You can leave a family group on YouTube TV in your account settings, and it takes about two minutes

To leave a family group, open YouTube TV on any device, go to your account settings, find the family group section, and select the option to leave. The person who created the group (the manager) will see that you've left, but you won't lose access to your own YouTube account—only to the shared YouTube TV subscription. After you leave, you'll need your own YouTube TV membership to keep watching, or you can ask someone else in the family to add you back.

The steps are the same whether you're on a phone, computer, or TV device, though the menu layout looks slightly different on each one. If you're the manager of the group, leaving works differently—you'll need to transfer management to someone else first, or the whole group will dissolve.

Key Takeaways

  • Leaving a family group removes your access to the shared YouTube TV account but does not delete your personal YouTube account.
  • You can leave from any device where you're signed into YouTube TV by going to Settings and selecting the family group option.
  • If you are the group manager, you must assign a new manager before you can leave, or the group will be deleted.
  • After you leave, the group manager can add you back at any time if you change your mind.

How to leave on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Settings, then scroll down and tap Family group. You'll see the names of everyone in the group and your role (member or manager). Tap Leave family group at the bottom of the screen. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure—tap Leave again to confirm.

Once you confirm, you're out when ready. The app will ask you to sign in with a different account or to start a free trial of YouTube TV if you want to keep watching. If you don't have your own membership, you'll see a message that YouTube TV is not available for your account.

How to leave on a computer or web browser

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in if you're not already. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Family group. You'll see a list of all members and their roles. Click Leave family group and confirm when prompted.

Your access stops right away. If you try to watch YouTube TV after leaving, you'll be told you need a membership. You can sign up for your own account at that point, or contact the group manager to rejoin.

How to leave on a TV device

On your TV, open YouTube TV and go to your profile. Navigate to Settings using your remote. Find Family group in the menu. Select Leave family group and confirm. The TV will sign you out of YouTube TV, though you may still be signed into your Google account on that device.

If other people use that TV, they can sign in with their own accounts. If they're also in the family group, they'll still have access. If they're not, they'll need their own YouTube TV membership to watch.

What happens if you're the group manager

If you created the family group, you can't straightforward leave—you have to transfer management to someone else first. Go to Settings, select Family group, and look for the option to Change manager or Assign manager. Choose another adult in the group. That person will become the new manager and will be able to add or remove members, change the password, and manage billing.

Once you've assigned a new manager, you can follow the normal leave process. If you try to leave without assigning a new manager, YouTube TV will prompt you to do so before letting you proceed. If you're the only person in the group, you cannot leave—the group will be deleted instead, and your YouTube TV membership will end.

What you lose and what you keep

When you leave a family group, you lose access to the shared YouTube TV subscription. That means you can't watch live TV, on-demand shows, or use the DVR that the group pays for. You also lose any recordings or saved shows that were stored under that account.

You keep your personal Google account and your YouTube account (the free video platform). Your email, Google Drive files, and other Google services are not affected. If you want to watch YouTube TV again, you'll need to either start your own membership or ask the group manager to add you back to the family group.

How to rejoin if you change your mind

If you left and want back in, contact the person who manages the family group. They can add you by going to Settings, selecting Family group, and choosing the option to add a member. They'll need your email address or phone number associated with your Google account. Once they send the invitation, you'll get a notification, and you can accept it to rejoin.

There's no limit to how many times you can leave and rejoin, as long as the group manager approves. The process takes a few minutes on their end and is when ready on yours once you accept the invitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will leaving the family group delete my Google account?

No. Leaving a YouTube TV family group only removes you from the shared subscription. Your Google account, Gmail, and all other Google services stay active and unchanged. You can still use YouTube (the free video platform) and access your Google Drive, photos, and other services.

Can I leave a family group if I'm the only member?

No. If you're the only member and the manager, you cannot leave. The group will be deleted instead, and the YouTube TV membership will end. If there are other members but you're the manager, you must assign a new manager before you can leave.

What if the group manager won't add me back?

Once you leave, the manager has full control over whether to add you back. If they refuse, your only option is to start your own YouTube TV membership. You can also ask another family member who has access to contact the manager on your behalf.

Do I lose my DVR recordings when I leave?

Yes. Any shows you recorded or saved under the family group account are tied to that subscription. When you leave, you lose access to them. If you want to keep recordings, you'd need to read or save them before leaving, though YouTube TV does not offer a read feature for this purpose.

Can I leave without the manager knowing?

The manager will see that you've left because your name will disappear from the family group member list. They'll know you're no longer part of the group, but they won't receive a notification—they'll only see it if they check the family group settings.