Multiview lets you watch up to four YouTube TV streams side by side on a single screen

Multiview is a YouTube TV feature that splits your screen into separate windows so you can watch different channels or programs at the same time. On a computer, you can display up to four streams together — useful during sports events, award shows, or when multiple games air at once. The feature works on Windows and Mac browsers, though the exact layout and number of streams depends on your screen size and which browser you use.

To use Multiview, you need an active YouTube TV subscription and must be signed into your account. The feature is built into YouTube TV's web player — you do not need to read anything extra. Once you open YouTube TV in your browser, the Multiview button appears in the top right corner of the player.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview works on YouTube TV's web player on Windows and Mac computers using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
  • You can display up to four live streams at once, though your screen size determines how many fit comfortably.
  • Click the Multiview icon in the top right of the YouTube TV player to turn the feature on.
  • Once Multiview is active, click the plus sign in any empty window to search for and add a channel or program.
  • You can adjust the size and position of each window, and audio from one stream plays while the others are muted.

How to turn Multiview on in your browser

Open YouTube TV in your web browser and sign into your account. Navigate to the home page or any live TV channel. In the top right corner of the video player, you will see a grid icon with four squares — this is the Multiview button. Click it once to set up Multiview mode.

Your screen will split into four equal sections. The section you were already watching will stay in the top left, and the other three sections will be empty. If you were not watching anything when you clicked Multiview, all four sections start blank. You can now add channels to the empty windows.

Adding channels to each window

In each empty window, you will see a plus sign in the center. Click the plus sign to open the channel search box. Type the name of a channel you want to watch — for example, "ESPN" or "NBC" — and select it from the results. The channel will load in that window and begin playing live content if it is currently broadcasting.

You can add the same channel to multiple windows if you want to compare different programs on the same network, though this is rarely useful. Once a channel is loaded, its name appears at the top of that window. If you want to change what is in a window, click the X button in the top right corner of that window to clear it, then click the plus sign again to add a different channel.

Resizing and moving windows

The four windows start in a 2-by-2 grid, but you can drag the dividing lines between them to make some larger and others smaller. Position your cursor on the line between two windows until it changes to a resize cursor, then drag left, right, up, or down to adjust the size. This is useful if you want to focus on one game while keeping an eye on another.

You cannot move windows to different positions — they always stay in a grid layout — but resizing lets you give more screen space to the stream you care about most. If you resize one window very small, you can make another take up most of the screen while still seeing the others.

Audio control in Multiview

Only one audio stream plays at a time in Multiview. By default, the audio comes from whichever window you most recently clicked or interacted with. If you want to hear a different stream, click anywhere inside that window and its audio will take over. The other three windows continue to play video but with no sound.

You cannot mute individual windows or adjust their volume separately. If you want to focus on one stream's audio, click in that window. If you want silence while watching video, you can mute your computer's overall volume using your keyboard or system settings.

Exiting Multiview

To return to single-screen viewing, click the Multiview button again — the same grid icon in the top right corner. Your screen will return to normal, and you will be watching whichever window was active when you clicked the button. All the other windows will close, but YouTube TV will remember which channels you had open if you turn Multiview back on later in the same session.

If you close YouTube TV entirely and come back later, Multiview will be off by default, and you will need to turn it on again and re-add your channels.

Browser and screen size requirements

Multiview works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. It does not work in the YouTube TV mobile app or on tablets. On a computer with a very small screen — such as a laptop with a 13-inch display — four windows may be cramped and hard to read. A monitor 24 inches or larger gives you comfortable space for all four streams.

If your screen is too small to display four windows clearly, you can resize them so that only one or two are large enough to watch comfortably. The feature still works, but you may find it more useful to watch just two or three streams at once on a smaller screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Multiview on my phone or tablet?

No. Multiview is only available on YouTube TV's web player for computers. The YouTube TV mobile app does not support Multiview. If you want to watch multiple streams on a phone or tablet, you would need to open YouTube TV in a mobile web browser, though the experience is not designed for small screens.

What happens if a channel goes off the air while I am watching it in Multiview?

The window will show a message that the channel is not currently broadcasting. You can click the X to close that window and add a different channel, or you can wait for the channel to come back on air. The video will resume playing once the channel returns to live broadcasting.

Can I record programs while using Multiview?

Recording happens separately from Multiview. You can record a channel through YouTube TV's normal recording feature whether or not Multiview is active. Multiview is only for watching multiple streams at once — it does not affect your ability to record shows.

Does Multiview use more internet bandwidth than watching one channel?

Yes. Streaming four channels at once uses roughly four times the bandwidth of streaming one channel. If your internet connection is slow or has a data limit, Multiview may cause buffering or count against your monthly usage faster than single-channel viewing.

Can I watch the same channel in multiple windows?

Yes, you can add the same channel to more than one window. This is sometimes useful during live events when a channel shows different camera angles or commentary on separate feeds, though most channels broadcast the same content to all viewers.