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Today, Mytour will guide you on how to watch YouTube videos on your TV for a more authentic experience. The easiest method is by using the YouTube app on your Smart TV, streaming device, or gaming console, then browse through videos using the regular remote. If your TV or streaming device doesn’t have the YouTube app but supports casting or AirPlay, you can stream YouTube directly from your computer, phone, or tablet.
Steps
Use a Smart TV or Streaming Device
Select the YouTube app on your TV. This method works best if you have an Apple TV, Smart TV (with the YouTube app), or most online streaming devices like Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, and some game consoles. Look for the white and red YouTube icon with a triangle on your TV's app screen. When the app opens, the Sign In screen will appear.
- If the app isn't installed, you will need to download it from the TV’s app store. For instance, on Apple TV, you can download YouTube from the TV's App Store (the blue 'A' icon on the home screen).
- If you want to watch with subtitles, make sure to enable this option in your TV or streaming device settings. For Apple TV, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning, then choose your preference.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/activate on your computer, phone, or tablet. The 'Connect a device' page will appear, allowing you to enter the code displayed on your TV screen.
Sign in to your Google account on the TV. Once signed in, a list of YouTube accounts will appear on the screen.
Select a YouTube account. After selecting, the verification code will show up on your TV screen.
Enter the code displayed on your TV into the 'Connect a device' page and click Next (Next). YouTube will ask if you approve access for the TV to connect to your account.
Click on Allow access (Allow access) on the confirmation page. After a moment, you'll be signed in to your YouTube account on the TV. Now you can use the regular remote control to browse, watch, and manage videos.
Cast from your phone/tablet
Connect to the same Wi-Fi network that your TV is using. You can only cast YouTube to your TV when both devices share the same wireless network.
- Use this method if you have a Smart TV that supports casting or AirPlay. Many modern TVs support both, and all Apple TVs are compatible with AirPlay.
- If your TV doesn't support casting or AirPlay, you can still stream YouTube using a streaming device like Chromecast or Roku that is connected and active.
Open the YouTube app on your phone/tablet. The app has a white and red icon with a triangle in the center, and you'll find it on your home screen or in your app drawer. YouTube is pre-installed on most iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. If you’ve deleted it, you can re-download it from the App Store or Play Store.
- This method won’t work in mobile web browsers. You need to have the YouTube app installed.
Tap on the TV or streaming device. YouTube will appear on the TV screen. You can now use your phone or tablet to browse and play videos as usual.
- If you’re using an iPhone or iPad and casting instead of AirPlay, tap on AirPlay & Bluetooth devices to view the available devices.
- To turn captions on or off, tap the screen of your phone/tablet while the video is playing, then tap the menu in the top-right corner to enable or disable the Captions option.
Cast from a computer using Google Chrome
Connect your computer to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. You can only stream YouTube to your TV if both devices are on the same wireless network.
- This method works if you have a Smart TV or a streaming device (like Chromecast) that supports casting and want to stream YouTube from your computer. Most modern TVs support casting, and Apple TV also supports AirPlay.
- If your TV doesn’t support casting but you’ve set up Chromecast (or another compatible streaming device like Roku), you can still watch YouTube.
- For Mac computers and AirPlay-compatible Smart TVs (e.g., Apple TV and many newer Smart TV models), you can use Safari with AirPlay. Open YouTube in Safari, start a video, click the AirPlay icon (it looks like a screen) in the control panel, and select your TV.
Open Google Chrome with the circular red, yellow, blue, and green icon. The app is usually located in the Start menu or Applications folder.
Visit https://www.youtube.com on Chrome.
Click the Chrome menu ⋮. This three-dot icon is located in the top-right corner of Chrome.
Click on Cast in the menu. Chrome will start searching for compatible devices to cast to.
Select a device and click on Play (Play). The Chrome window will then appear on your TV screen.
Watch the video. You can start, pause, and stop the video by using YouTube on your computer.
Tip
- If you prefer not to open the YouTube app, launch a web browser on your Smart TV and go to the official YouTube website. This option is ideal for those who don't want to link their Smart TV to their Google Account.
- If you don’t have a gaming console or Smart TV but still want to watch YouTube on your TV, connect your computer to the TV using an HDMI cable. This method allows you to watch YouTube videos on your TV through your computer’s web browser.
Warning
- Note: Watching YouTube is not entirely free when using certain apps or gaming consoles. For example, the Nintendo Wii and Wii U allow free access to YouTube, while the Xbox 360 and Xbox One require users to subscribe to Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold package in order to watch YouTube videos. To watch YouTube on a gaming console, follow the on-screen instructions to sign up for the subscription that grants access to YouTube.
