Getting YouTube TV on Your Smart TV
YouTube TV works on most smart TVs through the YouTube TV app, which you read directly to your TV the same way you would read Netflix or any other streaming app. The process takes about five minutes: you search for "YouTube TV" in your TV's app store, install it, sign in with your Google account, and start watching. Your TV needs an internet connection — either built-in WiFi or a wired ethernet cable — and a Google account with an active YouTube TV subscription.
The exact steps vary slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku TV, or Android TV, but the principle is the same on all of them. If your TV is older or doesn't have YouTube TV in its app store, you have other ways to get YouTube TV on your screen — a streaming device, a cable box, or casting from your phone — which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV is available as an app on most smart TVs made in the last five years; search your TV's app store for "YouTube TV" and install it like you would Netflix.
- You need a Google account and an active YouTube TV subscription to sign in; the app itself is free to read.
- If your TV doesn't have the app, you can use a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast device to stream YouTube TV instead.
- YouTube TV requires a stable internet connection and works best on WiFi or ethernet; test your connection speed if video keeps buffering.
- You can watch on multiple devices at once depending on your subscription plan, but only a limited number of streams can play simultaneously on the same account.
How to read YouTube TV on Different TV Brands
Samsung TVs (2016 and newer) have YouTube TV built into the app store. Press the Home button on your remote, navigate to Apps, search for "YouTube TV," and select Install. Once it finishes, open the app and sign in with your Google account.
LG TVs with webOS (2016 and newer) work the same way: press the Home button, go to the LG Content Store, search for YouTube TV, and install. The app opens when ready after installation.
Sony TVs running Android TV have YouTube TV in the Google Play Store. Press the Home button, select Apps, search for YouTube TV, and install. Sony TVs often come with YouTube TV pre-installed, so check your apps first before searching.
Roku TVs have a dedicated Roku Channel Store. Press the Home button, select Streaming Channels, search for YouTube TV, and add it to your home screen. Roku devices (like Roku Streaming Stick or Roku Ultra) work the same way.
Android TVs from brands like Philips, Hisense, and TCL access the Google Play Store the same way Sony does. Press Home, go to Apps, search YouTube TV, and install.
What to Do If Your TV Doesn't Have YouTube TV
If your TV is older or the app straightforward isn't available in your TV's store, you have four alternatives that all work well. The easiest is usually a streaming device — a Roku Streaming Stick, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast — which plugs into your TV's HDMI port and gives you access to YouTube TV through its own app store. These devices cost between $25 and $70 depending on the model and features.
A second option is casting from your phone. If you have an Android phone or an iPhone, you can open the YouTube TV app on your phone, tap the Cast button, select your TV, and watch on the big screen. This works if your TV and phone are on the same WiFi network. Casting is free but requires you to hold or keep your phone nearby.
A third option is a cable box or satellite box if you subscribe to cable or satellite TV through a provider that offers YouTube TV as an add-on channel. This is less common but worth checking with your provider.
The fourth option is a computer or laptop connected to your TV via HDMI cable, though this is the least convenient for regular watching.
Signing In and Setting Up Your Account
Once the YouTube TV app is open on your TV, you'll see a sign-in screen. You can sign in one of two ways: enter your Google account email and password directly on your TV using the remote (which is slow), or use a faster method called sign in on another device. This shows you a code on your TV; you go to youtube.com/tv/signin on your phone or computer, enter that code, and your TV signs in automatically.
After you sign in, the app checks whether your Google account has an active YouTube TV subscription. If it does, you're ready to watch when ready. If you don't have a subscription yet, the app will prompt you to start one through Google Play or your TV's payment method.
You can sign in on multiple TVs with the same account, but YouTube TV limits how many people can watch at the same time. Most plans allow two simultaneous streams; some higher-tier plans allow more. If someone else on your account is already watching and you try to start a third stream, YouTube TV will pause one of the other streams.
Troubleshooting Connection and Playback Problems
If YouTube TV won't load or video keeps stopping, the first step is to check your internet connection. YouTube TV needs at least 3 Mbps for standard definition and 7 Mbps for HD. You can test your speed on any device using speedtest.net. If your speed is lower than that, move your TV closer to your WiFi router, or run an ethernet cable directly from your router to your TV if it has an ethernet port.
If your connection is fast enough but video still buffers, try these steps in order: restart the YouTube TV app by closing it completely and reopening it; restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds; restart your WiFi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the problem persists, check whether other devices on your WiFi are using a lot of bandwidth (streaming video, downloading files, or gaming), and pause those if possible.
If the app won't open at all, check that your TV's software is up to date. Go to your TV's Settings menu, look for System Update or Software Update, and install any available updates. After updating, restart your TV and try opening YouTube TV again.
Using YouTube TV Features on Your Smart TV
Once you're signed in and watching, the YouTube TV remote controls work like any other streaming app. Use the arrow buttons to navigate menus, the Select button to choose shows or channels, and the back button to go to the previous screen. Most remotes also have a voice search button (usually marked with a microphone) that lets you say a show name instead of typing it.
YouTube TV on your TV includes all the same features as the phone or web version: live TV guide, cloud DVR (which records shows automatically so you can watch them later), and the ability to rewind live TV up to 72 hours. The DVR is included with your subscription and stores recordings for up to nine months.
You can also create separate profiles within your YouTube TV account so different family members have their own watch history and recommendations. Go to Settings in the YouTube TV app, select Users & Families, and add profiles for each person in your household.
Managing Multiple Devices and Accounts
If you have YouTube TV on more than one TV in your home, you can sign in with the same account on all of them. Each TV will show the same live channels and DVR library, but remember that simultaneous streams are limited. If you're watching on the living room TV and someone starts watching on the bedroom TV at the same time, that counts as two streams.
If you want to watch YouTube TV away from home — at a friend's house or while traveling — you can sign in on their TV using the same method. However, YouTube TV checks your location periodically. If you're outside your home network for more than 30 days, you may be asked to sign in again or verify your home location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay extra to read YouTube TV on my smart TV?
No. The YouTube TV app is free to read. You only pay for a YouTube TV subscription, which you would have whether you watch on your phone, computer, or TV. The subscription cost is the same regardless of which device you use.
Can I use YouTube TV if my internet is slow?
YouTube TV needs at least 3 Mbps for standard definition video. If your internet is slower than that, video will buffer frequently. You can test your speed at speedtest.net. If it's too slow, try moving your TV closer to your WiFi router or connecting an ethernet cable directly to your TV if it has an ethernet port.
What happens if two people try to watch at the same time?
Most YouTube TV plans allow two simultaneous streams. If a third person tries to start watching, YouTube TV will pause one of the other streams and ask which one should continue. Some higher-tier subscription plans allow more simultaneous streams; check your subscription details in the YouTube TV app.
Can I watch YouTube TV on my TV without WiFi?
No. YouTube TV requires an internet connection at all times. You can connect via WiFi or an ethernet cable plugged directly into your TV, but you cannot watch without one or the other.
Will YouTube TV work on my old TV?
If your TV is older than about 2016 or doesn't have built-in apps, YouTube TV probably isn't available in your TV's app store. You can still watch YouTube TV by connecting a streaming device like a Roku Stick, Fire TV Stick, or Chromecast to your TV's HDMI port. These devices cost $25 to $70 and give you access to YouTube TV and other streaming apps.