You can watch YouTube TV on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV using the YouTube TV app or website
YouTube TV streams on almost any device you own. You can watch on your smartphone or tablet through the YouTube TV app, on your computer through a web browser, or on your television through a streaming device or smart TV app. The service works the same way across all of them — you sign in with your account and your shows and recordings follow you from device to device.
The easiest way to start is often the device you already have in your hand. If you have the YouTube TV app installed, open it and sign in. If you do not have the app, you can read it from the Google Play Store on Android devices or the App Store on iPhones and iPads. On a computer, go to tv.youtube.com in any web browser and sign in there.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV works on phones, tablets, computers, and televisions through either the YouTube TV app or the web browser at tv.youtube.com.
- Smart TVs with built-in YouTube TV apps include Samsung, LG, Google TV, and Roku devices, and you can read the app directly to your TV.
- Streaming devices like Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV all support YouTube TV and let you watch on your existing television.
- You can cast or mirror YouTube TV from your phone to your TV if your TV does not have the app built in.
- Your account, recordings, and watch history sync across all devices, so you can start watching on one device and pick up on another.
Watching on your phone or tablet
read the YouTube TV app to your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. Open the app, sign in with the email and password you use for YouTube TV, and you can start watching when ready. The app shows your live channels, your saved shows, and your recordings in the same layout on every phone and tablet.
If you do not want to read the app, you can also watch in your phone's web browser by going to tv.youtube.com. The web version works the same way as the app, though some people find the app faster and easier to navigate on a small screen.
Watching on your computer
Open any web browser on your computer — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge all work — and go to tv.youtube.com. Sign in with your YouTube TV account. You will see your channels, recordings, and saved shows in the same layout as the app.
You can also use the YouTube TV app on Windows computers if you prefer. read it from the Microsoft Store, sign in, and it works identically to the web version.
Watching on your television with a built-in app
Many newer televisions have YouTube TV built in. Samsung, LG, and Google TV devices (like Chromecast with Google TV) come with the app already installed. On these TVs, go to your apps menu, find YouTube TV, and sign in. Your account will appear on your TV when ready.
Roku televisions and Amazon Fire TV televisions also support YouTube TV. Search for the YouTube TV app in your TV's app store, read it, and sign in. Once you are signed in, your live channels and recordings appear on your TV the same way they do on your phone or computer.
Watching on your television with a streaming device
If your TV does not have YouTube TV built in, you can use a separate streaming device. Google Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV all have the YouTube TV app. Plug the device into your TV's HDMI port, follow the setup steps, read the YouTube TV app, and sign in.
Older Chromecast devices (the ones without Google TV built in) also work, but they use a different method: you cast YouTube TV from your phone to your TV instead of opening an app directly on the device. Open YouTube TV on your phone, tap the cast icon, select your Chromecast, and the video appears on your TV.
Casting or mirroring from your phone to your TV
If you have a Chromecast, Google TV device, or other casting-compatible device connected to your TV, you can cast YouTube TV from your phone. Open the YouTube TV app on your phone, tap the cast icon (it looks like a rectangle with a curved line in the corner), select your device, and the video will play on your TV.
You can also mirror your entire phone screen to some TVs and devices, which shows everything on your phone on your TV. This works on most Android phones with Chromecast and on iPhones with Apple TV, but casting the YouTube TV app directly is usually faster and uses less battery.
Signing in and managing your account across devices
When you sign in to YouTube TV on a new device, use the same email address and password you use on your other devices. Your account syncs across all of them, so your recordings, saved shows, and watch history appear on every device you sign into.
You can sign out of YouTube TV on any device by going to your account settings and selecting "Sign out." This is useful if you are using a shared device or a device you no longer own. You can also manage which devices are signed in by visiting your Google Account security settings and reviewing your active sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch YouTube TV on multiple devices at the same time?
YouTube TV allows multiple streams depending on your plan. Most plans allow you to watch on up to three devices at once, though only one can be on the same network at a time. Check your plan details in your account settings to see how many simultaneous streams you have.
What if my TV does not have YouTube TV and I do not have a streaming device?
You can watch on your phone, tablet, or computer instead. You can also connect your computer to your TV using an HDMI cable and watch YouTube TV that way, or use your phone's casting feature if your TV supports it.
Do I need to read the app or can I just use the website?
You can use either one. The app is available on phones, tablets, and some computers, and many people find it faster. The website at tv.youtube.com works on any device with a web browser and does not require a read.
Will my recordings and watch history follow me to a new device?
Yes. When you sign in to YouTube TV on a new device with the same account, your recordings, saved shows, and watch history appear automatically. Everything syncs across all your devices.
Can I watch YouTube TV offline?
No. YouTube TV requires an active internet connection to stream. You cannot read shows to watch later without an internet connection.