What Multiview Does and Which Devices Support It

Multiview lets you watch up to four live channels at once on a single screen. Instead of switching between channels, you see them all in split-screen tiles. One tile plays sound while the others are muted, and you can swap which one has audio by clicking it.

Multiview works on most devices, but not all. You can use it on web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox), Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 or later, Fire tablets, Roku devices, Google TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. It does not work on Apple TV, Chromecast, or older Roku models from before 2019.

You need an active YouTube TV subscription to use Multiview. The feature is included with your regular subscription at no extra cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview is built into YouTube TV and costs nothing extra — it comes with your regular subscription.
  • You can watch up to four channels at once, with sound coming from whichever tile you tap.
  • The feature works on phones, tablets, computers, and most smart TVs, but not on Apple TV or Chromecast.
  • On a phone or tablet, swipe up from the bottom to open the channel guide, then tap the grid icon to turn Multiview on.
  • On a computer or smart TV, look for the grid icon in the player controls or main menu.

Turning Multiview On and Off on Your Phone or Tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and start watching any live channel. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the channel guide. In the top right corner of the guide, you will see a grid icon (four small squares). Tap it to turn Multiview on.

The screen splits into four tiles, each showing a different channel. The channels that were already playing will fill some tiles. To add more channels, tap an empty tile and select a channel from the guide. To remove a channel from a tile, tap the X in the corner of that tile.

To turn Multiview off, swipe up again and tap the grid icon a second time. The screen returns to single-channel view.

Setting Up Multiview on a Computer

Go to youtube.tv in your web browser and sign in. Start watching any live channel. Look for the grid icon in the player controls at the bottom of the video window. Click it to turn Multiview on.

The screen divides into four tiles. Click any empty tile to open the channel guide and pick a new channel. Click the X on a tile to remove that channel. Click any tile to unmute it and hear its audio — only one tile plays sound at a time.

To exit Multiview, click the grid icon again.

Using Multiview on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

On Roku, Google TV, and Samsung Smart TVs, open the YouTube TV app and start watching a channel. Use your remote to navigate to the grid icon, usually found in the player menu or top corner of the screen. Press select to turn Multiview on.

The screen splits into four tiles. Use your remote's arrow buttons to move between tiles. Press select on an empty tile to open the channel list and choose a new channel. Press the back or exit button on your remote to remove a channel from a tile.

On Fire tablets, the process is the same as phones: swipe up from the bottom to show the channel guide, then tap the grid icon in the top right.

Switching Audio Between Channels in Multiview

Only one channel plays sound at a time in Multiview. To hear a different channel, tap or click the tile you want to listen to. The audio switches when ready to that channel, and the other three tiles stay muted.

On a smart TV remote, press select on the tile whose audio you want to hear. On a phone or tablet, tap the tile. On a computer, click it.

Troubleshooting Multiview Problems

If the grid icon does not appear, check that you are watching a live channel, not a recording or on-demand show. Multiview only works with live TV. Also confirm that your device is on the supported list — Apple TV and Chromecast do not support Multiview.

If Multiview turns on but channels are not loading, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and opening it again. On a computer, refresh the page. If a tile stays blank, tap or click it and select a different channel from the guide.

If you see a message that Multiview is unavailable, your subscription may have lapsed or your account may be in a region where the feature is not yet available. Check your subscription status in account settings.

When Multiview Is Useful

Multiview works best when you want to follow multiple games, news events, or shows happening at the same time. Sports fans often use it during playoff season to watch several games at once. News watchers use it to compare coverage across channels during breaking news.

You can also use Multiview to keep one channel on while browsing the guide on another tile, letting you preview what is coming up without losing your place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save a Multiview layout so it opens the same way every time?

No, YouTube TV does not save Multiview layouts. Each time you turn Multiview on, you start with four blank tiles and must select channels again. You can set them up in seconds once you know which channels you want.

Does Multiview work with DVR recordings or on-demand shows?

No, Multiview only works with live channels. If you try to add a recording or on-demand title to a tile, it will not play. You can only use Multiview when watching live TV.

Can I use Multiview on two devices at the same time?

You can watch Multiview on one device while someone else watches YouTube TV normally on another device, as long as your subscription plan allows multiple simultaneous streams. Most YouTube TV plans allow two streams at once, so one person could use Multiview while another watches a single channel.

What happens to Multiview if I pause one channel?

Pausing one tile pauses only that channel. The other three tiles keep playing live. When you resume, that tile catches up to live TV. This is useful if you want to rewind one channel to see something you missed without stopping the others.

Is there a way to make one tile bigger than the others in Multiview?

No, all four tiles are the same size in Multiview. You can only control which tile has audio by tapping or clicking it. If you want to focus on one channel, exit Multiview and watch that channel full-screen instead.