Watch two games side by side using YouTube TV's multiview feature

YouTube TV's multiview feature lets you watch up to four live streams at the same time on one screen. The streams appear in a grid layout — you pick which games or channels you want to see, and they all play together. You control the audio: mute three streams and listen to one, or mute all of them and turn on your own commentary.

Multiview works on most devices where YouTube TV runs — phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs. The feature is included with your YouTube TV membership at no extra cost. Not every sport or channel supports it, but the major ones do: NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, and soccer all have multiview options during their seasons.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview shows up to four live streams in a grid on one screen, with you controlling which audio stream you hear.
  • The feature works on phones, tablets, computers, and compatible smart TVs without any extra subscription.
  • Major sports leagues offer multiview during their seasons, but you need to check the app to see which games support it on any given day.
  • On a phone or tablet, you can also open YouTube TV in two browser tabs side by side to watch different games, though this uses more data.
  • If your TV doesn't support multiview, connecting a computer or streaming device to an HDMI input gives you the same four-game view on your television.

How to turn on multiview on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and find a sport or event that offers multiview — you'll see a small grid icon next to the channel name or in the event details. Tap that icon to enter multiview mode. The app will show you available games or channels and let you pick which ones to display. Once you've selected your four streams, they'll appear in a 2x2 grid.

To change the audio, tap the speaker icon in the corner of whichever stream you want to hear. That stream's audio will play through your device speakers or headphones. You can swap which game is in which corner by tapping and dragging the streams around. If you want to exit multiview and watch just one game full-screen, tap the stream you want to expand.

Setting up multiview on a computer or web browser

Go to YouTube TV's website and sign in. Navigate to the sport or event that supports multiview — again, look for the grid icon. Click it to open multiview mode. You'll see a list of available games; select up to four and they'll display in a grid on your screen. The audio controls work the same way: click the speaker icon on the stream you want to hear.

If the website version doesn't show multiview for a particular sport, try opening two separate YouTube TV tabs in your browser and watching different games in each one. This uses more data and requires you to manage two windows, but it works on any computer. You'll need to sign in to both tabs and keep them open side by side.

Using multiview on a smart TV or streaming device

If your smart TV has the YouTube TV app built in, open it and look for the multiview option the same way you would on a phone — find the grid icon next to a supported event. Some newer Samsung, LG, and Google TV models support multiview directly. If your TV doesn't have it, connect a Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, or Fire TV device to an HDMI input and open YouTube TV there; most of these devices support multiview.

On a streaming device, use your remote to navigate to a multiview-enabled game, select the grid icon, and pick your four streams. The audio control works with your remote's buttons. If you're using an older device that doesn't support multiview, you can still cast one YouTube TV stream to your TV while watching a different game on your phone or computer.

Which sports and channels offer multiview

NFL games almost always have multiview available during the season, especially on Sundays and Mondays. NBA, MLB, and college football also offer it regularly. Soccer leagues like MLS and international matches often support multiview during their seasons. Check the YouTube TV app a few hours before game time — the grid icon will appear next to any event that supports it that day.

Not every game in a league will have multiview turned on. If you're looking for a specific matchup and don't see the grid icon, it means that particular game isn't set up for multiview yet. You can still watch it in single-screen mode, or open a second YouTube TV window to watch a different game at the same time.

Watching multiple games without multiview

If the game you want doesn't support multiview, open YouTube TV in two separate browser tabs on your computer or in two app windows on a tablet (if your device allows split-screen). Sign in to both, navigate to different games, and position the windows side by side. You'll hear audio from whichever window is active, so you'll need to switch back and forth or mute one stream.

On a phone, this is harder because most phones don't let you run two apps at once. Your best option is to watch one game on your phone and another on a computer or tablet at the same time. You can also use YouTube TV's cloud DVR feature to record one game and watch it later while you watch another game live, though this means you'll miss the first game as it happens.

Data and internet speed for watching multiple streams

Each YouTube TV stream uses about 3 gigabytes of data per hour on standard definition and 7 gigabytes per hour on high definition. Watching four games at once means you could use 12 to 28 gigabytes per hour depending on your video quality settings. If you're on a mobile plan with a data cap, multiview can eat through it quickly. Check your plan's limits before starting a four-game session.

Your internet connection needs to handle the load. YouTube TV recommends at least 3 megabits per second for one stream in standard definition, or 7 megabits per second for high definition. For four streams, aim for at least 12 to 28 megabits per second depending on the quality you want. If your connection drops, YouTube TV will lower the video quality automatically to keep the streams playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch four games on my phone at the same time?

Multiview works on phones, but the four streams will be small in a 2x2 grid. If you want larger video, open YouTube TV in two browser tabs side by side instead, though this only gives you two games. Most phones don't support true split-screen apps, so multiview is your best option for four simultaneous streams on a phone.

What if a game I want to watch doesn't have the multiview icon?

That game isn't set up for multiview that day. You can still watch it in regular single-screen mode, or open a second YouTube TV window to watch a different game. Check back a few hours before game time — sometimes multiview gets enabled closer to kickoff.

Do I need a faster internet plan to use multiview?

You don't need a faster plan, but you do need enough speed. YouTube TV recommends 12 to 28 megabits per second for four streams depending on video quality. If your connection is slower, the streams may buffer or drop to lower quality. Test your speed at speedtest.net to see if you have enough bandwidth.

Can I use multiview on my Roku or Fire TV?

Yes, most Roku and Fire TV devices support multiview. Open the YouTube TV app, find a game with the grid icon, tap it, and select your four streams. If your device is older, it may not support the feature — try it and see if the grid icon appears next to supported games.

Will watching four games at once use a lot of my data?

Yes. Four high-definition streams can use 28 gigabytes per hour. If you're on a mobile plan with a data cap, watch multiview on Wi-Fi instead. On home internet with no data cap, you can watch freely, but make sure your connection speed is fast enough to handle all four streams without buffering.