The easiest way to watch YouTube on a television without dealing with cables is to use the YouTube app on a smart television. However, what if the television you have is not “smart”? If you don't have a television that can be connected to the internet, you can use an external streaming device such as a Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, Roku, or modern game console to convert your television into a “smart” television so you can watch YouTube from your living room.. This wikiHow teaches you some of the most popular methods for watching YouTube from a television.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Using a Smart Television or Game Console
Step 1. Determine if this method is suitable for you
Do you have a modern smart television (out of 2014 and later) that connects to the internet and allows you to select apps like Netflix and Hulu via the television controller? Or do you have a modern game console (Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 or 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360) connected to a television and connected to the internet? If you have one of these, you can easily watch YouTube through the official YouTube app according to your device. If you have a television that can't be connected to the internet, you'll need an external device to watch videos from YouTube. Check out how to use Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or Roku instead.
- Most Samsung, LG, and Sony smart televisions come with the YouTube app. If your television is an Android television (check the packaging or search the internet for your model), you already have the YouTube app on your device.
- If your television model is a Roku TV or Amazon Fire TV model, consult the Roku or Amazon Fire TV method for more specific information about your television.
Step 2. Select the YouTube app on the television
Look for the red and white YouTube icon with a white triangle on the television or game console app page. Once the YouTube app is opened, you will be taken to the login page.
If you don't already have the YouTube app, you'll need to download it from the television or console app store. For example, if you have a PlayStation 4, you can download YouTube from the PlayStation Store app
Step 3. Sign in to your YouTube account
By logging into your account, you can access all your favorite videos, save new favorite videos, and perform other actions. To sign in to your account, use one of the three options shown on the screen (options may differ on each device):
- Choose " Sign in with your mobile device ” to use the YouTube app on your phone or tablet to sign in to your account. You need to use a phone or tablet that has the YouTube app, and the device must be connected to the same WiFi network as the television or console. Once selected, open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your account.
- Choose " Sign in on your TV ” to sign in to your Google account using the on-screen keyboard.
- Choose " Sign in with a web browser ” to use the browser on a computer, phone, or tablet that is connected to the same WiFi network as the television. Once the option is selected, visit https://youtube.com/activate in your browser and enter the code shown on the television screen to confirm.
Step 4. Watch videos on YouTube
After logging in to your account, use your smart television controller or console to select videos. You can use the same controller to stop or skip video playback, as well as browse other videos.
Method 2 of 6: Using Chromecast
Step 1. Determine if using Chromecast is appropriate
Using a Chromecast is one of the easiest methods to stream YouTube content to a television. You don't need a smart television to use Chromecast. Just plug a small device into the HDMI port on your television and “broadcast” YouTube from your phone, tablet or computer. To use Chromecast, you need:
- Television with empty HDMI port.
- Google Chromecast (usually sold at a price from 100-500 thousand rupiah).
- Wireless internet network at home. Both the Chromecast and the streaming source device must be connected to the same network in order for the Chromecast to work.
- An Android, iPhone, or iPad device with the YouTube and Google Home apps. If you want to stream YouTube from a computer, install the Google Chrome web browser.
Step 2. Set up Chromecast
Once you have a Chromecast, the initial setup process is easy. You just need to plug your Chromecast into an HDMI port and a power source, then use your phone or tablet to connect your Chromecast to the internet. For easier instructions, read the article on how to use Chromecast.
Step 3. Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet
Once the Chromecast is set up, it's time to stream videos from YouTube. You can find the YouTube app on your home screen or app list, or by searching for it.
- If you want to broadcast YouTube videos from a web browser on a computer, open the Google Chrome web browser on a computer and visit
- If your phone or tablet isn't connected to the same WiFi network as your Chromecast, make sure you're connecting to it.
Step 4. Touch the “Cast” icon
It's at the top of the YouTube app and looks like a triangle with three curved lines in the bottom-left corner. YouTube will scan for Chromecast devices that can be used to broadcast the video.
If you are using Google Chrome, click on the three dots icon “ ⋮ ” in the top right corner of the Chrome window and select “ Cast ” to start scanning.
Step 5. Select Chromecast
The device may be labeled with a generic name such as " Living Room TV ", or you may have entered a more creative name in the initial setup process. Regardless of the label, touch or click the device name. You can now watch YouTube videos on your television screen!
If you don't see the Chromecast device name, make sure your phone, tablet or computer is connected to the same WiFi network as the Chromecast. You can also try opening and closing apps again, or turning off and restarting the television
Step 6. Watch the broadcast video
Unlike when using a smart television directly, you can select, play, stop, and search videos through the YouTube app on your phone, tablet, or Google Chrome. You can also adjust the volume via your phone, tablet or computer, but usually the volume can be adjusted via the television controller.
Method 3 of 6: Using Apple TV
Step 1. Turn on the Apple TV and visit the home screen
If you have an Apple TV, you can use it to watch videos from YouTube through the official Apple TV YouTube app, as long as you're using a third, fourth, and newer Apple TV model. If you have a first- or second-generation Apple TV, read how to use Apple AirPlay.
For help setting up Apple TV, see the article on how to set up Apple TV
Step 2. Open the YouTube app
This application is marked by a red and white icon with the words "YouTube" in it which is displayed on the home screen. If you don't have the YouTube app, you'll need to install it first from the App Store. Here's how:
- Open the App Store marked by the blue and white letter “A” icon on the Apple TV home screen.
- Search for YouTube by selecting the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the screen and typing youtube in the search bar.
- Choose " YouTube ” from the search results. Make sure you don't select the "YouTube TV" app as it is a subscription-based version of YouTube with different options.
- Choose " Get, then touch again " Get ” to confirm. Once YouTube is ready to use, the " Get " button will change to " Open ".
Step 3. Sign in to your YouTube (Google) account
There are three ways to log into your account that you can choose from:
- Choose " Sign in with your mobile device ” to use the YouTube app on your phone or tablet to sign in to your account. This option is suitable if you don't want to type in your account username and password. Once the option is selected, open the YouTube app and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.
- Choose " Sign in on your TV ” to log in to the account using the keyboard displayed on the screen. The procedure in this method is self-explanatory; You will need to type in your username and password to log in to your account, as shown on the screen.
- Choose " Sign in with a web browser ” to sign in to your account via a computer, phone, or tablet browser that's connected to the same WiFi network as your Apple TV. Once the option is selected, go to https://youtube.com/activate in your browser and enter the code shown on the television screen to confirm.
Step 4. Select a video to watch
Unlike when you stream from your phone, tablet, or computer, you can use the Apple TV controller to select, play, stop, and search videos from YouTube.
Method 4 of 6: Using Amazon Fire TV
Step 1. Find out if this method is right for you
Amazon Fire TV makes it easy for you to watch shows from YouTube on your television screen, even when you don't have a smart television. Here's how to tell if this method is right for you:
- Some smart televisions already have the Fire TV app installed. If you have a television with an Amazon Fire TV model (check the box of the television or search the internet for a television model), follow this method! You don't even need to buy another device.
- If your television is not a Fire TV model/edition, you can purchase an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick Lite, or Fire TV Stick 4k. The most affordable option is the Fire TV Stick Lite which retails for around US$30 (or 450 thousand rupiah). Unlike the Chromecast, the Fire TV Stick comes with a controller and has its own interface, including some built-in apps and the Amazon Appstore. These peripherals can be connected to an HDMI port and require you to have a WiFi network.
Step 2. Install and set up the Fire TV
If your television is equipped with Fire TV, you can skip this step. If you need to set up FireStick:
- Connect the Fire TV Stick to an available HDMI port on the television, then connect it to a power source.
- Insert the battery into the Fire TV controller if not already.
- Turn on the television and change the input channel to the HDMI port channel.
- If the controllers have not been paired, press and hold the “Home” button, then follow the instructions displayed on the television screen to pair them.
- Use the controller to connect the Fire TV Stick to a WiFi network. Once the device is connected, you will arrive at the main page.
Step 3. Select the Apps menu
This menu is at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Select the YouTube app
Use the arrow keys on the handle to scroll the selector to the YouTube options (at the top of the screen). Select YouTube by pressing the center button on the controller.
Step 5. Select Get
Once the download is complete, the app will be added to the main app list. The "Get" button will change to "Open".
Step 6. Open the YouTube app
You can select the button Open ” if it's still in the Appstore window, or return to the home screen to select YouTube from there. The login page will be displayed with a numeric code.
Step 7. Sign in to your YouTube account
To log in, you need to verify the numeric code on the television screen via a web browser on your computer, phone, or tablet. To verify:
- Open a web browser and visit https://www.youtube.com/activate. You will be asked to log into your account at this stage if you haven't already.
- Enter the code from the television and click “ Next ”.
- Choose " Allow access ” in the browser. In a few moments, the standard YouTube page will appear on the television.
- If prompted to select a YouTube account on the television, use the controller to select an account.
Step 8. Watch videos from YouTube
When you're all set, use the Amazon Fire TV controller to search for and select the YouTube video you want to watch. If you prefer, you can also use Alexa voice commands (in English), such as " Alexa, fast forward 30 seconds " ("Alexa, forward 30 seconds") or " Alexa, pause " ("Alexa, stop video").
Method 5 of 6: Using Apple AirPlay
Step 1. Find out if this method is the best option for you
If you have an Apple TV (third, fourth, or later), you may not need to follow this method. It will be easier for you to follow the Apple TV method because all these models already support the YouTube app. However, if any of the statements below match, you need to use AirPlay:
- You have a first or second generation Apple TV, and an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
- You don't have an Apple TV, but your television is AirPlay compatible (and you still have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer). To be sure, search the internet for your television model to find out its AirPlay compatibility. Even if your television supports AirPlay, you may be able to use the television's built-in interface to watch YouTube videos from the YouTube app on your television. Read this method for more information.
- You have a newer model of Apple TV, but you don't want (or can't) install the YouTube app, and you're using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
Step 2. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer to the same WiFi network as the television
This step is mandatory for you to use AirPlay.
Step 3. Open YouTube on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer
These apps are marked by a red and white icon labeled "YouTube" in the phone or tablet app list. If you're using a Mac, open Safari and visit
Step 4. Play the video
Click or touch a video to play it right away.
Step 5. Touch or click the AirPlay or broadcast icon
After that, YouTube will search for devices that support the AirPlay feature. Here's how:
- iPhone or iPad: Touch the video once to display the playback control window, then select the broadcast icon (the square with three curved lines in its lower-left corner), at the top of the playback window. The icon is the Google Chromecast icon because YouTube is an app owned by Google. After that, select " AirPlay and Bluetooth devices ” to start the scan.
- On a Mac, hover over the video so that the playback control buttons appear, then click the AirPlay icon (the square with an up-pointing triangle inside) to scan for devices with the AirPlay feature.
Step 6. Choose an AirPlay-enabled television or Apple TV
You can select a device by touching or clicking on its name in the list. Videos from YouTube will soon be shown on television screens via AirPlay.
You need to use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer to browse videos and control video playback on YouTube while the video is broadcast on television. However, you can still use the television controller to adjust the volume as needed
Method 6 of 6: Using Roku
Step 1. Turn on your Roku TV or Roku device
If you have a television with built-in Roku features or a Roku streaming device (e.g. Roku Express, Premiere, or Streambar), you can watch videos from YouTube by adding a YouTube channel to your home screen.
If your television can't be connected to the internet, you can use a Roku streaming device to turn it into a smart television. Roku streaming devices are affordable and easy to set up. To find out more about the various Roku device models, visit
Step 2. Press the “Home” button on the Roku controller
This button is marked with a home icon. After that, the Roku home screen will be displayed.
Step 3. Swipe up or down the screen and select Streaming Channels
The Roku Channel Store will open after that.
Step 4. Search for YouTube in the "Search Channels" area
After YouTube is displayed in the search results, press the “ OK ' to select it.
Step 5. Select Add Channel on YouTube page
Now, YouTube will be downloaded and installed to Roku.
You may be asked to verify your Roku PIN to initiate the download
Step 6. Go back to the home screen and open the YouTube app
Once the app is installed, you can select its red and white icon from the channel list on the home screen. Since it's newly installed, the app will be shown on the bottom row of the list.
Step 7. Sign in to your YouTube account
When you open the YouTube app, you can see a numeric code on the screen. To sign in to your account, you'll need to verify the code through a web browser on your computer, phone or tablet. Here's how:
- In a browser, visit https://www.youtube.com/activate and sign in to your YouTube/Google account.
- Enter the code displayed on the television screen in the column provided, then click " Next ”.
- Click " Allow access ” and wait for YouTube to load on the television. You may be asked to select a YouTube account on your television. If so, use the Roku controller to select the account.
Step 8. Select a video to watch
Use the arrow keys to browse the videos and click “ OK ” to select videos. Enjoy watching!
Tips
- If you don't want to use the methods described above, you can connect your computer to your television via an HDMI cable and use the television as a monitor. This way, you can watch videos from YouTube on your television using your computer's web browser.
- Run a web browser on your smart television and visit the official YouTube website if you don't want to activate the YouTube app. This option is an ideal step for users who don't want to connect their smart television to a Google account.
