV was made in the last five years, it almost certainly has YouTube built in. If it's older or doesn't have the app, a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast costs between $25 and $100 and turns any TV into a YouTube screen. You can also plug a laptop directly into your TV with an HDMI cable, or use your phone to send video wirelessly to a compatible device.

Key Takeaways

  • Most smart TVs made after 2018 have YouTube built in as a pre-installed app that you can open from your TV remote.
  • Streaming devices like Roku, Fire Stick, and Chromecast add YouTube to older TVs and cost $25 to $100 one time.
  • Casting from your phone or computer sends YouTube wirelessly to your TV if you have a compatible streaming device or smart TV.
  • An HDMI cable directly connecting your laptop to your TV works with any TV model and requires no subscription or extra equipment.

Using the YouTube app on a smart TV

If your TV is a Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Vizio, or Hisense made after 2018, YouTube is already installed. Press the Home or Menu button on your remote, look for YouTube in the app menu, and select it. The first time you open it, you may be asked to sign in with your Google account—use the remote to enter your email and password, or scan a QR code with your phone to sign in faster.

If you can't find YouTube in your app menu, go to your TV's app store (called the Play Store on Android TVs, the App Store on LG WebOS, or Samsung TV Plus on Samsung sets) and search for YouTube. read it, then open it and sign in. This is free and takes a few minutes.

Once you're signed in, your subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations will appear just as they do on your phone or computer. You can search using your remote's voice button or by typing with the remote's arrow keys.

Adding YouTube to an older TV with a streaming device

A streaming device is a small box or stick that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and connects to your Wi-Fi. The most common options are Google Chromecast with Google TV ($30), Amazon Fire TV Stick ($40), Roku Streaming Stick ($50), and Apple TV ($100 and up). All of them have YouTube built in.

Plug the device into an HDMI port on the back or side of your TV, plug in its power cable, and turn on your TV. Select the HDMI input where you plugged it in using your TV remote. Follow the on-screen setup steps to connect to your Wi-Fi and sign in with your Google account (for Chromecast and Roku) or your Amazon or Apple account (for Fire TV and Apple TV). Once setup is done, you'll see YouTube in the home menu.

The device itself is a one-time purchase with no monthly fee. You'll need a working Wi-Fi network, but you don't need a YouTube TV subscription—the regular YouTube app is free.

Casting YouTube from your phone or computer

Casting sends video from your phone or computer to your TV wirelessly. It works with any streaming device (Chromecast, Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV) or any smart TV made in the last five years. On your phone, open the YouTube app, tap the Cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your TV from the list, and the video will play on your screen. Your phone becomes a remote—you can pause, rewind, or change videos without interrupting playback.

On a computer, open YouTube in Chrome, click the Cast icon in the top right corner, select your TV, and the video will appear on your screen. You can keep using your computer for other things while YouTube plays on the TV.

Casting works over Wi-Fi only, so both your phone or computer and your TV must be on the same network. If you're having trouble finding your TV in the Cast list, restart your router and try again.

Connecting a laptop directly with an HDMI cable

An HDMI cable plugged directly into your TV and your laptop is the most reliable method and works with any TV, even very old ones. Buy a standard HDMI cable (under $10 at any electronics store), plug one end into your laptop and the other into an HDMI port on your TV, then switch your TV to that HDMI input using your remote.

Open YouTube in your web browser on your laptop. Your TV will show exactly what's on your laptop screen. You can use your laptop trackpad or keyboard to control playback, or buy a wireless keyboard and mouse to sit on your couch. The video quality depends on your laptop's graphics card and the cable quality, but most setups produce clear, sharp video.

The downside is that your laptop stays connected by cable, so you can't move it around the room. It's best for watching from a couch near where your laptop can sit.

Troubleshooting common problems

If YouTube won't load on your smart TV or streaming device, restart both your TV and your router by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in. If that doesn't work, go to your TV's network settings and make sure it's connected to Wi-Fi. If the connection shows as connected but YouTube still won't load, try "forgetting" the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting by entering your password again.

If casting from your phone isn't working, make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart the YouTube app on your phone by closing it completely and opening it again. If your TV doesn't appear in the Cast list, restart your router.

If your smart TV is very old and YouTube won't install from the app store, the TV's processor may be too outdated to run the current version. In this case, a streaming device is your best option.

Choosing the right method for your setup

If you have a smart TV made after 2018, use the built-in YouTube app—it's the simplest option and requires no extra equipment. If your TV is older or doesn't have YouTube, a streaming device is the next best choice because it's a one-time purchase with no monthly cost and works reliably. Casting is convenient when you want to send video from your phone without holding the remote, but it depends on a stable Wi-Fi connection. An HDMI cable is the most reliable backup if nothing else works, but it ties your laptop to your TV.

All of these methods are free to use once you have the hardware. YouTube itself is free, and you don't need a YouTube TV subscription to watch regular YouTube on your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need YouTube TV to watch YouTube on my TV?

No. YouTube TV is a paid cable replacement service. Regular YouTube is free and works on all these methods. You can watch YouTube on your TV without paying anything.

Can I watch YouTube on my TV without Wi-Fi?

Only if you use an HDMI cable to connect a laptop directly to your TV. All wireless methods—smart TV apps, streaming devices, and casting—require Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi is unreliable, an HDMI cable is your most stable option.

What if my TV doesn't have HDMI ports?

Very old TVs use composite cables (red, yellow, and white plugs) instead of HDMI. You can buy an HDMI-to-composite converter for $15 to $30, but the picture quality will be lower. A streaming device with an HDMI cable is usually a better choice if your TV is that old.

Can I use YouTube on my TV without signing in?

You can browse and watch public videos without signing in, but you won't see your subscriptions, watch history, or recommendations. Signing in is free and takes a few minutes the first time.

Which streaming device is best for YouTube?

All major streaming devices run YouTube equally well. Google Chromecast is the cheapest at $30. Roku and Fire Stick offer more channels and apps if you watch other services. Apple TV is the most expensive but integrates with other Apple devices. Pick based on what other services you use and your budget.