How to Watch YouTube on Your TV

Enjoy YouTube's vast library of videos on the big screen — here's how to get YouTube running on your smart TV.

2 min read · 5 steps · Checked March 2026

1. Step 1. Check if YouTube is already on your TV

   Most smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and others) come with YouTube already installed. Press the Home button on your TV remote and look for the YouTube icon. If you see it, open it and you are ready to watch.

   Quick Tip

   If YouTube is not on your TV, go to your TV's app store (called "Smart Hub" on Samsung, "Content Store" on LG, or "Google Play" on Android TV). Search for "YouTube" and download it for free.

2. Step 2. Use your remote to find videos

   Once YouTube is open on your TV, use the arrow buttons on your remote to move around the screen. Select the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top, then use the on-screen keyboard to type what you want to watch. Press Enter or OK on your remote to search.

3. Step 3. Cast from your phone (alternative method)

   If you have a Chromecast plugged into your TV, or if your smart TV supports casting, open YouTube on your phone and start a video. Tap the Cast icon (a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves in the corner). Choose your TV from the list. The video will play on the big screen and you can control it from your phone.

4. Step 4. Connect a laptop with an HDMI cable (another option)

   Plug one end of an HDMI cable into your laptop and the other end into an HDMI port on your TV. Switch your TV's input to the correct HDMI channel using the Input or Source button on your remote. Then open YouTube in your laptop's web browser. It will show on the TV screen.

5. Step 5. Sign in to your Google account on the TV

   To see your subscriptions and saved videos on the TV, open the YouTube app on your TV and go to Sign In. A code will appear on screen. On your phone or computer, go to youtube.com/activate and type in that code. Your account will be linked to the TV.

   Warning

   Only sign in on a TV you own or trust. If you are at someone else's home, you can watch YouTube without signing in.