YouTube TV's multiview feature lets you watch up to four channels simultaneously on one screen

YouTube TV calls this feature multiview, and it works on most devices where you watch YouTube TV — phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs. When you turn it on, your screen splits into smaller windows, each showing a different live channel. You control each window independently: change the channel in one box without affecting the others, unmute one while keeping the rest silent, or expand any window to full screen.

Multiview is built into your YouTube TV membership at no extra cost. The number of channels you can watch at once depends on your device. On phones and tablets you can watch two channels side by side. On computers and some smart TVs you can watch up to four channels in a grid. Not every device supports multiview — older smart TVs and some streaming devices do not have the feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview is a free feature included with YouTube TV that splits your screen into two, three, or four smaller windows showing different live channels at the same time.
  • On phones and tablets, multiview shows two channels side by side; on computers and newer smart TVs, you can watch up to four channels in a grid layout.
  • You turn on multiview by opening the YouTube TV app or website, selecting a channel, then tapping or clicking the multiview icon — usually a grid or split-screen symbol.
  • Each window has its own volume control and channel selector, so you can mute one channel, change another, and keep a third playing without interruption.

How to turn on multiview on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and select any live channel to start watching. Once the channel is playing, look for the multiview icon — it looks like a grid or four small squares — usually in the top right corner of the screen or in the playback controls. Tap it to split your screen.

Your screen will divide into two windows. The channel you were watching stays in one window. The other window shows a list of available live channels. Scroll through and tap the channel you want to watch in the second window. Both channels will now play at the same time, each with its own sound. If you want to change either channel, tap the channel name or the grid icon in that window and select a different one from the list.

To exit multiview, tap the multiview icon again or rotate your phone to landscape mode, which usually returns you to full-screen playback.

How to turn on multiview on a computer or web browser

Go to youtube.tv in your web browser and start watching any live channel. Look for the multiview button in the top right corner of the video player — it typically shows a grid icon. Click it to set up multiview.

Your screen will split into four equal windows arranged in a 2x2 grid. The channel you were watching fills one window. The other three windows display lists of available channels. Click on any channel name to fill that window. You can now watch up to four channels at once, each with independent volume and channel controls. To change a channel in any window, click the channel name in that window and select a new one. To exit multiview, click the multiview button again.

How to turn on multiview on a smart TV or streaming device

Multiview support on smart TVs and streaming devices varies by manufacturer and model. Samsung Smart TVs, Google TV devices, and some newer LG models support multiview. Older models, Roku devices, and Apple TV do not currently offer this feature.

If your device supports multiview, open the YouTube TV app and start watching a live channel. Use your remote to navigate to the multiview icon — usually displayed in the top right of the screen — and press select or enter. Your screen will split into the number of windows your device supports, typically two or four. Use your remote's arrow keys to navigate between windows and select channels from the lists that appear in each one.

Controlling volume and audio in multiview

When multiview is active, each window has its own volume control. On phones and tablets, tap the speaker icon in the corner of the window you want to adjust, then use the volume buttons or slider. On computers, hover over a window and look for the volume icon in the bottom right corner of that window, then click to adjust. On smart TVs, use your remote to navigate to the window you want to control and press the volume buttons.

You can mute one channel completely while keeping others at full volume. You can also unmute all channels and listen to all four at once, though this creates overlapping audio and is usually disorienting. Most people mute all but one window and switch which one is unmuted depending on what they want to watch most closely.

Switching to full screen from multiview

If you want to focus on one channel and make it fill your entire screen, tap or click on the window you want to expand. On most devices, tapping a window automatically expands it to full screen. On some smart TVs, you may need to look for an expand icon within the window. To return to multiview, tap or click the multiview icon again or use the back button on your remote.

You can also swipe between windows on phones and tablets without leaving multiview. Swipe left or right to move focus from one window to the next, which is useful if you want to keep multiview active but concentrate on different channels in sequence.

Troubleshooting multiview problems

If the multiview button does not appear on your device, your device or YouTube TV account may not support the feature. Check that you are using a supported device — phones, tablets, computers, and newer smart TVs generally work, but older models often do not. If you are on a supported device and multiview still does not show, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and opening it again.

If multiview starts but one or both channels freeze or buffer, your internet connection may not be fast enough to stream two or more channels at once. YouTube TV recommends at least 3 Mbps per channel for smooth playback. If you are on WiFi, move closer to your router or restart your modem and router. If the problem continues, try watching only one channel at a time until your connection improves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiview to watch the same channel in two windows?

No. Each window must show a different live channel. If you try to select the same channel in two windows, YouTube TV will either prevent you from doing so or automatically switch one window to a different channel.

Does multiview work with recorded shows or on-demand content?

No. Multiview only works with live channels. If you try to open a recorded show or on-demand program, multiview will turn off automatically and return you to full-screen playback.

Do I need faster internet to use multiview?

Yes. Streaming two or more channels at once requires more bandwidth than streaming one. YouTube TV recommends at least 3 Mbps per channel. If you have a 15 Mbps connection, you can comfortably watch two channels; if you have 25 Mbps or more, you can watch four without buffering.

Can I use multiview on my Roku or Apple TV?

Roku and Apple TV do not currently support multiview. If you want to watch multiple channels at once on these devices, you would need to use a different device like a phone, tablet, computer, or supported smart TV.

What happens to my multiview setup if I pause one channel?

Pausing one channel does not affect the others. Each window plays independently, so you can pause one live channel while the other three continue playing in real time. When you resume playback, that channel will jump back to the live feed.