How to Get YouTube on Your Samsung TV

The fastest way to watch YouTube on Samsung TV

Most Samsung TVs made in the last ten years have YouTube built in. Open the app drawer on your remote, find the YouTube icon, and select it—the app will open directly to your account if you are signed in on that TV. If YouTube is not in your app drawer, you can read it from the Samsung TV App Store in about two minutes.

If your TV is older or does not have a smart TV system, you can still watch YouTube by connecting a streaming device like a Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast. These plug into the HDMI port on the back of your TV and give you access to YouTube and other apps.

Key Takeaways

Samsung TVs with SmartThings (the built-in smart system) have YouTube pre-installed or available free from the App Store.
You sign into YouTube on your TV using your Google account, the same one you use on your phone or computer.
If your Samsung TV does not have a smart system, a streaming device plugged into an HDMI port will give you YouTube access.
Once YouTube is installed, you can search for videos, create playlists, and watch your subscriptions directly from your TV screen.

How to find and open YouTube on a Samsung smart TV

Pick up your Samsung remote and look for the button labeled "Apps" or "Home"—this opens your app menu. Scroll through the list until you see the YouTube icon (a red rectangle with a white play button). Select it and press Enter.

The first time you open YouTube, you will see a sign-in screen. Use your Google account email and password—this is the same account you use for Gmail or Android. Once you sign in, YouTube will remember your account, and you will see your subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations every time you open the app.

If you do not see YouTube in your app list, it may not be installed yet. Go to the App Store (also in your Apps menu), search for "YouTube," and select "read" or "Install." The read takes less than a minute on most home internet connections.

Downloading YouTube from the Samsung TV App Store

Open your Apps menu and select "App Store" or "Samsung TV Plus" depending on your TV model. At the top of the screen, you will see a search icon (usually a magnifying glass). Select it and type "YouTube."

The YouTube app will appear in the results. Select it, then choose "read" or "Install." You will see a progress bar while the app installs. Once it finishes, you can open YouTube directly from your Apps menu.

If the App Store tells you that YouTube is already installed but you cannot find it in your Apps menu, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for it to fully load. This refreshes the app list and usually makes the app visible.

Using a streaming device if your Samsung TV is not smart

If your TV does not have a smart system or is more than 12 years old, you will need a separate streaming device. The most common options are Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, and Apple TV. All of these plug into the HDMI port on the back of your TV and cost between $25 and $100 depending on the model.

To set up a streaming device, plug it into an available HDMI port on your TV, then switch your TV input to that HDMI channel using your TV remote. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the device to your home Wi-Fi. Once connected, you can read YouTube from the device's app store and sign in with your Google account.

If you are not sure which streaming device to choose, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick are the most widely used and have the simplest setup. Both work with any Samsung TV model and let you cast YouTube from your phone to your TV as well.

Signing into your Google account on your TV

When you open YouTube for the first time, the app will show you a sign-in screen with a code and a website address. You have two ways to sign in: enter your email and password directly on the TV using the remote, or go to the website shown on screen from your phone or computer and enter the code.

The phone method is usually faster because typing on a TV remote is slow. Open a web browser on your phone, go to the website shown on your TV screen, and type in the code. Your TV will automatically sign in once you complete the steps on your phone.

After you sign in once, your TV will stay signed in unless you manually sign out. If you share the TV with other people in your home, each person can add their own Google account to the TV, and YouTube will show different recommendations and watch history for each account.

Troubleshooting YouTube on Samsung TV

If YouTube opens but videos will not play, check your internet connection. Open another app like Netflix or a weather app to see if it loads. If nothing loads, restart your TV and your home Wi-Fi router (unplug the router for 30 seconds, then plug it back in). Wait two minutes for the router to fully restart before trying YouTube again.

If YouTube is installed but will not open, or if it crashes when you try to play a video, uninstall and reinstall the app. Go to Apps, find YouTube, select it, and choose "Uninstall." Then go back to the App Store and read it again. This usually fixes crashes and freezing.

If you see an error message about your account or sign-in, sign out of YouTube (go to Settings within the YouTube app, scroll to Account, and select Sign Out), then sign back in with your Google email and password. If the error continues, restart your TV and try again.

Using YouTube features on your Samsung TV

Once YouTube is open and you are signed in, you can search for videos using your remote's arrow buttons and the on-screen keyboard. You can also use voice search on newer Samsung remotes—press the microphone button and say the video title or channel name you want to watch.

Your subscriptions appear on the home screen, so you can see new uploads from channels you follow without searching. You can create playlists, add videos to your watch later list, and pause a video on your TV and resume it on your phone or computer—YouTube remembers where you stopped.

If you want to watch YouTube on your TV while controlling it from your phone, you can cast videos to your TV using the cast button in the YouTube app on your phone. This works on any Samsung TV with YouTube installed and the same home Wi-Fi network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a YouTube TV subscription to watch YouTube on my Samsung TV?

No. The regular YouTube app is free and works on all Samsung smart TVs. YouTube TV is a separate paid service that includes live TV channels. You can watch regular YouTube videos without paying anything.

Can I use the same Google account on multiple TVs?

Yes. Sign into each TV with the same Google account, and your subscriptions and watch history will appear on all of them. If you want different people to have different recommendations, add separate Google accounts to each TV.

What should I do if YouTube keeps freezing or crashing?

Restart your TV first by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If that does not work, uninstall YouTube from your Apps menu, restart your TV again, then reinstall YouTube from the App Store. This clears out any corrupted files that might be causing the problem.

Can I watch YouTube on my Samsung TV without Wi-Fi?

No. YouTube requires an internet connection to stream videos. You need Wi-Fi or a wired ethernet connection plugged into your TV. If your TV does not have an ethernet port, you can use a USB adapter, but Wi-Fi is simpler.

Is there a way to control YouTube on my TV from my phone?

Yes. Use the cast button in the YouTube app on your phone to send videos to your TV. You can also use the Google Home app to control playback if your TV is connected to Google Home. Some Samsung remotes also have a phone app that lets you control the TV from your phone.

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