YouTube TV's split-screen feature lets you watch two live channels side by side on compatible devices

YouTube TV's multiview feature displays two live channels at the same time on the same screen. One channel plays with full sound while the other is muted, and you can swap which one has audio or close either window. The feature works on most phones, tablets, and computers, though the exact steps differ slightly by device type.

Multiview is included with your YouTube TV membership at no extra cost. You do not need a separate subscription or special account setting to use it. The feature is available whether you are watching on the YouTube TV app, a web browser, or a connected TV device that supports it.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview works on phones, tablets, computers, and some connected TV devices, but not all devices support the feature equally.
  • On phones and tablets, you swipe up from the bottom of the screen or tap a dedicated multiview button to open the second channel window.
  • On computers, you click the multiview icon in the player controls to add a second channel to your view.
  • One channel always plays with sound while the other is muted; you can switch which one has audio by tapping or clicking the unmute icon.
  • Multiview works only with live channels, not with recorded shows or on-demand content.

How to set up multiview on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and start watching a live channel. Once the video is playing, swipe up from the bottom of the screen with one finger. A second channel window will appear at the bottom of your screen, showing the guide or your recent channels. The main channel continues playing at full size above it.

Tap the channel you want to add to the second window. The two channels now display side by side or stacked, depending on your device orientation. If you are holding your phone in portrait mode (vertical), the channels stack on top of each other. If you rotate to landscape mode (horizontal), they sit side by side, which gives each channel more screen space.

To switch which channel has sound, tap the speaker icon on the channel you want to unmute. The other channel automatically mutes. To close the second window and return to single-channel viewing, swipe down or tap the X button in the corner of the second window.

How to set up multiview on a computer or web browser

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in to your account. Start playing any live channel. Look for the multiview icon in the player controls at the bottom of the video—it looks like two overlapping rectangles or windows. Click that icon to open a second channel window.

A second player will appear on the right side of your screen (or below the first one if your browser window is narrow). Click any channel in the guide on the left to add it to the second player. You can now watch two channels at once, with one playing sound and the other muted.

Click the speaker icon on whichever channel you want to hear. To close multiview, click the multiview icon again, and the second player will disappear.

How to use multiview on a connected TV or streaming device

Multiview support varies widely on TV devices. Some devices like Google TV, Android TV, and certain Samsung Smart TVs support multiview, while others do not. The YouTube TV app on your TV will show a multiview button in the player controls if your device supports the feature.

If you see the multiview button (usually two overlapping rectangles), press it using your remote to open a second channel window. Use your remote to navigate the guide and select a second channel. If you do not see a multiview button, your device does not support the feature, and you will need to use your phone, tablet, or computer instead.

Switching channels and controlling sound in multiview

Once multiview is active, you can change either channel without closing the other. Tap or click on a channel window to make it active, then use the guide or search to find a different channel. The active window will switch to your new selection while the other channel keeps playing.

Only one channel plays sound at a time. The speaker icon appears on the channel that is currently unmuted. Tap or click the speaker icon on the other channel to transfer sound to it. This is useful if you want to follow one channel closely while keeping an eye on another—for example, watching a game while monitoring the score on a news channel.

Limitations and when multiview does not work

Multiview works only with live channels. You cannot use it to watch two recorded shows, two on-demand programs, or a mix of live and recorded content at the same time. If you try to open multiview while watching a recorded show, the feature will not set up.

Some older devices and TV models do not support multiview at all. If the multiview button does not appear in your player controls, your device is not compatible. In that case, you can still watch one channel at a time, or use a phone or tablet to watch a second channel separately.

Multiview also requires a stable internet connection. If your connection is slow or unstable, streaming two channels at once may cause buffering or quality drops on one or both channels. If this happens, close one channel and watch only one at a time.

Troubleshooting multiview problems

If the multiview button does not appear or the feature stops working, first check that you are watching a live channel, not a recorded show. Recorded content does not support multiview. If you are watching live and multiview still will not set up, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and reopening it.

If multiview works on some devices but not others, the device that is not working may not support the feature. Check the YouTube TV help center for a list of compatible devices, or try using a different phone, tablet, or computer. If you are on a web browser, try a different browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) to see if the issue is browser-specific.

If both channels are buffering or freezing, your internet connection may not be fast enough to stream two channels at once. Try closing multiview and watching one channel, or move closer to your Wi-Fi router to improve your signal strength.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch two recorded shows at the same time with multiview?

No. Multiview works only with live channels. If you want to watch two recorded shows, you will need to watch them one at a time, or use two separate devices to watch them simultaneously.

Does multiview use more data than watching one channel?

Yes, streaming two channels at once uses roughly twice as much data as streaming one channel. If you have a limited data plan, multiview may cause you to reach your limit faster. Watching over Wi-Fi instead of cellular data is a good way to avoid data overage charges.

What should I do if multiview is not available on my TV?

If your TV does not support multiview, you can use your phone, tablet, or computer to watch two channels at once instead. You can also check if a software update for your TV or streaming device is available, as newer updates sometimes add multiview support to devices that did not have it before.

Can I resize the windows in multiview to make one channel bigger than the other?

On most devices, the two windows are fixed in size and cannot be resized. On computers, you may be able to adjust your browser window size to change how much space each channel takes up, but the windows themselves do not have individual resize controls.

Does multiview work if I am watching on multiple devices at the same time?

YouTube TV allows you to watch on multiple devices at once, depending on your membership plan. Multiview on one device does not prevent you from watching on another device. However, if you exceed the number of simultaneous streams your plan allows, one of the streams will stop.