What Multiview Does and How to Turn It On
Multiview lets you watch up to four channels at once on the same screen. Instead of switching between channels, you see them all in a grid layout — one large main window and three smaller ones, or four equal squares. You control which channels appear in each window and can unmute any of them to hear the audio while the others stay silent.
To turn on Multiview, open YouTube TV and tune to any live channel. Look for the Multiview icon — it looks like four small squares — in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap or click it, and the screen splits into four windows. The channel you were watching becomes the large main window, and three empty windows appear around it.
Multiview works on most devices: phones, tablets, computers, and TV streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast. It does not work on some older devices or in the YouTube TV app on certain smart TVs, though you can still use it through a web browser on those TVs.
Key Takeaways
- The Multiview icon (four squares) appears in the bottom right corner of any live channel and turns on a four-window grid layout.
- Fill empty windows by clicking or tapping them and selecting a channel from the list that appears.
- The largest window is your main view; click the speaker icon on any smaller window to unmute that channel's audio.
- Save your favorite four-channel combinations as presets so you can load them with one tap instead of selecting channels each time.
- Multiview works on phones, tablets, computers, and most streaming devices, but not on all smart TV apps.
Adding Channels to Each Window
Once Multiview is on, you have one channel in the large main window and three empty windows waiting for channels. Click or tap any empty window, and a list of available live channels appears. Scroll through and select the channel you want to watch in that window. The channel loads when ready.
Repeat this for each empty window until you have four channels on screen. You can change any window's channel at any time by clicking or tapping it and selecting a different one from the list. If you want to remove a channel from a window, click or tap that window and select "Remove" or swipe it away, depending on your device.
The main (largest) window is your primary view — this is the channel whose audio plays by default. The three smaller windows are silent unless you unmute one of them. You can swap which window is the main view by clicking the expand icon on any of the smaller windows, which makes it larger and moves the previous main window to a smaller position.
Controlling Audio and Switching Between Channels
Only one channel's audio plays at a time. By default, the large main window is unmuted and you hear its audio. To hear a different channel instead, look for the speaker icon on one of the smaller windows and click or tap it. The speaker icon appears on the window whose audio is currently playing. When you unmute a different window, the previous one goes silent automatically.
You can also click the main window itself to unmute it again if you have switched to a smaller window's audio. This is useful if you are watching a game on a small window but want to hear the commentary from the main channel — just tap the main window's speaker icon and the audio switches back.
To exit Multiview and return to a single full-screen channel, click or tap the Multiview icon again (the four squares), or click the expand icon on whichever window you want to watch alone. The other three channels disappear and that window fills the screen.
Saving and Loading Multiview Presets
If you watch the same four channels together regularly — for example, all the major sports channels during football season, or news channels during breaking events — you can save that combination as a preset. This way you can load all four channels with a single tap instead of selecting each one individually.
To save a preset, arrange your four channels the way you want them in Multiview. Then look for a menu icon (three dots or lines) near the Multiview controls and select "Save preset" or "Save layout." Give the preset a name like "Sports" or "News" so you recognize it later. YouTube TV saves the preset to your account.
To load a saved preset, turn on Multiview and look for the preset menu (usually the same three-dot icon). Select the preset by name, and all four channels load into the same positions where you left them. You can save up to five presets, though this limit varies slightly by device. If you want to delete a preset, open the preset menu, find the one you no longer need, and select "Delete."
Troubleshooting Common Multiview Problems
If the Multiview icon does not appear on your screen, check that you are watching a live channel — Multiview only works with live broadcasts, not on-demand shows or recordings. If you are on a live channel and the icon still does not show, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the YouTube TV app.
If a window shows "Channel not available" or "This channel is not currently live," that channel is either off the air or your account does not include it. Check your YouTube TV plan to see which channels are included, and select a different channel for that window. Some channels are only available during certain hours or seasons.
If audio is cutting out or the video is freezing in one of the windows, your internet connection may be too slow to handle four simultaneous streams. Multiview requires a stable connection of at least 5 Mbps for smooth playback. Try closing other apps or devices using your network, or move closer to your router if you are on Wi-Fi. If the problem persists, restart your device and YouTube TV.
On some older smart TVs or streaming devices, Multiview may not be available in the YouTube TV app but will work if you open YouTube TV in a web browser instead. Check the YouTube TV help center for your specific device model to see if this applies to you.
Multiview on Different Devices
Multiview works the same way across phones, tablets, and computers, but the layout may adjust to fit your screen size. On a phone held vertically, the four windows stack in a 2x2 grid. On a tablet or computer, you may see the large main window on the left and three smaller windows stacked on the right, or all four in a square grid depending on your screen orientation.
On TV streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, Multiview appears as a grid on your television screen. Use your remote to navigate between windows and select channels. The controls are the same — click a window to change its channel, tap the speaker icon to unmute audio, and use the menu to save or load presets.
If you are using YouTube TV on a web browser on a computer or laptop, Multiview works identically to the app. If you are trying to use Multiview on a smart TV's built-in YouTube TV app and it is not available, open a web browser on that TV (if it has one) and go to tv.youtube.com to access Multiview through the browser instead.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Multiview
Use Multiview during live events when you want to follow multiple games, channels, or feeds at once. Sports fans often set up one window for each game happening simultaneously, or one for the game and others for replays or commentary channels. News watchers can monitor multiple news channels during breaking events.
Save presets for events you watch regularly. If you always watch the same four sports channels on Sunday, create a preset called "Sunday Sports" and load it every week. This saves time and keeps your setup consistent.
Remember that Multiview uses more data and internet bandwidth than watching a single channel. If you are on a limited data plan or have a slow connection, Multiview may cause buffering or quality drops. In that case, stick to single-channel viewing or reduce the video quality in YouTube TV settings.
Experiment with different window arrangements. You do not have to keep the same channel in the main window — swap channels between windows to find the layout that works best for what you are watching. Some people prefer the main window on the left, others on the right, and some like all four windows equal in size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch four different channels at the same time with different audio on each?
No. Only one channel's audio plays at a time, even though you can see all four channels on screen. You choose which window's audio to hear by clicking its speaker icon. The other three windows remain silent.
Does Multiview work on my smart TV?
Multiview works on most streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast. Some smart TVs with built-in YouTube TV apps do not support Multiview in the app, but you can usually access it by opening a web browser on the TV and going to tv.youtube.com.
What happens to my presets if I switch devices?
Your presets are saved to your YouTube TV account, so they follow you across all devices. If you save a preset on your phone, you can load it on your tablet, computer, or TV. If you delete a preset on one device, it is deleted from all devices.
Can I use Multiview with recorded shows or on-demand content?
No. Multiview only works with live channels. You cannot use it to watch four recorded shows or on-demand videos at the same time. You can only watch one recorded show at a time.
Why does Multiview keep freezing or buffering?
Multiview requires a stable internet connection of at least 5 Mbps to stream four channels smoothly. If you are experiencing freezing or buffering, try closing other apps, moving closer to your router, or restarting your device. If your internet speed is below 5 Mbps, single-channel viewing will work better.