YouTube TV lets you watch on up to four devices at the same time, and you control which devices can access your account

You can add phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV to your YouTube TV account. Each device you add gets its own sign-in, so family members can watch different shows simultaneously. You can also remove devices that you no longer use or that you want to keep off your account.

Managing your devices takes just a few minutes and happens in your account settings, not in the YouTube TV app itself. You will need to know which devices are currently connected and whether you want to add a new one or remove an old one.

Key Takeaways

  • You can stream YouTube TV on up to four devices at the same time, but each device must be signed in with your account credentials.
  • Add a new device by signing into YouTube TV on that device with your email and password, then confirming the sign-in from your account settings.
  • Remove a device from your account by going to your YouTube account settings, selecting "Manage all devices," and choosing the device you want to remove.
  • If you reach the four-device limit, you must remove an old device before you can add a new one.
  • You can sign out of YouTube TV on a specific device without affecting your account on other devices.

How to add a new device to your YouTube TV account

Start by opening YouTube TV on the device you want to add. This could be a phone, tablet, computer, or streaming device. Go to the sign-in screen and enter your email address and password — the same ones you use for your main YouTube TV account.

After you sign in, YouTube TV will show you a confirmation code on that device. Open a web browser on any other device (your phone, computer, or tablet) and go to youtube.com/set up. Sign in with the same account, then enter the confirmation code that appeared on the new device. Once you enter the code, the new device is added to your account and can start streaming when ready.

If you are adding a streaming device like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, the process is similar but the confirmation code appears on your TV screen. Write down the code and enter it at youtube.com/set up on your phone or computer.

How to remove a device from your account

Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser on your phone or computer. Click on "Security" in the left menu, then scroll down to "Your devices" and click "Manage all devices."

You will see a list of all devices signed into your Google account. Find the device you want to remove — it will show the device type (like "iPhone" or "Roku") and the last date it was used. Click on that device, then click "Remove" or "Sign out."

Removing a device from your account signs it out of YouTube TV and all other Google services on that device. The person using that device will need to sign back in if they want to use YouTube TV again.

What happens when you reach the four-device limit

YouTube TV allows four simultaneous streams, which means four people can watch at the same time on four different devices. If you try to add a fifth device, you will see a message saying you have reached your device limit.

To add a new device, you must first remove one of your existing devices using the steps above. Once you remove a device, you can when ready add a new one. There is no waiting period between removing and adding.

How to sign out of YouTube TV on a single device

If you want to sign out of YouTube TV on just one device without affecting your other devices, open the YouTube TV app on that device. Go to your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Sign out." This removes YouTube TV from that device only.

Signing out of a single device is different from removing it through your account settings. When you sign out from the app, you can sign back in anytime. When you remove a device through account settings, you are telling YouTube TV that device should no longer have access to your account.

Troubleshooting device sign-in problems

If you enter your password correctly but the sign-in fails, make sure you are using the email address associated with your YouTube TV account. Some people have multiple Google accounts and sign into the wrong one by mistake. Check your email by going to myaccount.google.com and looking at the account name in the top left.

If the confirmation code at youtube.com/set up is not working, make sure you are entering it on a different device than the one you are trying to add. You cannot use the same device to enter the code. Also check that the code has not expired — codes usually work for about 15 minutes.

If a device is still showing in your device list even after you removed it, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Sometimes it takes a moment for the removal to process across Google's servers.

Managing devices when sharing your account with family

If multiple people in your household share a YouTube TV account, each person should sign in on their own device using the same account credentials. This way, everyone can watch different channels at the same time without interrupting each other.

Keep track of which devices belong to which family members so you know which ones to remove if someone moves out or stops using YouTube TV. You can add a note to yourself about each device — for example, "Mom's iPad" or "Living room Roku" — by writing it down separately, since YouTube TV does not have a built-in labeling system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch YouTube TV on more than four devices at the same time?

No, YouTube TV limits simultaneous streams to four devices. If a fifth person tries to watch while four others are already streaming, they will see an error message. Someone must stop watching or you must remove a device from your account.

What happens if I sign into YouTube TV on a device I do not own?

That device will be added to your account and will count toward your four-device limit. If you later want to remove it, go to your account settings and remove it the same way you would remove any other device. Make sure to remove devices you no longer use so you have room to add new ones.

Do I need to remove a device if I just want to sign out temporarily?

No. Signing out from the YouTube TV app on a device is temporary — you can sign back in anytime. Removing a device through account settings is permanent until you add it back. Use sign-out if you are just stepping away, and use remove if you do not want that device to have access anymore.

Can I see which device is using YouTube TV right now?

YouTube TV does not show you real-time information about which devices are currently streaming. You can see which devices are registered to your account and when they were last used, but not whether they are actively watching at this moment. If you suspect unauthorized access, remove any devices you do not recognize.

What if I forgot which email address I used to create my YouTube TV account?

Go to myaccount.google.com and look at the account name in the top left corner. That is the email address associated with your account. If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you are signed into the right one before trying to add a new device to YouTube TV.