YouTube TV plays on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices — here's how to get your free guide
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that works through an app or web browser. To watch, you need a YouTube TV account (which requires a paid subscription), the YouTube TV app or website, and an internet connection. The basic steps are the same across devices: read or open the app, sign in with your Google account, and select what you want to watch from the live channels or on-demand library.
The service includes over 100 live channels, cloud DVR storage, and the ability to watch on multiple devices at once depending on your plan. You can pause and rewind live TV, record shows automatically, and pick up where you left off on a different device.
Key Takeaways
- You need a paid YouTube TV subscription and a Google account to watch — the service does not offer a free tier.
- read the YouTube TV app on phones and tablets, or visit tv.youtube.com on a computer or streaming device.
- Sign in with the Google account linked to your YouTube TV subscription, then browse live channels or search for specific shows.
- YouTube TV lets you watch on multiple devices at the same time, but the number depends on which plan you have.
- You can pause, rewind, and record live TV, and your recordings stay in the cloud for up to nine months.
Setting up YouTube TV on your phone or tablet
On an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, search for "YouTube TV," and tap Get. On an Android phone or tablet, open Google Play, search for "YouTube TV," and tap Install. Once the app finishes downloading, tap Open.
When you open the app for the first time, you will see a sign-in screen. Tap "Sign in with Google" and enter the email address and password for the Google account connected to your YouTube TV subscription. If you do not have a subscription yet, the app will prompt you to start one before you can watch.
After you sign in, the app will ask for permission to access your location and send notifications. You can allow or skip these. The home screen will then show live channels, recommended shows, and your library. Tap any channel or show to start watching.
Watching YouTube TV on a computer or web browser
Go to tv.youtube.com in any web browser on a Mac, Windows PC, or Chromebook. You will land on a sign-in page. Click "Sign in" and enter the email and password for your Google account.
Once you are signed in, the home page displays live channels in a grid, trending shows, and your saved content. Click any channel to watch live, or use the search bar at the top to find a specific show, movie, or sports event. The video player includes buttons to pause, rewind, and adjust the volume — the same controls you would use on a TV remote.
YouTube TV on the web works best on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. If you have trouble playing video, clear your browser cache or try a different browser.
Playing YouTube TV on streaming devices
YouTube TV is built into many streaming devices, including Google TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. On a Google TV device, YouTube TV usually appears on the home screen — tap it to open. On Roku, search for "YouTube TV" in the channel store, add it, and open it from your home screen. On Fire TV, search for "YouTube TV" in the app store, install it, and launch it. On Apple TV, open the App Store, search for "YouTube TV," install it, and sign in.
After you open the app on any streaming device, sign in with your Google account. Use your remote to navigate the menu, select channels, and control playback. Most streaming devices let you use voice commands — say "Play YouTube TV" or "Show me sports" if your remote has a microphone.
YouTube TV on a streaming device is the closest experience to traditional cable TV, with a full-screen picture and a remote control. This is the best option if you want to watch on your main living room television.
Finding and playing channels and shows
The YouTube TV home screen shows live channels in a grid or list, depending on your device. Scroll or swipe to browse channels, or tap the search icon to find a specific channel by name. When you tap a channel, it starts playing when ready — you are watching live TV.
To find a show or movie, use the search bar and type the title. YouTube TV will show you when it airs live, when it is available on demand, and whether you have recorded it. Tap the result to play it. If the show airs in the future, you can tap "Record" to add it to your library automatically.
The "Library" or "My content" section stores your recordings, saved shows, and watch history. You can access this from the menu on any device. Recordings stay in the cloud for up to nine months before they are deleted automatically.
Using pause, rewind, and fast-forward on live TV
YouTube TV lets you pause and rewind live TV up to a certain point — usually the last 72 hours, depending on your location and the channel. When you are watching a live channel, tap or click the video to show the playback controls. You will see a pause button, a rewind button (usually marked with a back arrow), and a fast-forward button.
Tap pause to stop the broadcast. Tap rewind to go back in 10-second increments, or hold the button to rewind faster. Tap fast-forward to jump ahead. The progress bar at the bottom shows where you are in the broadcast and how far back you can go. If you try to rewind beyond the available window, the app will stop at the oldest available moment.
This feature works on all devices — phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices. It is one of the main differences between YouTube TV and traditional cable, where you cannot rewind a live broadcast.
Recording shows and managing your library
To record a show, find it in the guide or search results and tap the record button — it usually looks like a circle or a plus sign. The show will record automatically every time it airs, unless you change the setting. You can also record a single episode instead of the whole series if you prefer.
Recordings appear in your library within a few minutes of the broadcast ending. You can watch them anytime within nine months. To delete a recording, open your library, find the show, and tap the delete or trash icon.
You can also save shows and movies to a "Watchlist" by tapping a heart or star icon. These appear in a separate section so you can find them later without searching. The library is synced across all your devices, so a recording you make on your phone is also available on your TV.
Watching on multiple devices at once
YouTube TV lets you watch on more than one device at the same time, but the number depends on your plan. Most plans allow two simultaneous streams. If you try to watch on a third device, the app will stop playback on one of the other devices and ask you to choose which one to keep watching on.
This limit applies across all your devices — if someone in your household is watching on the TV and you start watching on your phone, that counts as two streams. If a third person tries to watch on a tablet, one of the first two streams will pause.
You can check which devices are currently streaming by going to your account settings. Some plans offer more simultaneous streams for an extra fee — check your subscription details in the app or on the YouTube TV website.
Troubleshooting common playback problems
If YouTube TV will not play, first check your internet connection. YouTube TV needs a stable connection with enough speed — at least 3 Mbps for standard quality and 7 Mbps for 4K. If your connection is slow, move closer to your router or restart it.
If the app crashes or freezes, close it completely and reopen it. On a phone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or tap the back button twice (Android) to close the app fully. On a computer, close the browser tab and go back to tv.youtube.com. On a streaming device, press the home button and relaunch the app.
If you see an error message saying you are not signed in, sign out and sign back in. Go to your account settings, tap "Sign out," and then sign in again with your Google account. If the problem continues, uninstall the app, restart your device, and reinstall it.
If you can see the guide but video will not play, try clearing the app cache. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube TV > Storage > Clear Cache. On iPhone, uninstall and reinstall the app. On a computer, clear your browser cache in settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch YouTube TV offline?
No, YouTube TV requires an active internet connection to watch. You cannot read shows to watch later without internet. If you lose connection during playback, the video will pause and you will need to reconnect to resume.
What happens if I pause live TV and then leave the app?
If you pause a live channel and close the app, the broadcast continues. When you reopen the app, you can rewind back to where you paused, as long as it is within the 72-hour rewind window. If too much time has passed, you will return to the current live moment.
Can I watch YouTube TV on two TVs at the same time?
It depends on your plan. Most plans allow two simultaneous streams, so yes — you can watch on two TVs at once. If you try to start a third stream, one of the first two will stop. Check your plan details to see if you have the option to add more simultaneous streams.
How do I change the video quality on YouTube TV?
YouTube TV automatically adjusts quality based on your internet speed. You can manually set a preferred quality in the app settings. On a phone or tablet, go to Settings > Playback and select your preferred quality. On a computer, click your profile icon and go to Settings > Playback.
What if I forget my Google password?
Go to accounts.google.com and click "Forgot password?" Follow the steps to verify your identity and reset your password. Once you have a new password, sign out of YouTube TV on all devices and sign back in with the new password.