Add a family member through the Family Group settings

To add a family member to your YouTube TV account, go to your account settings and create or manage your Family Group. YouTube TV lets you add up to five other people to share your subscription, and each person gets their own profile with separate watch history, recommendations, and DVR recordings.

Start by opening YouTube TV on any device and selecting your profile icon in the top right corner. Choose Settings, then look for Family Group or Family sharing (the exact name depends on your device). If you haven't set up a Family Group yet, you'll see an option to create one. Select that option and follow the prompts to add the first family member's email address.

The person you're adding will receive an invitation email. They need to accept the invitation within a set time frame — usually a few days — to join your Family Group. Once they accept, they can sign into YouTube TV with their own Google account and will have full access to the subscription.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five other people to your YouTube TV account through Family Group settings, found in your profile menu under Settings.
  • Each family member gets their own profile with separate watch history, recommendations, and DVR recordings, so their viewing doesn't affect yours.
  • The person you invite must accept an email invitation to join the Family Group before they can watch.
  • Family members can watch on different devices at the same time, up to the number of simultaneous streams your plan allows.
  • You can remove a family member at any time by going back to Family Group settings and selecting the option to remove them.

What happens after someone accepts the invitation

Once a family member accepts your invitation, they can sign into YouTube TV using their own Google account on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or TV. They don't need to use your password or share your login information. Their profile will show up in the Family Group list, and they'll have the same access to all channels and features that you do.

Each person in the Family Group can create their own watch list, pause and resume shows independently, and set up their own DVR recordings. If two family members try to watch at the same time, YouTube TV will count that against your simultaneous stream limit. Most YouTube TV plans allow a certain number of streams at once — check your plan details to see how many people can watch together.

Managing family members and removing access

You can see all the people in your Family Group by going back to Settings and selecting Family Group. From there, you'll see each member's name and email address. If you need to remove someone, select their name and choose the remove option. They will lose access to YouTube TV when ready, though any DVR recordings they made will stay in the account until they expire.

If a family member moves out or no longer needs access, removing them is the fastest way to free up a slot so you can add someone else. You can add and remove people as many times as you need, though YouTube TV may have limits on how often you can change the Family Group in a short period.

Adding family members on different device types

The steps to add a family member are mostly the same across devices, but the exact menu locations can vary slightly. On a phone or tablet, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, and look for Family or Family Group. On a computer, use the same path through your profile menu. On a TV device like Chromecast or a smart TV app, you may need to use your remote to navigate to Settings, then find the Family Group option.

If you're having trouble finding the Family Group option on your device, try signing out and signing back in, or restart the app. Sometimes the menu takes a moment to load, especially on older devices or slower internet connections.

Troubleshooting common problems when adding family members

If someone doesn't receive the invitation email, ask them to check their spam or promotions folder — the email sometimes gets filtered. You can also resend the invitation from your Family Group settings if the first one doesn't arrive. Make sure you're using the correct email address for the person you're inviting, since the invitation goes to that specific account.

If a family member accepts the invitation but can't sign in, have them try signing out of YouTube TV completely, then signing back in with their own Google account. If they're still having trouble, they may need to update the YouTube TV app or clear the app's cache. On most phones and tablets, you can do this by going to Settings, finding the YouTube TV app, and selecting "Clear Cache" or "Clear Data."

If you see an error message saying you've reached the limit for family members, you're at the five-person cap. You'll need to remove someone before you can add another person.

Understanding simultaneous streams and your plan

YouTube TV plans come with a set number of simultaneous streams — the number of people who can watch at the same time. Most standard plans allow two or three streams at once, though this can vary depending on your specific plan and region. If more people try to watch than your plan allows, the oldest stream will stop, and the person watching will see a message asking them to try again later.

This limit applies to your entire Family Group, not to individual family members. So if your plan allows three simultaneous streams and three people are already watching, a fourth person won't be able to start watching until one of the others stops. You can check your plan details in Settings to see exactly how many simultaneous streams you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can family members watch YouTube TV on different devices at the same time?

Yes, as long as you don't exceed your plan's simultaneous stream limit. If your plan allows three streams at once, three family members can watch on three different devices simultaneously. Once that limit is reached, no one else can start watching until someone stops.

Do family members need their own Google account to join?

Yes, each family member must have their own Google account to accept the invitation and sign into YouTube TV. They can't share a login with you or another family member. If someone doesn't have a Google account, they can create one for free at google.com.

What happens to a family member's DVR recordings if I remove them?

Their DVR recordings stay in the account and remain available to all family members until they expire according to YouTube TV's retention policy. Removing someone doesn't delete their recordings, but they won't be able to manage or add new recordings once they're removed.

Can I add someone who doesn't live with me to my Family Group?

YouTube TV's terms of service state that Family Group members should be people in your household. YouTube TV may ask members to verify their location or may limit sharing across different locations, though enforcement varies. Check YouTube TV's current policies for details on how they define household members.

How long does it take for someone to get access after they accept the invitation?

Access is usually when ready once they accept the invitation. They should be able to sign in and start watching right away. If they can't see YouTube TV in their app or on their device, try having them sign out and sign back in.