Adding a new account to YouTube TV takes two minutes and requires only your Google account details

To add a new account to YouTube TV, sign in to your existing YouTube TV account on any device, go to Settings, select your profile picture, and choose "Add account". Enter the Google account email and password for the new user, then confirm. That person will have their own profile, recommendations, and watch history separate from yours, though all profiles share the same YouTube TV subscription.

The process works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices. You do not need a separate YouTube TV subscription for each account — one subscription covers up to six profiles on the same household network.

Key Takeaways

  • Each account added to YouTube TV gets its own profile, watch history, and recommendations, but all accounts share one subscription.
  • You can add up to six accounts total to a single YouTube TV subscription.
  • The person adding the account must already be signed into YouTube TV and have access to the Settings menu.
  • New accounts appear when ready and can start watching right away without waiting for confirmation.
  • YouTube TV requires all accounts to be on the same household network to share one subscription.

Step-by-step process on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and sign in with the account that already has the subscription. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Add account" from the menu. Enter the Google account email address for the new user and tap Next. Enter that account's password and tap Next again. YouTube TV will confirm the account has been added.

The new account holder can now open YouTube TV on their own device, sign in with their Google account, and start watching when ready. They will see their own recommendations and can create their own watch list.

Step-by-step process on a computer

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in with the account that has the subscription. Click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Add account" from the dropdown menu. Enter the Google account email for the new user and click Next. Enter that account's password and click Next. The account will be added to your subscription.

The new account can sign in to YouTube TV on any computer, phone, or TV device using their own Google credentials. They do not need to repeat the setup process on each device — signing in once is enough.

Adding an account on a TV device

On a smart TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or Fire TV, open the YouTube TV app and sign in with the account that has the subscription. Navigate to Settings using your remote. Select your profile picture or account name. Choose "Add account". Use the on-screen keyboard to enter the new user's Google email address, then their password. The account will be added and ready to use.

TV devices may take a few seconds longer to process the new account than phones or computers do. If the account does not appear when ready, close the app completely and reopen it.

What happens when you add an account

The new account gets its own profile within the same YouTube TV subscription. This means separate watch history, separate recommendations, separate DVR recordings (if you set up recording preferences for that profile), and separate search history. Family members will not see each other's viewing activity unless they share a profile intentionally.

All accounts on the subscription must be on the same household network. YouTube TV checks this periodically to prevent account sharing outside the home. If someone tries to sign in from a different location, YouTube TV may ask them to verify they are part of the same household.

Maximum number of accounts and profiles

You can add up to six accounts total to one YouTube TV subscription. This includes the original account that set up the subscription. If you need more than six profiles, you will need a second YouTube TV subscription.

Each of the six accounts can be used on multiple devices at the same time. For example, one person can watch on their phone while another watches on the TV, and a third watches on a tablet — all at the same time, all with the same subscription.

Removing or managing accounts

To remove an account from your YouTube TV subscription, sign in with the account that set up the subscription, go to Settings, select the account you want to remove, and choose "Remove account". That person will no longer be able to watch YouTube TV on any device unless they have their own separate subscription.

You can also manage which accounts can use YouTube TV by going to Settings and selecting "Manage accounts". From there you can see all six profiles and remove any that are no longer needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate Google account for each YouTube TV profile?

Yes. Each person who watches YouTube TV needs their own Google account to sign in. You cannot add the same Google account twice to the same subscription. If someone does not have a Google account, they can create one for free at accounts.google.com.

Can I add an account if I am not the person who set up the subscription?

No. Only the account that originally set up the YouTube TV subscription can add new accounts. If you are not the account holder, ask the person who set it up to add you through Settings.

What if the new account is not showing up after I add it?

Close the YouTube TV app completely and reopen it. If the account still does not appear, sign out and sign back in. On TV devices, restart the app or restart the device itself. If the problem continues, check that the Google account email and password were entered correctly.

Can people outside my household use my YouTube TV subscription if I add their account?

YouTube TV requires all accounts on the same subscription to be on the same household network. If someone tries to sign in from a different location, YouTube TV will ask them to verify they live in the same household. Repeated sign-ins from outside the home may result in that account being removed.

Will adding an account change the main subscription or billing?

No. Adding accounts does not change your subscription plan or monthly cost. You pay the same amount regardless of whether you have one account or six accounts on the subscription. Billing is tied to the account that set up the subscription, not to individual profiles.