What You Can Do in Your YouTube TV Account Settings

Your YouTube TV account settings let you control who watches, what they see, what they pay, and how the service works on your devices. You reach these settings by signing into YouTube TV on a web browser, going to your profile icon in the top right, and selecting Settings. From there, you can change your password, update your payment method, manage family members, set parental controls, and adjust video quality.

Most changes take effect when ready. Some — like removing a family member or changing your billing address — affect everyone on your account, so coordinate with others before you make them. Others, like adjusting playback settings on a single device, explore only to that device and that profile.

Key Takeaways

  • Access account settings through your profile icon in the top right corner of YouTube TV on the web, then select Settings.
  • You can add up to five family members to one account, and each person gets their own profile with separate watch history and recommendations.
  • Parental controls let you restrict content by rating on specific profiles, and you set a PIN to prevent changes without your permission.
  • Update your payment method, billing address, and subscription plan from the Membership and Billing section without interrupting your service.
  • Video quality settings affect how much data YouTube TV uses; lower quality saves bandwidth on mobile, while higher quality requires faster internet.

Managing Family Members and Profiles

YouTube TV lets you add up to five family members to one account. Each person gets their own profile with separate watch history, recommendations, and DVR recordings. To add a family member, go to Settings, select Family and Parental Controls, and choose Add Family Member. You can invite them by email, and they sign in with their own Google account.

Each family member can customize their own profile — changing the profile picture, adjusting subtitle preferences, and choosing which channels to favorite. Their watch history and recommendations stay separate from everyone else's, so one person's viewing does not clutter another person's suggestions.

To remove a family member, go back to Family and Parental Controls, find their name, and select the trash icon. They lose access when ready, though any recordings they made stay in the shared DVR. If you need to change who is the account owner, you must contact YouTube TV support, as that change cannot be made in settings.

Setting Up Parental Controls and Restricting Content

Parental controls let you block content by rating on any profile. Go to Settings, select Family and Parental Controls, choose the profile you want to restrict, and set a content rating limit. You can restrict to TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, or TV-MA. Once you set a limit, YouTube TV blocks anything rated higher on that profile.

You also set a PIN in the same section. This PIN prevents anyone using that profile from changing the content restriction without entering the PIN first. The PIN is separate from your account password and applies only to that profile's parental controls.

If someone tries to watch a blocked show, YouTube TV tells them the content is restricted and asks for the PIN. If they enter the wrong PIN three times, they are locked out for 24 hours. This lock applies to that profile only, not the whole account.

Updating Payment Method and Billing Information

Your payment method and billing address are in Settings under Membership and Billing. You can add a new credit card, debit card, or PayPal account without stopping your service. YouTube TV charges on the same day each month, and you can see your next billing date in this section.

If your card is declined, YouTube TV sends you an email and gives you five days to update your payment method before your service pauses. Once you add a working card, service resumes the same day. Your billing address affects your local channel lineup and any applicable taxes, so update it if you move.

You can also change your subscription plan here — switching between the base plan and any add-ons like sports packages or premium channels. Changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle, not when ready.

Adjusting Video Quality and Playback Settings

Video quality settings are in Settings under Playback. You can choose Auto, which adjusts based on your internet speed, or lock it to a specific quality: 480p, 720p, or 1080p. Lower quality uses less data, which matters on mobile or if you have a data cap. Higher quality requires a faster connection — YouTube TV recommends at least 3 Mbps for 720p and 5 Mbps for 1080p.

You can also turn on Autoplay to have YouTube TV start the next episode automatically when one finishes, or turn it off if you prefer to choose what to watch next. These settings explore only to the device and profile you are using, so each family member can set their own preferences.

If you are watching on a TV and the picture looks blurry or pixelated, lower your quality setting or check your internet speed. If you are on mobile and videos keep stopping, lowering quality usually fixes it.

Signing Out and Managing Active Devices

You can see which devices are currently signed into your account in Settings under Devices and Apps. This list shows the device type, when it last accessed YouTube TV, and the profile that is signed in. If you see a device you do not recognize, you can sign it out remotely by selecting it and choosing Sign Out.

YouTube TV lets you stream on up to three devices at the same time. If you try to watch on a fourth device, YouTube TV pauses playback on one of the other three. You can choose which device gets paused, or let YouTube TV pause the one that has been idle the longest.

To sign out of a device completely, go to that device, open YouTube TV, select your profile icon, and choose Sign Out. This removes the account from that device and stops it from counting toward your three-stream limit.

Changing Your Password and Account Security

Your password is managed through your Google account, not through YouTube TV settings directly. To change it, go to Settings, select Account, and choose Change Password. You will be taken to your Google account page, where you enter your current password and then set a new one.

If you think someone else has access to your account, change your password when ready and review the devices list to sign out anything you do not recognize. You can also turn on 2-Step Verification in your Google account settings for extra security — this requires a code from your phone when you sign in from a new device.

If you forget your password, select Forgot Password on the YouTube TV sign-in page. Google will send you a recovery email, and you can set a new password from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch YouTube TV on multiple devices at the same time?

Yes, you can stream on up to three devices at once. If you try to watch on a fourth device, YouTube TV pauses one of the other streams. You can choose which device gets paused or let YouTube TV pause the one that has been idle longest.

What happens if I remove a family member from my account?

They lose access to YouTube TV when ready and cannot sign in. Any recordings they made stay in the shared DVR and remain available to other family members. Their watch history and profile are deleted.

Can I change my billing date?

No, your billing date is set to the day you first subscribed and cannot be changed. You can see your next billing date in Settings under Membership and Billing.

How do I know if my internet is fast enough for YouTube TV?

YouTube TV recommends at least 3 Mbps for 720p video and 5 Mbps for 1080p. You can check your speed at speedtest.net. If videos keep stopping or look pixelated, lower your quality setting in Playback settings.

What should I do if I see a device I do not recognize in my devices list?

Sign it out when ready from Settings under Devices and Apps. Then change your password and turn on 2-Step Verification in your Google account for extra security.