The fastest way to watch YouTube on your TV

To cast YouTube to your TV, open the YouTube app or website on your phone, tablet, or computer, then tap the cast icon (a rectangle with a WiFi symbol in the corner) and select your TV from the list. Your phone and TV must be on the same WiFi network. The video will play on your TV while you control it from your device — your phone becomes the remote.

If you don't see a cast icon, your device may not support casting, or casting is turned off in your YouTube settings. Some TVs also require you to enable casting in their own settings before they show up in the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Your phone, tablet, or computer and your TV must be connected to the same WiFi network for casting to work.
  • The cast icon appears in the YouTube app on phones and tablets, and in the top right corner of YouTube on a web browser.
  • After you tap cast and select your TV, the video moves to the TV screen and your device controls playback.
  • If your TV doesn't appear in the cast list, restart both your TV and your phone, then check that WiFi is on and both devices are on the same network.
  • Some older TVs need a separate device like a Chromecast, Roku, or Fire Stick to receive casts from your phone.

Casting from your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. Find a video you want to watch, then look for the cast icon in the top right corner of the screen — it looks like a rectangle with curved WiFi lines in the bottom corner. Tap it.

A list of available devices will appear. Select your TV from the list. The video will start playing on your TV within a few seconds. Your phone screen will show a smaller version of the video with playback controls: play, pause, volume, and a progress bar. You can lock your phone, open other apps, or even close YouTube — the video keeps playing on your TV and you can control it anytime by opening YouTube again and tapping the cast icon.

To stop casting, tap the cast icon again and select "Disconnect" or "Stop Casting." The video will stop on your TV and return to your phone if you want to keep watching there.

Casting from your computer or laptop

Go to YouTube.com in your web browser on your computer. Find a video and click the cast icon in the top right corner of the video player — same rectangle with WiFi symbol. A window will pop up showing available devices.

Click your TV's name. The video will begin playing on your TV. Your computer screen will show the video player with standard controls: play, pause, volume, and a timeline. You can minimize the browser window or switch to other programs — the video continues on your TV. To stop casting, click the cast icon again and select "Stop Casting."

What to do if your TV doesn't appear in the cast list

First, check that your TV and your phone or computer are on the same WiFi network. Open your device's WiFi settings and look at which network you're connected to, then check your TV's network settings (usually found in Settings > Network or WiFi). They must match exactly.

Restart both devices. Turn off your TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Restart your phone or computer as well. Open YouTube again and tap the cast icon — your TV should now appear.

If your TV still doesn't show up, check whether your TV has casting built in. Newer smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Google TV models support casting directly. Older TVs do not. If you have an older TV, you'll need a separate device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port: a Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, or Apple TV. These devices receive casts from your phone and display them on your TV.

Enabling casting on your TV

Some TVs have casting turned off by default. Check your TV's settings menu — look for a section called "Connections," "Network," "Cast," or "Screen Mirroring." The exact name varies by brand. Turn on any option related to casting, screen mirroring, or Chromecast.

If you're using a separate device like a Chromecast, Fire Stick, or Roku, make sure it's plugged into an HDMI port on your TV and powered on. The device should appear in your cast list automatically once it's on the same WiFi network as your phone.

Common problems and how to fix them

The video starts on my TV but keeps stopping or buffering. This usually means your WiFi signal is weak. Move your phone closer to your router, or move your TV closer to the router if possible. If that doesn't help, restart your router by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Restart your TV and phone as well.

The cast icon is grayed out or missing. Make sure you're using the official YouTube app (not a web browser on your phone). On Android, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube and check that the app is up to date. On iPhone, open the App Store, go to Updates, and update YouTube if an update is available. If the icon still doesn't appear, sign out of YouTube and sign back in.

I can see my TV in the cast list but it won't connect. Restart your TV and your phone. If that doesn't work, "forget" the WiFi network on your phone (go to WiFi settings, tap the network name, and select "Forget"), then reconnect to it. This refreshes your phone's connection to the network.

The video plays on my TV but there's no sound. Check your TV's volume — it may be muted or turned down. Also check the volume on your phone; sometimes the phone's volume controls the TV's volume during casting. If the TV volume is on and the phone volume is up, restart both devices.

Casting to a TV without built-in casting support

If your TV is older and doesn't have casting built in, you have two main options. The first is to buy a Google Chromecast (a small device that plugs into HDMI), which is the most straightforward option for YouTube casting. The second is to use a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV, which also support YouTube casting and offer additional streaming apps.

Plug the device into an available HDMI port on your TV and plug it into power. Connect it to your WiFi network using the setup instructions that come with it. Once it's set up and on the same WiFi as your phone, your TV will appear in the YouTube cast list just like a built-in casting TV would.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a YouTube TV subscription to cast YouTube to my TV?

No. Casting regular YouTube videos to your TV works whether you have a YouTube TV subscription or not. YouTube TV is a separate paid service for live TV channels. Regular YouTube (with free and paid videos) casts the same way regardless of your subscription status.

Can I cast YouTube while using my phone for something else?

Yes. Once the video is casting to your TV, you can lock your phone, open other apps, or even close YouTube. The video keeps playing on your TV. You can open YouTube anytime to pause, skip, or adjust volume without interrupting what's on the TV.

Why does casting stop when I close the YouTube app?

If you force-close the app (swiping it away from recent apps), casting will stop. If you just press the home button or open another app normally, casting continues. To keep casting while using other apps, don't swipe YouTube away from your recent apps list.

Can I cast from multiple phones to the same TV at the same time?

No. Only one device can cast to a TV at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already casting, their device will ask if they want to take over. Taking over will stop your cast and start theirs.

What if my WiFi is slow — will casting still work?

Casting works on slower WiFi, but the video may buffer or pause while it loads. If buffering is a problem, move closer to your router, reduce the number of other devices using WiFi, or restart your router. You can also try lowering the video quality in YouTube's settings, though this happens automatically on slow connections.