YouTube TV works on phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices
You can watch YouTube TV on almost any device with an internet connection. The main categories are your phone or tablet, a web browser on your computer, and TV devices that connect to your television. Each option has the same channels and features — the difference is just the screen size and how you hold the remote.
YouTube TV is available on iOS and Android phones and tablets, Windows and Mac computers through a web browser, and TV devices including Roku, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. You can also cast from your phone to a Chromecast device. The app is free to read; you pay only for the YouTube TV subscription itself.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV works on phones, tablets, computers, Roku, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs without needing separate apps for each device.
- You can watch on your phone or tablet using the YouTube TV app, available for both iOS and Android.
- On a computer, you watch through a web browser at tv.youtube.com without downloading anything.
- TV devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV let you watch on your television, and you can cast from your phone to a Chromecast if you have one.
- Your login and channel list are the same across all devices — start watching on your phone and pick up on your TV without losing your place.
Watching on your phone or tablet
read the YouTube TV app from the App Store (for iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (for Android phones and tablets). Open the app, sign in with the email and password you used to set up your YouTube TV account, and you can start watching when ready. The app works on any phone or tablet with a recent operating system — generally iOS 14 or newer for Apple devices and Android 8 or newer for Android devices.
The mobile app includes all the same channels as your subscription and lets you pause, rewind, and record shows just like on a TV. You can also read episodes to watch later without an internet connection, which is useful if you travel or commute. The app uses your phone's data or Wi-Fi, so watching over cellular data will count against your phone plan's data limit.
Watching on a computer or laptop
Open any web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge — and go to tv.youtube.com. Sign in with your YouTube TV email and password. You do not need to read or install anything; the website works in the browser itself. This works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook computers.
The web version has the same features as the app: you can watch live TV, pause and rewind, record shows, and manage your library. The only limitation is that you cannot read episodes to watch offline, since browsers do not store files the way apps do. Watching on a computer uses your home Wi-Fi or internet connection, not your phone's data.
Watching on a TV device or smart TV
If you have a TV device connected to your television, you can read the YouTube TV app directly to it. YouTube TV is available on Roku (all current models), Google TV devices, Amazon Fire TV (Fire Stick and Fire TV boxes), Apple TV (4th generation and newer), and Samsung Smart TVs (2016 and newer). Search for "YouTube TV" in your device's app store, read it, and sign in with your account.
Once installed, the app appears in your device's home menu alongside other apps like Netflix or Hulu. You control it with your TV device's remote. The experience is the same as on your phone or computer — all your channels, recordings, and watch history sync across devices, so if you record a show on your phone, you can watch it on your TV.
Casting from your phone to a TV
If you have a Chromecast device plugged into your television, you can cast YouTube TV from your phone to the TV without downloading a separate app. Open the YouTube TV app on your phone, tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner), select your Chromecast device, and the video will play on your TV. Your phone becomes the remote — you can pause, rewind, and change channels from the app.
Casting works over Wi-Fi, so your phone and Chromecast must be on the same network. This is useful if you do not want to install the YouTube TV app directly on your TV device, or if you want to use your phone as a remote control. You can also cast from a computer's web browser if your computer and Chromecast are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Signing in on multiple devices
You can sign in to YouTube TV on as many devices as you want using the same account. Your channel list, recordings, and watch history appear on all of them. If you start watching a show on your phone, pause it, and then open YouTube TV on your TV, you can pick up where you left off — the app will remember how far you watched.
However, YouTube TV limits how many people can watch at the same time. Your subscription includes a certain number of simultaneous streams (the exact number depends on your plan). If someone is already watching on one device and you try to start watching on another, you may get a message that you have reached your limit. You can sign out of a device remotely through your account settings if you need to free up a stream.
Troubleshooting connection and app problems
If the YouTube TV app will not open or keeps crashing, try closing the app completely and opening it again. If that does not work, restart your device. On a phone or tablet, this means powering it off and back on. On a TV device, unplug it from power for 10 seconds, then plug it back in.
If you see an error message about your internet connection, check that your device is connected to Wi-Fi and that the connection is working. Try opening another app or website to confirm. If YouTube TV works on one device but not another, the problem may be with that specific device rather than your account. Sign out of the app, restart the device, and sign back in. If the problem continues, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch YouTube TV on my smart TV without a separate device?
Yes, if your smart TV is a Samsung (2016 or newer), you can read the YouTube TV app directly to it. For other brands, you will need a separate device like Roku, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV. You can also cast from your phone to a Chromecast if you have one.
Do I need Wi-Fi to watch YouTube TV on my phone?
You need an internet connection, which can be Wi-Fi or cellular data. Watching over cellular uses your phone's data plan. If you want to watch without using data, you can read episodes to your phone using the app, and then watch them offline later.
What happens if I sign out of YouTube TV on one device?
Signing out removes your account from that device. You will need to sign back in to watch again. Your recordings and watch history stay in your account and appear on other devices where you are still signed in.
Can two people watch YouTube TV at the same time on different devices?
Yes, up to the number of simultaneous streams included in your plan. If you reach that limit, one person will need to stop watching before another can start. You can check how many streams are active and sign out of a device remotely through your account settings.
Is the YouTube TV app free to read?
Yes, the app is free. You pay only for the YouTube TV subscription itself. Once you read the app and sign in, you can watch all the channels included in your plan.