The fastest way to watch YouTube TV on your TV
YouTube TV works on your television through a streaming device, a smart TV app, or a web browser cast to your screen. The easiest route depends on what equipment you already own. If you have a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast, you can read the YouTube TV app directly to that device and sign in. If your television is a smart TV made by Samsung, LG, Sony, or another major brand in the last five years, it likely has YouTube TV built in—you just need to find and open the app. If you have none of these, you can cast from your phone or computer to any TV with a Chromecast device plugged into it.
Each method takes only a few minutes to set up. Once you sign in with your YouTube TV account on any device, that device remembers you and you can start watching when ready. Your account works across all your devices at the same time, so you can watch on your phone while someone else watches on the TV in another room.
Key Takeaways
- Streaming devices like Roku, Fire Stick, and Apple TV let you read the YouTube TV app and watch when ready after signing in with your account.
- Most smart TVs made in the last five years have YouTube TV pre-installed; look for it in your TV's app menu or search for it by name.
- If you own a Google Chromecast or have one built into your TV, you can cast YouTube TV from your phone or computer to your television.
- You need an active YouTube TV account to sign in on any device; the app itself is free to read, but the service requires a paid subscription.
Using a streaming device you already own
If you have a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Google TV device connected to your television, the YouTube TV app is available in each device's app store. On Roku, go to the home screen, select the Roku Channel Store, search for "YouTube TV," and select Install. On Fire Stick, open the Alexa app menu, go to Apps, search for YouTube TV, and select Get. On Apple TV, open the App Store, search for YouTube TV, and select Get. On Google TV devices, open the Google Play Store, search for YouTube TV, and select Install.
Once the app is installed, open it and sign in with the email and password for your YouTube TV account. If you do not have an account yet, you will need to create one on YouTube's website first—the app will not let you sign up from the device itself. After you sign in, the app will load your channels, recordings, and settings. You can then browse and watch live TV or on-demand content the same way you would on a phone or computer. The device will stay signed in until you manually sign out, so you will not have to enter your password every time you want to watch.
Finding YouTube TV on a smart TV
Most televisions sold by Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and TCL in the last five years come with YouTube TV pre-installed. Look at your TV's home screen or app menu—YouTube TV usually appears as a tile or icon you can select directly. If you do not see it, use your remote's search or voice command feature to look for "YouTube TV" by name. Some TVs let you say the app name into the remote microphone; others have a search button that opens a text field.
When you open YouTube TV on a smart TV for the first time, you will be asked to sign in. The TV will show you a code on the screen and direct you to a website where you enter that code along with your YouTube account details. This process is called device linking and keeps you from having to type your password on the TV itself. Once linked, the app will load and you can start watching. If your TV is older or from a brand that does not include YouTube TV, you will need to use a separate streaming device instead.
Casting from your phone or computer
If your television has a Chromecast device plugged into an HDMI port, or if your TV has Chromecast built in (many newer models do), you can send YouTube TV from your phone or computer to the big screen. On an Android phone, open the YouTube TV app, tap the cast icon in the top right corner, select your TV from the list, and the video will play on your television while you control it from your phone. On an iPhone, the process is the same: open YouTube TV, tap the cast icon, and choose your TV.
From a computer, open YouTube TV in a web browser, click the cast icon (usually in the top right or bottom right of the player), select your TV, and the stream will move to your television. Your computer screen will show a smaller player so you can still navigate or adjust volume. Casting works well for occasional viewing, but if you watch YouTube TV regularly, installing the app directly on a streaming device or smart TV is more convenient because you will not have to cast every time.
What to do if your TV is not compatible
Older televisions and some budget models do not have YouTube TV built in and cannot receive a cast signal. In these cases, you need to buy a separate streaming device. A Google Chromecast with Google TV costs around $30 to $50 and gives you access to YouTube TV plus thousands of other apps. A Roku device starts around $30 for a basic model. An Amazon Fire Stick starts around $40. An Apple TV starts around $100 but works well if you already use other Apple products.
Once you plug the device into an HDMI port on your TV and connect it to your home Wi-Fi, you can read the YouTube TV app and sign in. The device will remember your account, so you will not have to sign in again unless you uninstall the app or reset the device. If you are unsure which device to buy, check whether your TV brand is listed above—if it is, you may already have YouTube TV available and do not need to buy anything.
Signing in and troubleshooting common problems
When you sign in to YouTube TV on a new device, use the same email address and password you use for your main Google account. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Google account, you may be asked to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your phone or email. This is normal and adds security to your account. After you sign in once, most devices will keep you logged in unless you manually sign out or the device loses internet connection.
If the app will not load or you see an error message, first check that your device is connected to your home Wi-Fi and that your internet speed is at least 3 megabits per second for standard definition or 8 megabits per second for high definition. Restart the app by closing it completely and opening it again. If that does not work, restart your streaming device or TV. If YouTube TV still will not load after a restart, sign out and sign back in. If you continue to have problems, check the YouTube TV Help Center on Google's website for troubleshooting steps specific to your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch YouTube TV on multiple TVs at the same time?
Your YouTube TV account allows you to watch on up to three devices at once, but only two can be streaming at the same time if they are on the same home network. If you want to watch on multiple TVs in different rooms, you can sign in on each TV separately, and they will share the same account and recordings.
Do I need to pay extra to use YouTube TV on my TV?
No. The YouTube TV app is free to read on any device. You only pay for the YouTube TV subscription itself, which is a monthly fee. That subscription works on all your devices—phone, computer, tablet, and TV—at no extra cost.
What if I forget my YouTube TV password?
Go to the Google Account recovery page on a computer or phone, enter your email address, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have a new password, you can sign in on your TV device. You may need to sign out of the app first and then sign back in with the new password.
Can I use YouTube TV if my internet is slow?
YouTube TV needs at least 3 megabits per second to stream in standard definition and 8 megabits per second for high definition. If your internet is slower than that, the app may buffer or not play at all. Contact your internet provider to check your speed, or move your streaming device closer to your Wi-Fi router to improve the signal.
Why is YouTube TV not showing up in my smart TV's app menu?
Older smart TVs or those from smaller brands may not have YouTube TV pre-installed. Check your TV's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if an update is available that adds the app. If not, you will need to use a separate streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick instead.