YouTube TV lets you add up to five other people to your account, and each person gets their own login and personalized recommendations
When you set up a family group on YouTube TV, each member signs in with their own Google account and gets a separate profile. This means everyone sees different watch history, recommendations, and saved shows. You can add family members directly through the YouTube TV app or website, and the process takes just a few minutes.
The person who pays for the YouTube TV subscription is the account manager and can add or remove family members at any time. Family members don't need to pay anything — they just need their own Google account and access to the same home network when you first add them.
Key Takeaways
- You can add up to five other people to your YouTube TV account for a total of six household members.
- Each family member needs their own Google account to sign in and use YouTube TV.
- The account manager (the person who pays) controls who is in the family group and can remove members anytime.
- New family members must be on your home network the first time they sign in, but can watch from anywhere after that.
- YouTube TV limits simultaneous streams to three at once, even with multiple family members.
How to add a family member through the YouTube TV app
Open the YouTube TV app on your phone, tablet, or streaming device and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then tap Family. You'll see a list of current family members and a button to add a new one.
Tap Add family member and enter the email address of the Google account the person uses. YouTube TV will send them an invitation. The new member must accept the invitation within 30 days, and they need to be connected to your home network when they first sign in. After that first sign-in, they can watch from anywhere.
If the person doesn't have a Google account yet, they can create one for free at google.com before you send the invitation. They'll need access to the email address they use to create it, since that's how they'll sign in to YouTube TV.
Adding a family member through the YouTube TV website
Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in with the account that pays for YouTube TV. Click your profile icon in the top right and select Settings. On the left side, click Family.
Click Add family member and type in the email address of their Google account. They'll receive an email invitation and have 30 days to accept it. Just like with the app, they must be on your home network the first time they sign in.
What happens when a family member accepts the invitation
When someone accepts your family invitation, they'll be asked to sign in with their Google account. If they're on your home network, the sign-in will go through right away. If they're not on your home network yet, they'll see a message asking them to connect to it before they can finish setting up.
Once they've signed in on your home network, they can when ready start watching YouTube TV from any device or location. Their profile will show up in your family group, and they'll have their own watch history and recommendations separate from everyone else's.
Managing your family group and removing members
Only the account manager (the person who pays for YouTube TV) can add or remove family members. To remove someone, go to Settings > Family in the YouTube TV app or website, find their name in the list, and tap or click the three-dot menu next to it. Select Remove from family.
When you remove someone, they lose access to YouTube TV when ready. They won't be able to sign in or watch anything, even if they were in the middle of watching a show. If you want to add them back later, you can send them a new invitation.
You can also see who is currently watching YouTube TV by going to Settings > Family and looking at the "Active devices" section. This shows you which family members are signed in and what they're watching right now.
Home network requirements and how they work
YouTube TV uses your home network to verify that family members actually live with you. The first time a new family member signs in, they must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the account manager's device. This is a one-time requirement — after that first sign-in, they can watch from anywhere.
If someone moves away or you want to add a family member who doesn't live with you, you'll need to have them sign in on your home network at least once. You can do this by having them visit, or by temporarily giving them access to your Wi-Fi password. Once they've signed in at home, they can use YouTube TV from their own location.
YouTube TV also limits how many people can watch at the same time. Even with six family members on your account, only three can stream simultaneously. If a fourth person tries to start watching, they'll see a message saying the limit has been reached and will need to wait for someone else to stop watching.
Troubleshooting common problems when adding family members
If someone doesn't receive the invitation email, check that you entered their email address correctly. Ask them to check their spam or promotions folder, since invitations sometimes end up there. You can also resend the invitation by going back to Settings > Family and clicking the option to resend.
If a family member can't sign in because they're not on your home network, make sure they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network you use. They should see a prompt asking them to connect to your home network — if they don't, try signing out and signing back in. If the problem continues, restart the YouTube TV app or device and try again.
If you see an error message saying "This account is already part of a family group," the person's Google account is already linked to a different YouTube TV subscription. They'll need to be removed from that family group first before they can join yours. Only the manager of that other account can remove them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add someone who doesn't live with me to my YouTube TV family group?
YouTube TV's family feature is designed for people who live in the same household. However, you can add someone who doesn't live with you if they visit your home at least once to sign in on your home network. After that first sign-in, they can watch from anywhere. YouTube TV may ask for additional verification if it detects unusual activity.
What's the difference between a family member and a sub-account?
Family members use their own Google account and have complete control over their profile, watch history, and recommendations. Sub-accounts (for children under 13) are managed by a parent and have restricted access. If you're adding adults, use the family member option. For children, YouTube TV offers parental controls through family accounts.
Can a family member use YouTube TV on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes, one family member can sign in on multiple devices. However, they can only stream on one device at a time. If they try to watch on a second device while already watching on another, the first stream will stop. The household limit of three simultaneous streams applies across all family members combined.
What happens if I remove someone from the family group?
They lose access to YouTube TV when ready and can't sign in anymore. Their watch history and saved shows are deleted. If you add them back later, they'll start with a blank profile. You can remove and re-add family members as many times as you want.
Do family members need their own YouTube TV subscription?
No. Family members watch under your single YouTube TV subscription at no extra cost. Only the account manager pays the monthly fee. Each family member just needs their own Google account to sign in and create their profile.