The simplest way to watch YouTube on a smart TV
Most smart TVs come with YouTube built in. Open your TV's app store, search for YouTube, and install it if it is not already there. Sign in with your Google account, and you can watch any video the same way you would on your phone or computer. The free version shows ads before and during videos, just like the web version does.
If your TV is made by Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, or Amazon, YouTube is usually pre-installed. Look for the YouTube icon on your home screen. If you cannot find it, go to your TV's app store — the name varies by brand, but it is usually called "Apps," "App Store," or "Play Store" — and search for YouTube there.
You do not need a YouTube Premium subscription to watch for free. The ads are how YouTube pays for the service. If you want to remove ads, YouTube Premium costs money, but the free version works perfectly well.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube is built into most smart TVs and can be found in your TV's app store if it is not already on the home screen.
- Sign in with your Google account to access your subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations on the big screen.
- The free version of YouTube includes ads, which is how the service stays free for all users.
- If your TV does not have YouTube built in, you can use a streaming device like a Roku, Fire Stick, or Chromecast to add it.
- Casting from your phone or computer to your TV is another way to watch YouTube without installing an app.
Finding and installing the YouTube app on your TV
The steps depend on your TV brand, but the process is similar across all smart TVs. Press the home or menu button on your remote to reach the main screen. Look for an app store or apps section — Samsung calls it "Samsung Apps," LG calls it "LG Content Store," and Roku calls it "Roku Channel Store."
Once you are in the app store, use the search function to find YouTube. Select it and choose "Install" or "Add." The app will read and appear on your home screen within a minute or two. Open it, and you will be asked to sign in with a Google account. You can use any Gmail address or Google account you already have.
If YouTube is already on your TV but you have never signed in, straightforward open the app and follow the sign-in prompt. You may see a code on your TV screen that you can enter on your phone or computer to speed up the process, rather than typing your password on the TV remote.
Signing in and using your account on a smart TV
When you sign in with your Google account, your YouTube subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations sync to your TV. This means if you subscribe to channels on your phone, those subscriptions will show up on your TV without any extra steps.
The remote controls the app the same way a mouse or touchscreen would. Use the arrow buttons to navigate, and the select or OK button to open videos. Some newer remotes have a microphone button that lets you search by voice — just press it and say the video or channel name you want to watch.
You can pause, rewind, and fast-forward videos using the remote's standard buttons. The volume and power controls work the same as they do for regular TV. If you want to watch something later, you can add videos to your "Watch Later" playlist from the menu, and they will be saved to your account.
Using a streaming device if your TV does not have YouTube
Older smart TVs or TVs that are not connected to the internet may not have YouTube built in. In that case, you can add YouTube using a separate streaming device. The most common options are Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, and Apple TV. These devices plug into your TV's HDMI port and connect to your home Wi-Fi.
Once the device is set up, you install the YouTube app on it the same way you would on a smart TV. The device becomes the brain of your TV setup, and you use its remote to control YouTube and other apps. Roku and Fire Stick are the most affordable options and work with any TV that has an HDMI port.
If you already own one of these devices, you likely have YouTube on it already. Check your home screen or app library. If not, go to the app store on your device and search for YouTube.
Casting YouTube from your phone or computer to your TV
You do not have to install an app on your TV to watch YouTube on the big screen. You can cast videos from your phone or computer directly to your TV using a feature called screen mirroring or casting. This works if your TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network.
On an Android phone, open the YouTube app, start playing a video, and look for the cast icon — it looks like a rectangle with a Wi-Fi symbol in the corner. Tap it and select your TV from the list. The video will play on your TV, and you can control it from your phone.
On an iPhone, open YouTube in Safari or the YouTube app, tap the share button, and look for "AirPlay" or "Screen Mirroring." Select your TV. If you have an Apple TV or a TV that supports AirPlay, this will work. On a computer, click the cast icon in the YouTube player and select your TV.
Casting is useful if you want to watch something quickly without setting up an app, or if you want to control playback from your phone while the video plays on the TV.
Understanding ads on free YouTube
The free version of YouTube shows ads before videos start and sometimes during longer videos. These ads are how YouTube and content creators earn money. You will see the same ads on your TV as you would on your phone or computer.
Some videos have ads you can skip after five seconds, and others require you to watch the full ad. The type of ad depends on what the video creator chose when they uploaded the video. There is no way to remove ads without paying for YouTube Premium.
If you find ads annoying, YouTube Premium removes them, but it costs money. For most people, the free version with ads is the standard way to use YouTube, and it works just fine on a smart TV.
Troubleshooting common problems
If YouTube will not install on your TV, make sure your TV is connected to the internet. Go to your TV's network settings and check that Wi-Fi is turned on and connected. If it is, try restarting your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.
If you sign in but your subscriptions do not show up, sign out and sign back in. Go to your TV's settings, find the accounts section, and remove your Google account. Then open YouTube again and sign in fresh. This usually fixes sync problems.
If videos are buffering or playing slowly, move your TV closer to your Wi-Fi router or restart your router. YouTube needs a stable internet connection to stream video smoothly. If your internet is slow, try lowering the video quality in YouTube's settings — look for the gear icon during playback.
If the YouTube app crashes when you open it, uninstall it from your TV's app store and reinstall it. This clears out any corrupted files and usually solves the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a YouTube Premium subscription to watch YouTube on my smart TV?
No. The free version of YouTube works on smart TVs exactly as it does on phones and computers. You will see ads, but you can watch any video without paying. YouTube Premium is optional and removes ads if you choose to pay for it.
Can I watch YouTube on a TV that is not a smart TV?
Yes. You can use a streaming device like Roku, Fire Stick, Chromecast, or Apple TV. These devices plug into your TV's HDMI port and add YouTube and other apps. You can also cast from your phone or computer to your TV if it supports mirroring.
What if I forget my Google password when signing in on my TV?
Use the code that appears on your TV screen. Open a web browser on your phone or computer, go to the URL shown on your TV, and enter the code. You can then sign in on your phone instead of typing your password on the remote. The TV will sign in automatically.
Why is YouTube buffering on my smart TV?
YouTube needs a strong, stable internet connection. Move your TV closer to your Wi-Fi router, restart your router, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. You can also lower the video quality in YouTube's settings by tapping the gear icon during playback.
Can I use the same Google account on multiple TVs?
Yes. Sign in with the same Google account on each TV, and your subscriptions and watch history will sync across all of them. You can watch on one TV and pick up where you left off on another.