The three ways to get YouTube on your TV screen

You can watch YouTube on your TV through a smart TV app, a streaming device, or by casting from your phone or computer. Which one works depends on what hardware you already own and how you want to control playback.

If your TV was made in the last five years, it almost certainly has YouTube built in. If it's older or the app is missing, a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Google Chromecast costs between $25 and $70 and adds YouTube plus dozens of other services. Casting means sending video from your phone or laptop to the TV wirelessly — it's the fastest option if you just want to watch one video, but it drains your phone's battery and keeps the screen on.

The setup process takes five to ten minutes for any of these methods. You'll need your YouTube account email and password, and your TV and phone or device must be on the same WiFi network.

Key Takeaways

  • Most TVs made after 2018 have YouTube built in as a pre-installed app that you can open from the home screen without buying anything extra.
  • If your TV doesn't have YouTube or the app is broken, a streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick adds it for $25 to $70 and works on older TVs too.
  • Casting from your phone or computer sends YouTube to your TV wirelessly and works on any TV with an HDMI port, but requires your phone to stay connected and powered.
  • All three methods require you to sign in with your YouTube account and connect to the same WiFi network as your TV.
  • Once set up, you can use your TV remote, a wireless remote that comes with a streaming device, or your phone to control what plays.

Using the YouTube app that's already on your TV

If your TV is a Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, or Hisense made in 2018 or later, YouTube is already installed. Press the home button on your TV remote to see the home screen, then look for the YouTube icon — it's a red rectangle with a white play button. Select it and the app will open.

The first time you open YouTube, the app will ask you to sign in. You'll see a code on your TV screen and a message telling you to visit youtube.com/set up on your phone or computer. Go to that website, enter the code, and sign in with your YouTube account email and password. Once you do, the app on your TV will automatically sign in too. You won't have to do this again unless you sign out or factory reset the TV.

If you don't see YouTube on your home screen, it may be hidden in a folder or disabled. Check your TV's app store (usually called "Apps" or "App Store" in the home menu) and search for YouTube. If it's there but not installed, select it and choose "Install". If the app is already installed but missing from the home screen, go into your TV's settings, find the app management section, and look for YouTube — you may be able to unhide it or reinstall it from there.

Adding YouTube with a streaming device

A streaming device is a small box or stick that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and connects to WiFi. The most common ones are Google Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Streaming Stick, and Apple TV. YouTube comes pre-installed on all of them.

Plug the device into an available HDMI port on your TV, then plug the power cable into an outlet. Switch your TV to the HDMI input where you plugged it in — use your TV remote's input or source button. The device will boot up and walk you through setup. You'll need to connect it to your WiFi network and sign in with a Google account (for Chromecast), Amazon account (for Fire Stick), or Roku account (for Roku). Once that's done, YouTube will be ready to use without any additional steps.

If you're not sure which device to buy, Google Chromecast with Google TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick are the cheapest and most widely available, usually $30 to $40. Roku devices are similar in price and work well if you prefer Roku's interface. Apple TV is more expensive ($99 and up) but integrates tightly with iPhones and other Apple devices. All of them have YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and hundreds of other apps available.

Casting YouTube from your phone or computer

Casting sends video from your phone or computer to your TV without needing an app on the TV itself. It works on any TV with an HDMI port if you have a Chromecast device plugged in, or on some newer TVs that have casting built in. You control what plays from your phone or computer, not from a separate remote.

On an Android phone or computer, open YouTube and find the video you want to watch. Look for the cast icon — it looks like a rectangle with curved lines in the corner, usually in the top right of the screen. Tap or click it, then select your TV from the list. The video will start playing on your TV, and you can control it from your phone: pause, play, skip forward or back, and adjust volume.

On an iPhone or iPad, the process is the same: open YouTube, find the video, tap the cast icon, and select your TV. You'll need an AirPlay-compatible device like an Apple TV or a newer smart TV that supports AirPlay. If you don't have one of those, you can still cast from an iPhone using a Chromecast device, but you'll need to use the Google Home app instead of YouTube's cast button.

Casting drains your phone's battery faster than normal because the screen stays on and the WiFi radio works harder. If you plan to watch for more than an hour, plug your phone in. Also, if your phone loses WiFi connection or goes to sleep, casting will stop — you'll have to restart it from your phone.

Troubleshooting when YouTube won't appear or connect

If YouTube is installed but won't open, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Once it boots up, try opening YouTube again. If it still won't open, go into your TV's app settings, find YouTube, and select "Clear Cache" or "Clear Data" — this erases temporary files that may be corrupted. Then try opening it again.

If you see YouTube but can't sign in, make sure your TV is connected to WiFi. Go to your TV's network settings and confirm it shows a connected WiFi network with a strong signal. If the WiFi is weak, move your router closer to the TV or restart the router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Then try signing in again.

If you're casting from your phone and the TV doesn't appear in the cast list, make sure your phone and TV are on the same WiFi network — they must be on the same network to see each other. Restart your phone's WiFi by turning WiFi off and back on in settings. If that doesn't work, restart your TV. If you're using a Chromecast device, make sure it's powered on and the light on the device is lit.

If YouTube plays but keeps stopping or buffering, your WiFi signal is probably too weak. Move closer to your router, or if that's not possible, restart your router and TV. If buffering continues, you may need to upgrade your internet speed or move your router to a more central location in your home.

Controlling YouTube on your TV

Once YouTube is running, you can control it with your TV remote, a wireless remote that came with a streaming device, or your phone. Which one you use is up to you.

If you're using the YouTube app on your TV, use your TV's standard remote to navigate the menu and select videos. Most TV remotes have arrow buttons, an OK or select button, and a back button — these work the same way in YouTube as they do in other apps. Some newer TV remotes have a microphone button that lets you search by voice: press it and say the name of a video or channel, and YouTube will search for it.

If you're using a streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick, the remote that came with it will control YouTube. These remotes usually have a dedicated YouTube button that opens the app when ready. If you lose the remote, you can read the device's mobile app (Roku app, Fire TV app, etc.) on your phone and use that as a remote instead.

If you're casting from your phone, your phone is the remote. The YouTube app on your phone shows playback controls — pause, play, skip, and volume — that control what's happening on your TV. You can also lock your phone's screen and it will keep playing, or use your phone for other things while YouTube plays in the background.

Understanding what you can and can't do with YouTube on TV

YouTube on TV works the same as YouTube on your phone or computer, with a few differences. You can search for videos, watch playlists, view your subscriptions, and access your watch history. You can pause, play, skip forward and back, and adjust volume. You can like or dislike videos and add them to playlists.

You cannot upload videos from your TV, create new playlists, or edit existing ones — these features only work on a phone, tablet, or computer. If you have YouTube Premium (the paid subscription that removes ads), it works on your TV too: you'll see no ads, and you can read videos to watch offline on your phone.

If you have parental controls set up on your YouTube account, they explore to your TV as well. If you've restricted your account to only show videos rated for certain ages, those restrictions will be enforced on your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for YouTube on my TV?

No. YouTube is free on TV just like it is on your phone. You'll see ads before and during videos unless you have a YouTube Premium subscription, which costs about $14 per month. YouTube Premium removes ads, lets you read videos, and works across all your devices.

Can I use YouTube on a very old TV that doesn't have HDMI?

No. All streaming devices and casting require an HDMI port. If your TV only has composite cables (red, white, and yellow plugs) or component cables (red, green, and blue), you cannot use YouTube without replacing the TV or using a converter box, which is not practical. A new TV with HDMI costs less than $200 for a basic model.

What if my WiFi is too slow for YouTube?

YouTube needs at least 2.5 megabits per second for standard definition and 7 megabits per second for high definition. If your internet is slower than that, videos will buffer frequently. Contact your internet provider to check your speed, or move your router closer to your TV. If your speed is genuinely too slow, you may need to upgrade your internet plan.

Can multiple people watch YouTube on the same TV at the same time?

Only one person can control what plays at a time, but multiple people can watch the same video together. If you want different people to watch different things, they'll need separate TVs or devices. You can switch between different YouTube accounts on the same TV by signing out and signing back in, but only one account can be active at a time.

Will YouTube on my TV use a lot of data if I have a limited internet plan?

Yes. Streaming video uses significant data — roughly 1 gigabyte per hour for standard definition and 3 gigabytes per hour for high definition. If your internet plan has a monthly data cap, watch your usage. Most streaming devices and some TVs let you lower the video quality in settings to use less data, though the picture will be less sharp.