YouTube TV's multiview feature lets you watch up to four channels simultaneously on one screen

Multiview is a YouTube TV feature that splits your screen into separate windows so you can watch different channels at the same time. You might use it to follow multiple games during football season, keep an eye on news while watching entertainment, or monitor several sports events in parallel. The feature works on most devices where YouTube TV is available, though the exact setup varies slightly depending on what you're watching on.

To start multiview, you need at least two channels or programs to display. YouTube TV will automatically arrange them in a grid layout — typically two channels side by side on smaller screens, or up to four in a 2×2 grid on larger ones. You control the size and position of each window, and you can swap which channel appears where.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview works on most YouTube TV devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs, though not all devices support it equally.
  • You start multiview by opening one channel, then selecting the multiview option from the menu to add a second channel to the screen.
  • Each window in multiview has its own volume control, so you can mute one channel while listening to another.
  • You can resize and rearrange the windows by dragging them, and tap or click any window to make it full screen temporarily.

How to turn on multiview on your phone or tablet

Open YouTube TV and start watching a channel or program. Once the video is playing, look for the multiview icon — it looks like four small squares arranged in a grid. On most phones and tablets, this icon appears in the top right corner of the video player, near the settings gear. Tap it.

YouTube TV will show you a list of available channels. Select the second channel you want to watch. The screen will split, and both channels will appear side by side. If you want to add a third or fourth channel, tap the multiview icon again and choose another channel from the list. You can add up to four channels total, though the exact number depends on your device's screen size.

To remove a channel from multiview, tap the X button that appears in the corner of that window. To swap which channel appears in which position, tap and hold one window, then drag it to a different spot on the screen.

How to use multiview on a computer or web browser

Start playing a channel in YouTube TV on your computer. Look for the multiview button in the video player controls — it's the four-square grid icon, usually located near the settings menu in the top right. Click it.

A panel will open showing available channels. Click the channel you want to add to the screen. The view will split to show both channels. You can add up to four channels depending on your screen resolution. On a large monitor, you'll see a full 2×2 grid; on a smaller screen, YouTube TV may limit you to two or three windows.

Click and drag the border between windows to resize them. Click the X on any window to close it. If you want to focus on one channel temporarily, click that window to expand it to full screen, then click again to return to multiview.

How to use multiview on a smart TV or streaming device

Multiview on larger screens works similarly to phones and tablets, but the navigation is different because you're using a remote. Start playing a channel, then use your remote to navigate to the multiview icon in the video player menu. Press select or enter to set up it.

Your TV will display a list of channels you can add. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to highlight a channel, then press select. The screen will split to show both channels. You can continue adding channels up to the limit your TV supports — usually two or four depending on the device and screen size.

Use your remote's arrow buttons to move between windows and adjust their size. Press the back or menu button to close a window or exit multiview. Some smart TVs and streaming devices may not support multiview at all; if you don't see the multiview option in the menu, your device doesn't have this feature.

Controlling volume and audio in multiview

Each window in multiview has its own volume control. When you tap or click a window, that channel becomes the active one, and your device's volume buttons will control only that channel's audio. The other channels will continue playing at their previous volume level, though you won't hear them while the active channel is louder.

To mute one channel while listening to another, tap the window you want to mute, then use your device's mute button or the volume controls to silence it. The muted channel will continue playing silently on screen. This is useful when you want to keep an eye on a game or event without hearing the commentary, or when you want to focus on one channel's audio while monitoring another visually.

Devices that support multiview and those that don't

Multiview is available on most YouTube TV devices, including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, computers running Chrome or Safari, and many smart TVs including Samsung, LG, and Google TV models. It also works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV devices, though the exact process varies slightly on each platform.

Some older devices or certain streaming sticks may not support multiview. If you open YouTube TV on a device and don't see the multiview icon in the video player menu, that device doesn't have the feature. YouTube TV's system requirements page lists which devices support multiview, though the easiest way to find out is to open the app and look for the icon.

Troubleshooting multiview problems

If the multiview button doesn't appear or is grayed out, check that you're on a supported device and that you have an active YouTube TV subscription. Multiview requires a standard YouTube TV membership; it's not available on trial accounts or certain promotional plans. If you're on the right plan and the button still doesn't show, try closing and reopening the YouTube TV app.

If multiview crashes or one of the channels freezes, close the app completely and reopen it. Start with a single channel, then set up multiview again. If the problem continues, restart your device. On smart TVs, this sometimes means unplugging the device for 30 seconds before plugging it back in. If multiview still doesn't work after a restart, contact YouTube TV support through the app's help menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiview to watch the same channel twice on one screen?

No, YouTube TV doesn't allow you to display the same channel in multiple windows at the same time. Each window must show a different channel. If you want to watch one channel, you'll need to use the full-screen view instead of multiview.

Does multiview work with YouTube TV's cloud DVR recordings?

Yes, you can add recorded programs to multiview just as you would live channels. Open a recording and set up multiview, then add another channel or recording to the screen. The process is the same as with live TV.

What happens to multiview when I pause one channel?

When you pause a channel in multiview, only that window pauses. The other channels continue playing live. This is useful if you want to rewind and rewatch a moment in one game while keeping up with another event in real time.

Can I save a multiview layout so it opens automatically?

YouTube TV doesn't save multiview layouts between sessions. Each time you open the app, you'll start with a single channel and need to set up multiview again if you want it. The app remembers your last watched channel, but not the multiview configuration.

Is there a limit to how many channels I can add to multiview?

The maximum is four channels displayed at once, though smaller screens may limit you to two or three. YouTube TV arranges them in a grid based on your screen size, so a phone might show two channels side by side while a large TV shows four in a 2×2 layout.