Unlink a TV from your YouTube account in three steps

To unlink a TV device from YouTube, sign into your Google Account on a computer or phone, go to your Google Account settings, find the connected devices section, and remove the TV from the list. The TV will no longer have access to your YouTube account after you do this. You can also unlink directly from the TV itself in most cases by signing out of YouTube in the app settings.

The method you choose depends on whether you have access to the TV right now and whether you want to keep using YouTube on that device with a different account. Both routes take less than five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can unlink a TV from your YouTube account through your Google Account settings on any web browser or phone.
  • Signing out of the YouTube app directly on the TV is the fastest method if the device is in front of you.
  • Unlinking removes your account from that TV but does not delete the YouTube app itself.
  • After unlinking, the TV can still access YouTube, but it will not show your watch history, subscriptions, or saved playlists.

Unlink through your Google Account settings

Open a web browser on your computer or phone and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with the Google Account linked to your TV. On the left side of the page, click Security. Scroll down to the section labeled Your devices and click Manage all devices.

Find the TV in the list of devices. It will show the TV model name and the last date it was used. Click on it to open the device details. At the bottom of the page, click Remove or Sign out. Confirm the action when prompted. Your YouTube account is now unlinked from that TV.

Unlink directly from the TV

If you are standing in front of the TV, you can unlink it without using a computer. On the TV remote, open the YouTube app. Press the profile icon (usually in the top right corner of the screen). Scroll down and select Settings.

Look for an option labeled Sign out, Remove account, or Disconnect — the exact wording varies by TV brand and YouTube app version. Select it and confirm. The TV will return to the YouTube home screen without any account linked. You can now sign in with a different Google Account if you want.

What happens after you unlink

Once you unlink your account, that TV no longer has access to your YouTube history, subscriptions, saved playlists, or watch later list. Anyone who uses the TV will see the public YouTube home page instead of your personalized feed. The YouTube app itself stays on the TV — you are only removing your account from it.

If you want to use YouTube on that TV again, you can sign back in with the same account or a different one. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can link and unlink accounts.

Unlink a TV you no longer have access to

If you sold the TV, gave it away, or no longer have it in your home, you can still unlink it remotely through your Google Account settings. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, then Manage all devices. Find the TV in the list and click Remove. This prevents anyone who now owns that TV from seeing your YouTube account or history.

If you cannot find the TV in your devices list, it may have already been removed automatically. Google removes devices from your account after they have not been used for several months. You can also change your Google Account password, which will sign out all devices except the one you are currently using.

Troubleshooting if the unlink does not work

If you unlinked the TV but it still shows your account, try restarting the TV completely. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Open YouTube again and check whether your account is still there. If it is, try signing out again from the TV settings.

If the TV is an older model, the YouTube app may not support unlinking through the app itself. In that case, use the Google Account settings method instead. If you still see the account after both methods, restart your TV one more time and wait a few hours — sometimes the change takes time to sync across Google's servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unlinking delete my YouTube videos or channel?

No. Unlinking only removes your account from that specific TV device. Your YouTube channel, videos, playlists, and all other account data remain on Google's servers and are not affected. You can sign back into your account on any other device and everything will be there.

Can I unlink a TV if I forgot the password?

Yes. Use the Google Account settings method on a computer or phone where you are already signed in. You do not need the TV password — only access to your Google Account. If you cannot sign into your Google Account anywhere, you will need to recover it through Google's account recovery process first.

What if someone else linked their account to my TV?

Go to your Google Account settings, find the TV in your devices list, and remove it. This unlinks their account from the TV. They will no longer be able to use YouTube on that TV with their account. If you want to use YouTube yourself, you can then sign in with your own account.

Does unlinking the TV sign me out on other devices?

No. Unlinking only affects that one TV. Your YouTube account will still be active on your phone, computer, tablet, and any other devices where you are signed in. You would need to sign out separately on each device if you want to unlink them all.

Can I unlink a TV without a Google Account password?

Yes, if you use the TV method. Open the YouTube app on the TV, go to Settings, and select Sign out. You do not need a password to sign out on the device itself. If you use the Google Account settings method on a computer, you will need to sign in to your account, which may require a password depending on your security settings.