Adding a user to YouTube TV takes three steps: open account settings, select the option to add a member, and send them an invite link

YouTube TV lets you add up to five other people to your account, each with their own login and watchlist. When you add someone, they get their own profile on your subscription — they can pause and resume shows independently, keep separate watch histories, and set their own parental controls. The person you add does not need their own YouTube TV subscription; they use the one you are paying for.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you are using a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. All routes start in the same place: your account settings on YouTube TV itself.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to five members to one YouTube TV account, and each person gets their own profile and watch history.
  • The person you add needs a Google account to accept the invite, but they do not need to pay for YouTube TV themselves.
  • On a phone or computer, go to Settings, then Members and Family, then Add Member to send an invite link.
  • Members can be removed at any time from the same Members and Family menu, and removing someone does not affect your subscription.
  • If someone does not accept the invite within 30 days, you can send it again or delete the pending invite and start over.

How to add a member on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app on your phone or tablet. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Members and Family. You will see a list of anyone already on your account; below that, tap Add Member.

YouTube TV will ask you to enter the email address of the person you want to add. Type their email address — this must be the email linked to their Google account. Tap Send Invite. The person will receive an email with a link to accept the invite. They have 30 days to accept it. Once they do, they can open YouTube TV, sign in with their Google account, and start watching.

How to add a member on a computer

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then click Settings. On the left side, click Members and Family. You will see your current members listed; below that, click Add Member.

Enter the email address of the person you want to add — again, this is the email tied to their Google account. Click Send Invite. They will get an email with an invite link. They have 30 days to click it and accept. After that, they can sign in to YouTube TV with their Google account and watch on any device.

How to add a member on a TV or streaming device

On a TV or streaming device like Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast, you cannot add a member directly from the app. Instead, use a phone, tablet, or computer to send the invite (following the steps above), and the person will receive an email. Once they accept the invite, they can sign in on the TV or device using their Google account.

If you are already signed in on a TV and want to switch to a different member's profile, look for the profile icon or account switcher on your home screen. You should see all members listed; tap or select the person you want to switch to.

What happens after you send an invite

When you send an invite, the person receives an email from YouTube TV with a link to accept. They click the link, sign in with their Google account (or create one if they do not have one), and then they are added to your account. This usually happens right away, but it can take a few minutes.

If the person does not accept within 30 days, the invite expires. You can send it again from the Members and Family menu, or you can delete the pending invite and send a new one to a different email address. There is no limit to how many times you can send invites.

Removing a member from your account

Go to Settings, then Members and Family (on phone, tablet, or computer). Find the person you want to remove and tap or click the three dots next to their name. Select Remove Member. They will no longer be able to watch on your YouTube TV account, but your subscription and billing do not change.

When you remove someone, their profile and watch history stay on your account for 30 days in case you want to add them back. After 30 days, their profile is deleted permanently. If you remove someone by mistake, you can add them again using the same process.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the person you are trying to add says they never got the invite email, ask them to check their spam or junk folder — sometimes the email lands there. You can also resend the invite from the Members and Family menu. Make sure you are using the correct email address; if they have multiple Google accounts, the invite goes to the one you entered, so confirm which email they use to sign in to Google.

If someone accepts the invite but cannot see YouTube TV when they sign in, ask them to sign out and sign back in, or restart the app or device. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the account to sync. If they still cannot see it, check the Members and Family menu to confirm they show up as an active member — if they do not, the invite may not have gone through and you can send it again.

If you have reached the limit of five members and want to add someone else, you must remove an existing member first. Go to Members and Family, remove the person you no longer need, and then add the new person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone who does not have a Google account?

No. Each member needs a Google account to sign in to YouTube TV. If the person you want to add does not have one, they can create one for free at google.com. It takes just a few minutes and requires only an email address and password.

What if I want to add a child to my account?

You can add anyone to your account, including children. However, YouTube TV has parental controls that let you restrict content by rating. Once you add a child, go to Members and Family, select their profile, and set up parental controls to limit what they can watch.

Do members I add have to pay anything?

No. Members use your YouTube TV subscription at no extra cost. You pay one monthly fee regardless of how many people are on your account (up to five). Each member just needs a Google account to sign in.

Can I see what other members are watching?

No. Each member has their own profile and watch history that only they can see. You cannot view what someone else is watching or pause their show. You can only see who is currently signed in to your account.

What happens to a member's profile if I remove them?

Their profile and watch history stay on your account for 30 days. After 30 days, the profile is deleted permanently. If you remove someone by mistake within that window, you can add them back and their history will still be there.