Disconnect Your TV From YouTube in Three Steps

To unlink YouTube from your TV using your phone, open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, select Settings, then Connected apps, find your TV device in the list, and tap Remove or the trash icon next to it. The TV will lose access to your YouTube account within seconds. You can also do this from a web browser by visiting myaccount.google.com, selecting Security on the left, scrolling to Your devices, and removing the TV from there.

The phone method is faster if you're already watching on your TV and want to disconnect when ready. The web method works better if you're away from home or managing multiple devices at once. Either way, the TV will be signed out of your account and will need to be re-linked if you want to use YouTube on it again.

Key Takeaways

  • The quickest way to unlink is through the YouTube app on your phone: tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Connected apps, and remove your TV device.
  • You can also unlink from a web browser at myaccount.google.com by going to Security and removing the device from Your devices.
  • Once removed, your TV will be signed out of YouTube within seconds and will not have access to your account.
  • If you unlink by mistake, you can re-link your TV to YouTube by opening the YouTube app on the TV and signing in again with your phone.

Using the YouTube App on Your Phone to Disconnect

Open the YouTube app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. A menu will drop down with several options. Tap Settings near the bottom of that menu.

In Settings, look for an option called Connected apps or Devices & Family (the exact name varies by phone type and YouTube app version). Tap it. You will see a list of all devices linked to your YouTube account, including your TV, phones, tablets, and any other screens you use.

Find your TV in that list. It will usually show the TV's name or model number. Tap on it, then look for a Remove button, a trash icon, or an X button. Tap that button to confirm. YouTube will unlink the TV from your account when ready.

Using Google Account Settings on a Web Browser

If you prefer to unlink from a computer or if the app method does not show your TV, use Google Account settings instead. Go to myaccount.google.com in any web browser and sign in with the same Google account linked to your TV.

On the left side of the page, click Security. Scroll down until you see a section called Your devices or Manage all your devices. Click on it. You will see a list of every device connected to your Google account.

Find your TV in the list. It may show as "Living Room TV" or by its actual model name. Click on it to open its details, then look for a Remove device or Sign out button. Click that button and confirm when prompted. The TV will be unlinked within a few seconds.

What Happens After You Unlink

Once you remove your TV, it will no longer have access to your YouTube account. If someone tries to open YouTube on that TV, they will see a sign-in screen instead of your account. The TV will not automatically sign out of other apps or services—only YouTube is affected.

Your watch history, subscriptions, and saved playlists remain in your Google account and will be there if you link the TV again later. Unlinking does not delete anything from your account; it only removes that device's permission to use it.

Re-linking Your TV if You Change Your Mind

If you unlink your TV by mistake or want to reconnect it later, the process is straightforward. Open the YouTube app on your TV and select Sign in. The TV will show a code on the screen.

On your phone, open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then Connected apps. Tap Link a device or Add device. Enter the code shown on your TV screen. Your phone will confirm the link, and your TV will be reconnected to your account within seconds.

Troubleshooting if the TV Does Not Unlink

If you tap Remove but the TV still appears in your Connected apps list after a few minutes, try signing out of YouTube on the TV itself. Go to the YouTube app on your TV, open the menu, and select Sign out. Then return to your phone and remove the device again.

If the TV still does not disappear, restart both your phone and your TV. Sometimes the connection between devices takes a moment to update. If the problem continues, try unlinking from the web browser method instead of the app—occasionally one method works when the other does not.

Unlinking Multiple TVs at Once

If you have more than one TV linked to your account, you can remove them all from the same menu. In the YouTube app on your phone, go to Settings and Connected apps. You will see every TV and device listed separately. Tap each one you want to remove and confirm the removal.

The web browser method also shows all devices at once, which can be faster if you are managing many TVs or if you want to see the full list before deciding which ones to keep. This is useful if you have moved, upgraded your TV, or want to clean up old devices you no longer use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unlinking my TV sign me out of other apps like Netflix or Spotify?

No. Unlinking YouTube only removes that TV's access to your YouTube account. Other apps and services remain signed in unless you manually sign out of them separately on the TV.

Can someone else use YouTube on my TV after I unlink it?

Yes. Once unlinked, the TV will show a sign-in screen. Anyone can open the YouTube app and sign in with their own Google account. The TV itself is not locked—only your account is removed from it.

What if I do not see my TV in the Connected apps list?

Make sure you are signed into the YouTube app on your phone with the same Google account that is linked to your TV. If you use multiple Google accounts, the TV may be linked to a different one. Check which account is active on your TV by opening YouTube and looking at the profile picture.

Does unlinking delete my watch history or subscriptions?

No. Your watch history, subscriptions, playlists, and all other account data stay in your Google account. Unlinking only removes the TV's permission to access your account—nothing is deleted.

How long does it take for the TV to unlink after I tap Remove?

Usually within 5 to 10 seconds. If the TV still shows your account after a minute, refresh the YouTube app on the TV or restart it. The connection sometimes takes a moment to update across all devices.