YouTube TV lets you share your account with up to five other people through a feature called Family Sharing, but each person needs their own Google Account and their own profile on your YouTube TV account
When you set up Family Sharing, you designate one person as the account manager (usually yourself) and add up to five other members. Each member gets their own login, their own DVR library, their own recommendations, and their own watch history. They can watch on different devices at the same time, though YouTube TV limits simultaneous streams depending on your plan — most plans allow three streams at once.
The key difference between Family Sharing and straightforward giving someone your password is control. With Family Sharing, you can remove members without changing your password, set parental controls on individual profiles, and see who is watching what. If you just share your password, you lose all of that.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing lets you add up to five people to your YouTube TV account, each with their own profile, DVR, and watch history.
- Each family member needs their own Google Account, and you add them through the YouTube TV settings on any device.
- Most YouTube TV plans allow three simultaneous streams, so more than three people cannot watch at the same time.
- You can remove a family member at any time without changing your password, and you can set parental controls on individual profiles.
- Family members in different countries may not be able to watch together, and YouTube TV only works in the United States.
How to add family members to your YouTube TV account
Start on any device where you are signed into YouTube TV — a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. Go to Settings (the gear icon), then select Family Sharing. You will see a list of current family members and a button to add a new one.
Click or tap Add Member. Enter the email address of the Google Account belonging to the person you want to add. They do not need to have YouTube TV yet — they just need a Google Account. YouTube TV will send them an invitation, and they can accept it on their phone, computer, or TV. Once they accept, they appear in your family group and can start watching when ready.
Each person you add counts toward your limit of six total members (you plus five others). If you reach six, you must remove someone before you can add anyone new.
What each family member can and cannot do
Every family member can watch live TV and on-demand shows, record programs to their own DVR, and create their own watchlist. They see their own recommendations based on what they watch, and their watch history is separate from everyone else's.
The account manager (the person who set up Family Sharing) can remove members, change parental control settings, and see a list of all family members. Regular members cannot add or remove other people, and they cannot change account settings. If you want to give someone else manager rights, you have to remove them and re-add them as a manager — YouTube TV does not have a way to change roles without doing this.
One important limit: YouTube TV counts simultaneous streams across all family members. If your plan allows three streams at once and three people are already watching, a fourth person will see a message that they cannot start watching until someone stops. This applies whether they are in the same house or in different cities.
Setting up parental controls for younger viewers
If you add a child or teenager to your family group, you can restrict what they can watch. Go to Settings, select Parental Controls, and choose the profile you want to restrict. You can block channels, block shows by content rating (TV-14, TV-MA, and so on), and require a PIN to watch restricted content.
The PIN is separate from your Google Account password. When a family member tries to watch something that is blocked, they will be asked to enter the PIN. You set this PIN yourself, so make sure it is something you remember but that younger viewers cannot guess.
Parental controls explore only to the profile you set them on. If you add a PIN to your child's profile, it does not affect your own profile or anyone else's.
Removing a family member without changing your password
Go to Settings, then Family Sharing. Find the person you want to remove and click or tap the three-dot menu next to their name. Select Remove Member. They will lose access to YouTube TV when ready, but your password stays the same and all other family members keep their access.
When you remove someone, their DVR recordings and watch history are deleted. If they were the account manager, you become the manager automatically. There is no way to transfer manager status to someone else without removing them first and re-adding them.
Troubleshooting common sharing problems
If someone you invited is not seeing the invitation, ask them to check their email (including spam folders) for a message from YouTube TV. The invitation usually arrives within a few minutes. If it does not arrive after an hour, try removing them and adding them again.
If a family member can sign into YouTube TV but cannot watch anything, they may be in a different country than your account. YouTube TV only works in the United States, and if someone tries to watch from outside the US, they will be blocked even if they are part of your family group. They can watch again once they return to the US.
If you are hitting the simultaneous stream limit and need more streams at once, check your YouTube TV plan. Some plans include more simultaneous streams than others. You can see your plan details in Settings under Membership.
The difference between Family Sharing and sharing your password
If you straightforward give someone your YouTube TV password without using Family Sharing, they can watch, but you cannot see what they are watching, you cannot remove them without changing your password, and you cannot set parental controls on their profile. They also see your watch history and recommendations mixed with theirs.
Family Sharing is designed to avoid these problems. It gives you control, privacy for each person, and the ability to add or remove people without disrupting your own account. If you have been sharing your password, switching to Family Sharing takes about two minutes and is worth doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my YouTube TV account with someone who lives in a different state?
Yes. Family members can watch from anywhere in the United States. However, if someone travels outside the US, they cannot watch until they return, even if they are part of your family group. This is a YouTube TV restriction, not a Family Sharing one.
What happens if more than three people try to watch at the same time?
The fourth person will see a message saying they cannot start watching because the account has reached its simultaneous stream limit. They have to wait until someone else stops watching. Check your YouTube TV plan to see how many simultaneous streams you are allowed.
Can I remove someone from Family Sharing without them knowing?
Yes. When you remove a family member, they lose access when ready, but YouTube TV does not send them a notification. They will notice when they try to open the app and are no longer signed in.
Do family members need to pay for their own YouTube TV subscription?
No. Once you add them to your Family Sharing group, they can watch using your subscription. You pay for one YouTube TV plan, and up to six people (including you) can use it.
Can I change someone from a regular member to a manager?
Not directly. To give someone manager status, you have to remove them from Family Sharing and then add them again. YouTube TV will ask you to choose their role when you re-add them.