Adding a user takes two minutes and requires only their email address

YouTube TV lets you add up to five additional users to your account, each with their own login and watch history. To add someone, you go to your account settings, select the option to manage users, enter their email address, and send an invitation. They receive an email, click the link, and can start watching when ready on any device where YouTube TV works.

The person you add does not need their own YouTube TV subscription — they use the one you are paying for. They will have a separate profile so their recommendations and recordings stay separate from yours, but you all share the same monthly cost.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five users to one YouTube TV account, and each person gets their own login and watch history.
  • The person you add needs only an email address; they do not need to create a YouTube TV account or pay separately.
  • You manage all users from the account settings menu under "Users and family," where you can also remove someone at any time.
  • Each user can watch on different devices at the same time, up to the number of simultaneous streams your plan allows.

Step-by-step: adding a user on a computer or phone

Start by signing into YouTube TV on a web browser or the mobile app with the account that pays for the subscription. Go to your account settings — on a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Settings." On a phone or tablet, tap the profile icon at the bottom right, then tap "Settings."

Look for the section called "Users and family" or "Manage users" (the exact name varies slightly by device). Click or tap it, then select "Add a user" or the plus icon. Enter the email address of the person you want to add. YouTube TV will send them an invitation email.

The person you invited will receive an email from YouTube TV with a link. They click that link, sign in with their Google account (or create one if they do not have one), and they are added to your account. They can then open YouTube TV and start watching using their own login.

What happens when someone accepts an invitation

Once a user accepts your invitation, they appear in your "Users and family" list with their name or email address. They can sign into YouTube TV on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or TV — using their own Google account credentials. Their watch history, saved shows, and recommendations are completely separate from yours.

If your YouTube TV plan allows multiple simultaneous streams (most plans allow at least two), different users can watch different channels or shows at the same time. If someone tries to watch while the stream limit is already reached, YouTube TV will ask them to wait or will stop playback on another device.

Removing a user or changing permissions

To remove someone from your account, go back to "Users and family" in settings, find their name, and select "Remove" or the trash icon. They lose access when ready and can no longer watch YouTube TV on any device. Their watch history and saved shows are deleted.

YouTube TV does not offer different permission levels — all users have the same access to all channels and features. If you want to restrict what someone can watch, you would need to use parental controls through your device or router instead, which is outside YouTube TV's settings.

Adding a user on a smart TV or streaming device

The process is slightly different on a TV or streaming device like Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire Stick. Open the YouTube TV app, go to your profile, and select "Settings." Look for "Users and family" or "Manage users." Select "Add a user," and YouTube TV will show you a code on your screen.

Give that code to the person you want to add. They go to youtube.com/tv/code on any web browser, enter the code, and sign in with their Google account. Once they do, they are added to your account and can start watching on that TV or device right away.

Troubleshooting: invitation not received or user cannot sign in

If someone does not receive an invitation email, check their spam or junk folder — sometimes email systems filter YouTube TV messages by mistake. You can also try adding them again with a different email address if they have multiple accounts. Wait a few minutes before trying again, as the email can take a moment to arrive.

If a user can sign into their Google account but cannot access YouTube TV, make sure they are using the same email address you invited. If they created a new Google account after you sent the invitation, they may need to use that new account's email. You can remove them and add them again with the correct email address.

If the YouTube TV app itself is not working, try signing out completely, closing the app, and signing back in. On a TV or streaming device, restart the device or reinstall the YouTube TV app. Make sure your internet connection is stable — a weak connection can prevent the app from loading properly.

How many users can you add and what are the limits

YouTube TV allows up to six total profiles on one account: the main account holder plus five additional users. If you need more than six people to watch, you would need a second YouTube TV subscription under a different email address.

The number of people who can watch at the same time depends on your plan. Most YouTube TV plans allow two simultaneous streams, though some higher-tier plans may allow more. If you reach that limit, YouTube TV will pause playback on one device to let another user start watching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay extra to add users to my YouTube TV account?

No. All users share the same subscription and monthly cost. Adding users does not increase your bill. Each person just needs their own Google account to sign in.

Can a user I added watch YouTube TV on their own device?

Yes. Once they accept your invitation, they can sign into YouTube TV on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or TV — using their own Google account. They do not have to watch on the same device you use.

What happens to a user's watch history if I remove them?

Their watch history, saved shows, and recommendations are deleted when you remove them from the account. If you add them back later, they start with a blank profile.

Can I change what a user is allowed to watch?

YouTube TV does not have built-in permission levels or parental controls within the app itself. All users have access to all channels. To restrict content, you would need to use parental controls on the device itself or through your internet router.

What if someone I added is using YouTube TV outside the United States?

YouTube TV is only available in the United States. If a user tries to watch from outside the country, they will see an error message and cannot stream. They can watch again once they return to the United States.