YouTube comes built into most Roku TVs, or you can add it from the Roku Channel Store in under five minutes
If your Roku TV is a recent model, YouTube is already installed and ready to use — you'll find it on your home screen. If it's not there, or if you have an older Roku TV, you can read the YouTube app directly from the Roku Channel Store at no cost. The process takes just a few clicks on your remote, and you don't need a separate subscription beyond your existing YouTube account.
Once YouTube is on your TV, you sign in with your Google account (the same one you use on your phone or computer) and start watching when ready. Your watch history, subscriptions, and recommendations sync across all your devices, so your Roku TV picks up where you left off on your phone.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube is pre-installed on most Roku TVs made in the last few years, but older models require a free read from the Roku Channel Store.
- You sign in using your Google account, and your subscriptions and watch history appear automatically on your TV.
- The YouTube app works on all Roku TV models, including budget-friendly ones, and requires no monthly fee beyond what you already pay for internet.
- If YouTube won't load or keeps crashing, restarting your Roku TV or reinstalling the app usually fixes the problem.
Check if YouTube is already on your Roku TV
Look at your Roku home screen — the main menu you see when you turn on the TV. Scroll left and right through the apps listed there. YouTube usually appears as a red play-button icon. If you see it, select it and you're ready to sign in.
If YouTube isn't visible on your home screen, it may still be installed but hidden. Press the Home button on your remote, then scroll down to "My Apps" or "Apps" (the exact name depends on your Roku model). Look for YouTube in that list. If it's there, select it and press the Options button on your remote, then choose "Add to Home" to move it back to your main screen.
read YouTube from the Roku Channel Store
If YouTube isn't installed at all, you'll need to add it. Press the Home button on your remote, then scroll to "Roku Channel Store" or "Channel Store" (again, the exact wording varies by model). Select it and you'll see a search box at the top of the screen.
Type "YouTube" using your remote's keyboard. The official YouTube app will appear — it's the one with the red play-button icon and published by Google LLC. Select it, then press the button that says "Add Channel" or "Install." The app downloads in the background and appears on your home screen within a minute or two. You don't need to enter a credit card or payment information.
Sign in with your Google account
Open the YouTube app on your Roku TV. You'll see a sign-in screen with a code displayed on your TV — usually a four-letter or four-number code. Write this code down or remember it.
On your phone or computer, go to youtube.com/set up and enter the code. Sign in with the Google account you want to use (the same one you use on YouTube on your phone). Your Roku TV will recognize the sign-in automatically, and you'll be logged in within a few seconds. If you don't have a Google account, you can create one for free at google.com.
What to do if YouTube won't load or keeps crashing
If the app opens but videos won't play, or if it closes unexpectedly, the first step is to restart your Roku TV. Unplug it from the wall for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the TV's memory and often fixes temporary glitches.
If restarting doesn't work, uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app. Go to your home screen, highlight the YouTube app, press the Options button on your remote, and select "Remove Channel." Then go back to the Roku Channel Store, search for YouTube again, and select "Add Channel." This gives you a fresh copy of the app and usually solves crashes or freezing.
If YouTube still won't work after reinstalling, check that your internet connection is stable. Go to Settings > Network on your Roku TV and select your Wi-Fi network to see the signal strength. If the signal is weak, move your router closer to the TV or restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
Use YouTube on your Roku TV like you would on your phone
Once you're signed in, your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history appear automatically. Use your remote to navigate: the arrow buttons move up and down through videos, the OK button selects a video, and the back button returns to the previous screen. You can search for videos by pressing the search button (usually a magnifying glass icon) on your remote and typing with the on-screen keyboard.
YouTube on Roku TV supports most of the same features as the YouTube app on your phone — you can like videos, add them to playlists, and watch your subscriptions. If you have a YouTube Premium subscription on your Google account, ad-free playback and offline downloads work on your Roku TV too. If you don't have Premium, you'll see ads before and sometimes during videos, just like on the phone version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need YouTube Premium to watch YouTube on my Roku TV?
No. The free version of YouTube works on Roku TV exactly as it does on your phone — you can watch unlimited videos and access all your subscriptions at no cost. You'll see ads before and during some videos. If you pay for YouTube Premium on your Google account, that subscription works on your Roku TV too, and you'll see no ads.
Can I use the YouTube app if I don't have a Google account?
You need a Google account to sign in and use YouTube on your Roku TV. Creating one is free and takes about five minutes at google.com. You'll need an email address (you can create a new Gmail address as part of the process) and a password.
Why does YouTube keep signing me out on my Roku TV?
This usually happens if your Roku TV loses internet connection or if the app hasn't been updated in a while. Check that your Wi-Fi is stable by going to Settings > Network. If the connection is fine, go to the Roku Channel Store, find YouTube, and select "Check for Updates." If an update is available, install it and sign in again.
Can I cast YouTube from my phone to my Roku TV?
Yes. Open YouTube on your phone, select a video, tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol), and select your Roku TV from the list. The video will play on your TV while you control it from your phone. Your phone and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
What if my Roku TV model is very old — will YouTube still work?
YouTube works on most Roku TV models from 2014 onward. If your TV is older than that, the Roku Channel Store may not have YouTube available. Check the Channel Store to see if it's listed. If it's not, your TV's hardware is too old to support the current version of YouTube, and you would need an external streaming device like a Roku streaming stick or box to watch YouTube.