Connect your devices to watch YouTube on TV

Note: This feature may not be available with supervised experiences on YouTube. Learn more here.

You can connect your phone, tablet, or computer to your Smart TV or other streaming device to watch YouTube on your TV. Whether you choose to use the youTube app on your TV or cast from your device to a Chromecast, you'll get the same YouTube on TV app experience.

If you're connecting with your phone or tablet, make sure you have the YouTube app downloaded. Casting from youtube.com in a mobile web browser is not currently supported.

Notes:

  • Cast works with any TV device that can support YouTube on TV, not just Chromecast.
  • If you're a YouTube TV member looking to watch YouTube TV on your television, check out the YouTube TV Help Center for more info.

How to watch YouTube on TV with Chromecast, Cast, and Airplay

Connecting to your smart TV or streaming device

  1. Make sure your smart TV or streaming device is set up.
  2. Make sure your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your smart TV or streaming device.
  3. Open the YouTube app.
  4. Select the video you want to watch and tap the Cast  icon.
  5. Select the device you want to cast to and wait for it to connect. Once connected, the video will play on your TV.

Disconnecting from your smart TV or streaming device

  1. Tap Cast .
  2. Then tap DISCONNECT.

How to allow Local Network access

If your device is on iOS 14 or later, you'll need to give YouTube permission to connect to streaming devices on your local network, in order to cast to your TV.

Each YouTube app (YouTube, YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and YouTube Kids) requires this permission.

You can allow Local Network access in your device's settings or in a YouTube app:

In your device's settings:

  1. Go to your device's Settings page.
  2. Scroll through the list of apps and select a YouTube app.
  3. Set Local Network to On.

In a YouTube app:

  1. Open a YouTube app.
  2. Tap Cast .
  3. Follow the directions to allow the app to access your Local Network.
  4. In the list of available devices, tap the name of the device you want to connect to.

Notes:

  • If you use a few YouTube apps, you'll need to allow Local Network access for each app.
  • If Local Network is set to Off, you can't cast.

Browsing YouTube on your smart TV or streaming device

Use the YouTube app as a remote

Use your Smart TV's remote

  • Try to use your TV remote to control your cast experience. Most TV remotes are supported without further setup.
  • If your remote doesn't work, check the instructions manual for your smart TV to learn if it's CEC supported. If so, follow the instructions in the manual to turn on CEC and try to use your remote to control the cast experience.

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