Adding an account takes two minutes and requires only your Google login

To add a new account to YouTube TV, you sign in with a different Google account on the same device or a new device, then YouTube TV recognizes it as a household member. You do not need a separate YouTube TV subscription—one subscription covers up to six accounts per household. The person who pays for YouTube TV (the primary account holder) can add accounts through the YouTube TV app or website, and household members can also add themselves if they have access to a device already signed into YouTube TV.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you are adding an account on the same device where YouTube TV is already set up, or on a brand-new device. Both paths take just a few minutes and do not require any payment or additional setup beyond signing in with a Google account.

Key Takeaways

  • One YouTube TV subscription covers up to six household accounts, so you do not pay extra to add family members.
  • To add an account, sign in with a different Google account on any device where YouTube TV is installed.
  • The primary account holder can manage all household accounts and remove members from the YouTube TV settings page.
  • YouTube TV uses your home network to confirm that accounts belong to the same household; traveling outside your home network for more than two weeks may trigger a prompt to re-confirm your home.

Adding an account on a device that already has YouTube TV

If YouTube TV is already installed and signed in on a phone, tablet, or streaming device, a household member can add their own account without touching the primary account's settings. On most devices, open the YouTube TV app, look for a profile icon or menu button (usually in the top right corner), and select "Add account" or "Sign in with a different account." You will be asked to enter a Google email address and password.

On a smart TV or streaming device like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, the process is the same: open YouTube TV, find the account menu, and choose to add a new account. Enter the Google credentials when prompted. Once you sign in, that account is when ready added to the household and can start watching right away. YouTube TV will remember this account on that device, so the next time the app opens, you can switch between accounts by tapping the profile icon.

Adding an account on a new device

To add YouTube TV to a brand-new phone, tablet, or streaming device, read the YouTube TV app from your device's app store (Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iPhone, or the app store for your streaming device). Open the app and sign in with the Google account you want to use. YouTube TV will recognize that this account is part of your household and will give you full access to the subscription.

The first time you sign in on a new device, YouTube TV may ask you to confirm your home location. This is a security check to make sure all accounts are in the same household. You can confirm by selecting "Yes, this is my home" when prompted. If you are traveling or outside your usual home network, you may see a message asking you to re-confirm your home address; this is normal and does not affect your ability to watch.

Managing household accounts and removing members

The primary account holder (the person who pays for YouTube TV) can see all household accounts and remove members if needed. To manage accounts, go to youtube.tv on a computer, sign in with the primary account, and click your profile icon in the top right. Select "Settings," then "Manage accounts." You will see a list of all accounts in your household. Next to each account, you can click the three-dot menu to remove that person from the household.

When you remove an account, that person loses access to YouTube TV on all devices. They can still sign in with their Google account, but they will see a message that they are not part of an active household. If you want to add them back later, you can follow the same steps to re-add their account. There is no limit to how many times you can add or remove accounts, as long as you stay within the six-account household limit.

What happens when you exceed six accounts

YouTube TV allows up to six accounts per household subscription. If you try to add a seventh account, YouTube TV will not let you proceed until you remove one of the existing accounts. You will see a message saying you have reached the account limit and will need to remove someone before adding a new person.

If you have a large family or group and need more than six accounts, you would need a second YouTube TV subscription. Each subscription is separate and covers its own set of up to six accounts. The two subscriptions would be billed independently, and accounts from one subscription cannot share content or settings with the other.

Traveling outside your home network

YouTube TV uses your home network to confirm that accounts belong to the same household. When you travel and use YouTube TV on a different network (like a hotel or friend's house), the app still works, but YouTube TV keeps track of how long you have been away. If you are outside your home network for more than two weeks, you will see a prompt asking you to re-confirm your home location.

To re-confirm, sign in on a device that is connected to your home network and select "Yes, this is my home" when prompted. You do not need to do anything else. Once you re-confirm, your account can travel again for another two weeks before needing to confirm again. This system prevents account sharing outside of a household, but it does not prevent you from watching while on vacation or at work.

Switching between accounts on the same device

Once multiple accounts are added to a device, switching between them is quick. Open the YouTube TV app and tap the profile icon (usually a circle with your initial or photo in the top right corner). You will see a list of all accounts on that device. Tap the account you want to use, and YouTube TV will switch to that account's library, watch history, and settings. The switch happens when ready, and you can go back and forth between accounts as many times as you want.

On a smart TV or streaming device, the process is the same: tap the profile icon and select a different account from the list. Some devices may ask you to enter a PIN or password when switching accounts as a security measure, depending on your device settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay extra to add more accounts?

No. One YouTube TV subscription covers up to six household accounts at no additional cost. Each person gets their own watch history, recommendations, and saved shows, but you all share the same subscription and billing.

Can someone outside my household use my YouTube TV account?

YouTube TV is designed for household members only. If someone outside your home tries to use the service, they will eventually be asked to re-confirm your home location, and if they cannot do so, they will lose access. Sharing your account with people who do not live with you violates YouTube TV's terms of service.

What if I forget which Google account I used to set up YouTube TV?

Go to youtube.tv and try signing in with the email address you think you used. If that does not work, try other email addresses you own. Once you sign in with the correct account, you will have access to your household subscription. If you still cannot remember, you can contact YouTube TV support through the app or website for help.

Can I add an account if I am not the primary account holder?

Yes. Any household member can add themselves to YouTube TV on a device where the app is already installed. Just open the app, find the account menu, and sign in with your Google account. You do not need permission from the primary account holder to add yourself, as long as the household has not reached the six-account limit.

What happens to a removed account's watch history and saved shows?

When you remove an account from the household, that account loses access to YouTube TV when ready. The watch history and saved shows are tied to that Google account, so if the account is added back to the household later, those items will still be there. However, while the account is removed, that person cannot watch anything on YouTube TV.