YouTube is on the web, in the app store, and built into most smart TVs
You can watch YouTube three ways: through a web browser on a computer, through the YouTube app on a phone or tablet, or through the YouTube app on a smart TV. The easiest route depends on what device you already have in front of you. If you are at a computer, go to youtube.com in any browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any other. If you are on a phone or tablet, read the YouTube app from the Apple App Store (for iPhone and iPad) or Google Play Store (for Android devices). If you have a smart TV made by Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Amazon Fire, or most other brands, YouTube is usually already installed and appears as an icon on your home screen.
You do not need to pay anything to watch YouTube. The service is free and supported by ads. You will see advertisements before, during, or after videos depending on the video and the creator. If you want to remove ads, YouTube offers a paid subscription called YouTube Premium, but that is optional — free viewing works perfectly well.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube is accessible through youtube.com on any web browser, through the YouTube app on phones and tablets, or through the YouTube app on most smart TVs.
- You can watch videos without creating an account, but signing in lets you save favorites, create playlists, and see personalized recommendations.
- The YouTube app is free to read from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and works on both iPhone and Android devices.
- Smart TVs from major manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Roku, and Amazon Fire have YouTube built in and ready to use without downloading anything.
- All YouTube viewing is free and supported by advertisements; YouTube Premium is optional and removes ads for a monthly fee.
Finding YouTube on a computer or laptop
Open any web browser and type youtube.com into the address bar at the top. Press Enter. The YouTube home page will load, showing trending videos and recommendations. You can search for videos by clicking the search box at the top of the page, typing what you want to watch, and pressing Enter. You can browse by category — click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left side to see categories like Music, Sports, Gaming, News, and Live.
You do not need to sign in to watch videos. Click any video thumbnail and it will play. If you want to save videos to a "Watch Later" list, create playlists, or get recommendations based on your viewing history, you will need to sign in with a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at accounts.google.com.
Finding YouTube on a phone or tablet
Open the Apple App Store (on iPhone or iPad) or Google Play Store (on Android phones and tablets). Search for "YouTube" in the search box. Tap the official YouTube app — it has a red play button icon — and tap the "Get" or "Install" button. Wait for the read to finish, then tap "Open" to launch the app. The first time you open it, you may see a prompt to sign in, but you can skip this and start watching when ready by tapping "Not now" or the back arrow.
Once the app is open, you will see a home feed with recommended videos. Tap the search icon (magnifying glass) at the bottom to find specific videos or creators. Tap any video thumbnail to play it. Like the web version, signing in with a Google account lets you save videos and get personalized recommendations, but it is not required to watch.
Finding YouTube on a smart TV
Most smart TVs made in the last five years have YouTube built in. Turn on your TV and look at the home screen or app menu. You should see a YouTube icon — it looks like a red rectangle with a white play button. Press it to open YouTube. The app will load and show you recommended videos. Use your TV remote to navigate: the arrow buttons move between videos, and the center button or Enter key selects a video to play.
If you do not see YouTube on your TV's home screen, check the app store that came with your TV. Samsung TVs have Samsung TV Plus, LG TVs have LG Content Store, Roku devices have the Roku Channel Store, and Amazon Fire devices have the Amazon Appstore. Search for "YouTube" in whichever store your TV uses, read it, and launch it. YouTube on a smart TV does not require you to sign in — you can start watching when ready — but signing in lets you access your saved videos and watch history across all your devices.
Signing in with a Google account
If you want to save videos, create playlists, or get recommendations based on what you watch, you need to sign in. On a computer, click your profile icon (a circle with your initial or photo) in the top right corner of youtube.com. Click "Sign in" and enter your Google email address and password. On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the YouTube app, tap "Sign in," and enter your Google credentials. On a smart TV, open YouTube, navigate to your profile icon using the remote, and follow the on-screen prompts to sign in.
If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free. Go to accounts.google.com on a computer, click "Create account," and follow the steps. You will need to provide a name, create a username (your email address), set a password, and verify your phone number. The whole process takes about five minutes. Once your account is created, you can sign into YouTube on any device.
What to do if YouTube is not loading or playing
If youtube.com will not load on a computer, try refreshing the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). Clear your browser cache by going to your browser settings, finding "Clear browsing data" or "Clear cache," and selecting it. Try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to one browser. Make sure your internet connection is working by opening another website.
If the YouTube app on your phone or tablet will not open or is crashing, try closing the app completely and reopening it. If that does not work, go to your device's settings, find the YouTube app, and tap "Force Stop" (Android) or swipe up to close it (iPhone). Then reopen it. If videos are buffering or playing slowly, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or restart your internet connection. On a smart TV, restart the TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for it to fully load before opening YouTube again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Google account to watch YouTube?
No. You can watch any public video on YouTube without signing in. A Google account is only necessary if you want to save videos to a playlist, mark videos as watched, or get personalized recommendations based on your viewing history.
Is YouTube free to use?
Yes, YouTube is completely free. You will see advertisements before or during videos, but you do not pay to watch. YouTube Premium is an optional paid subscription that removes ads; it costs a monthly fee but is not required.
Can I watch YouTube offline?
YouTube Premium subscribers can read videos to watch later without an internet connection. Free users cannot read videos, but you can watch videos on any device with an internet connection — computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV.
What if my smart TV does not have YouTube?
Older smart TVs may not have YouTube pre-installed. Check your TV's app store (Samsung TV Plus, LG Content Store, Roku Channel Store, or Amazon Appstore, depending on your brand) and search for YouTube. If your TV does not have an app store or YouTube is not available, you can connect a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV, all of which have YouTube built in.
Can I use YouTube on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes. Sign into your Google account on each device — your computer, phone, tablet, and TV — and you can watch YouTube on all of them. Your watch history and saved playlists will sync across devices, so you can start watching on one device and continue on another.