YouTube TV Multiview lets you watch up to four channels at once on your computer

Multiview is a YouTube TV feature that splits your screen into separate windows so you can watch multiple channels simultaneously. On a computer, you can display up to four live channels at the same time, which is useful during sports events, award shows, or when you want to monitor several games or programs happening at once. The feature works on Windows and Mac computers using any modern web browser.

Multiview is included with your YouTube TV membership at no extra cost. You do not need a separate subscription or special account tier to use it. The feature is available on the YouTube TV website and works best on larger screens where you have room to see multiple video feeds clearly.

Key Takeaways

  • Multiview on computer shows up to four live channels in one window, and you access it by clicking the Multiview button on the YouTube TV home page.
  • You can add channels to your Multiview by clicking the plus icon in each empty panel or by searching for a specific channel.
  • Multiview works on Windows and Mac computers using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge browsers, but requires a stable internet connection.
  • You can resize the layout, swap channels between panels, and remove channels from Multiview at any time during playback.
  • Audio from only one channel plays at a time — click the speaker icon on the channel you want to hear.

How to open Multiview on your computer

Start by going to tv.youtube.com in your web browser and signing in with your YouTube TV account. On the home page, look for the Multiview button — it appears as a grid icon (four squares) in the top right corner of the screen, near your profile picture. Click it to enter Multiview mode.

Your screen will split into four equal panels. Some panels may already show channels from your recent viewing history, and others will be empty. If all four panels are empty, you will see a plus icon (+) in the center of each one. Click any plus icon to start adding channels.

Adding channels to each panel

When you click the plus icon in an empty panel, a search box appears. Type the name of the channel you want to watch — for example, "ESPN" or "HGTV" — and select it from the results. The channel will load into that panel and begin playing live content if it is currently broadcasting.

You can also click directly on a channel tile from the list that appears below the search box. YouTube TV shows your favorite channels and recently watched channels first, so if you watch the same channels regularly, they will appear quickly. Once a channel is added to a panel, it stays there until you remove it or exit Multiview.

Controlling audio and switching between channels

Only one channel's audio plays at a time, even though you can see four video feeds. To hear a specific channel, click the speaker icon on that channel's panel. The speaker icon appears in the bottom right corner of each video. When you click it, the audio from that channel plays through your speakers, and the other channels go silent.

If you want to focus on one channel and make it larger, click anywhere on that panel and it will expand to fill most of the screen. The other three channels shrink to smaller windows around it. Click the panel again to return to the four-equal-panels view.

Rearranging and removing channels

To swap two channels between panels, click and drag one channel panel to a different position. The panels will rearrange so the channel you dragged moves to the new spot. This is useful if you want to put your main focus channel in a specific corner of your screen.

To remove a channel from a panel, hover over that panel and click the X button that appears in the top right corner. The panel will become empty and show the plus icon again, ready for you to add a different channel. You can change channels in any panel at any time without leaving Multiview.

Internet speed and screen size considerations

Multiview requires a stable, fast internet connection because your computer is streaming four video feeds at once. YouTube TV recommends at least 35 Mbps read speed for smooth 4K streaming on a single channel, but Multiview on a computer typically streams in standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) rather than 4K, so you may be able to use it with a slower connection. If you experience buffering or freezing, try closing other browser tabs or applications that use your internet.

Multiview works best on larger screens — a desktop monitor or laptop with at least a 15-inch screen gives you enough space to see all four channels clearly. On smaller screens, the individual panels become cramped and harder to read. If you are using a small laptop, you may want to use the expanded single-channel view instead of keeping all four panels visible.

Exiting Multiview and returning to normal view

To leave Multiview and return to the standard YouTube TV layout, click the Multiview button (the grid icon) again in the top right corner. Your screen will return to showing one full-screen channel at a time. YouTube TV remembers which channels you had in Multiview, so when you open Multiview again, those same channels will be waiting in their panels.

If you want to clear your Multiview setup and start fresh, remove all channels from the panels by clicking the X on each one. The next time you open Multiview, you will see four empty panels ready for new channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Multiview on my phone or tablet?

Multiview is not available on the YouTube TV mobile app for phones or tablets. It only works on computers using the web browser at tv.youtube.com. If you want to watch multiple channels on a mobile device, you would need to open separate browser tabs or windows, though this is not an official feature.

What happens if a channel goes off the air while I am watching it in Multiview?

If a channel stops broadcasting, that panel will show a message saying the channel is not currently available. You can click the plus icon to add a different channel to that panel, or wait for the channel to come back online. The panel will resume playing once the channel returns to the air.

Can I record shows while using Multiview?

You can record any channel you are watching in Multiview by clicking the record button on that channel's panel. Recording works the same way as it does in normal YouTube TV mode. The show will be saved to your library and you can watch it later.

Why is Multiview not showing up on my computer?

Make sure you are using a supported browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload tv.youtube.com. If the Multiview button still does not appear, try a different browser or restart your computer. Contact YouTube TV support if the issue continues.