Install the regular PBS App on a supported smart TV or streaming device, select Sign In, then link the TV with the seven-character code at PBS.org/tv. Sign in there with the same PBS, Google, Apple, or Facebook account that has your Passport benefit.
What you need before starting
- A smart TV or streaming device supported by PBS, or an HDMI-equipped TV for an external device or computer.
- An internet connection. PBS Passport videos stream online and cannot currently be downloaded for offline viewing.
- The free PBS App installed from your device’s official app store.
- An active Passport benefit from a participating local PBS station.
- Access to the account and email or sign-in method linked to that benefit.
- A phone or computer to complete TV activation.
Passport eligibility is administered by participating local stations, which set their own membership requirements. There is no single national Passport price; contact your station for current terms. (PBS common questions)
How to activate PBS Passport on a TV
- Open the TV or streaming device’s app store and search for PBS.
- Install and open the official PBS App. Do not search for a separate “PBS Passport” app; none is required.
- Choose Sign In. The TV displays a unique seven-character code and usually a QR code.
- Using a phone or computer, scan the QR code or go directly to PBS.org/tv.
- Enter the code currently shown on your TV and select Continue. The code belongs to that device, so do not use a code from another screen.
- Sign in with the PBS, Google, Apple, or Facebook account connected to your Passport benefit.
- Wait for the TV app to refresh. PBS says a successful sign-in normally returns you to the app home screen; an account change can take about 30 seconds.
- Choose a title marked with the blue Passport compass-rose icon to begin watching.
The TV activation step is separate from first activating a newly received Passport benefit. If you have just become a member, follow your station’s activation instructions first, then use that linked account on the TV. Stations may send a four-word code or a link containing it. If instructions have not arrived, use the PBS Passport Lookup Tool and activation guidance; PBS recommends allowing one business day for a recent donation to be processed before contacting the station.
Which TVs and streaming devices support PBS Passport?
PBS’s supported-platform list includes the devices below. Brand alone is not a guarantee: the exact model, operating system, firmware, app-store region, and current PBS app availability matter. Check whether PBS appears in your device’s official store before buying or replacing hardware. (PBS supported devices)
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| Platform | Compatibility and setup |
|---|---|
| Roku | Install the PBS App, choose Sign In, and complete the code flow at PBS.org/tv. |
| Apple TV | PBS lists Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K; use the on-screen activation code. |
| Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick | Install PBS from the Amazon app store and activate with the displayed code. |
| Android TV | Install the PBS App on a supported certified device and use code-based sign-in. |
| Google TV and Chromecast | PBS lists Google TV streaming devices and TVs, and Google Chromecast. |
| Samsung Smart TV | PBS lists 2017-and-newer models, but individual model and software availability can differ. |
| VIZIO SmartCast | Open or install PBS through SmartCast and activate at PBS.org/tv. |
| LG Smart TV | The PBS App requires a supported LG model running webOS 23 or later. If PBS is absent from the LG Content Store, the TV may not qualify. |
| Comcast/Xfinity | PBS lists X1, Flex, and Xumo Stream Box connected devices. |
PBS can expand or change this list, so consult its current support page when a particular model is not listed.
LG and Samsung owners: check the software, not just the logo
LG
PBS specifically supports LG televisions running webOS 23 or later. Older LG sets generally cannot be made compatible merely by installing a different app. Check the TV’s software information and the LG Content Store; if PBS does not appear, use a supported external streamer instead. (PBS LG guidance)
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Samsung
The PBS device list uses 2017 as the Samsung Smart TV starting year. Treat that as PBS’s listed threshold rather than a guarantee for every 2017-or-newer model. Search the television’s current app store and install pending firmware updates before concluding that the TV is unsupported.
Passport content in the PBS App
Regular PBS videos and Passport-eligible videos appear together. Look for the blue Passport compass-rose icon beside a title. Passport extends access to selected on-demand programs, but streaming rights vary by program, episode, season, station, and territory; seeing one episode in the app does not promise that every episode is included. Passport is not a cable channel and does not unlock every PBS title. (PBS Passport getting started)
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PBS KIDS programming is not currently part of Passport. Use the PBS KIDS website or PBS KIDS app for that content. (PBS common questions)
If Passport is missing after sign-in
Verify the account on the web
- Sign in at PBS.org on your phone or computer.
- Check whether the blue Passport compass-rose icon appears beside your initials.
- If it is missing, sign out and try the other PBS, Google, Apple, or Facebook accounts you may have used.
- Use the Passport Lookup Tool to confirm that the benefit is active.
- Once the icon appears, sign out of the TV app and activate it again with that exact account.
If the icon is present on the correct account but a program still says it is for Passport members only, contact PBS support and provide your local station name, membership contact information, and current login email.
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Change a wrong account on the TV
- Open the PBS App’s left-side menu.
- Choose Profile or Settings (the label varies by platform).
- Select Change Account, then Sign Out.
- Choose Sign In and generate a new TV code.
- Visit PBS.org/tv, enter that code, and use the Passport-linked account.
PBS’s account-switching instructions note that the TV may take approximately 30 seconds to update. (PBS account-switching help)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common activation and app problems
“I cannot find PBS Passport in the app store”
- Search for PBS, not “PBS Passport.”
- Confirm the TV model and operating system against PBS’s supported-device list.
- Update the TV software and reopen its app store.
- If the app remains unavailable, use a supported Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV/Chromecast, Android TV, or other listed device.
- As a last resort, watch PBS.org on a computer connected to the TV by HDMI.
“The activation code does not work”
- Return to the TV and use the newest code on screen; an earlier code may have expired or been replaced.
- Enter it at the official PBS.org/tv address, not an unofficial activation page.
- Check each character and make sure the browser is signed into the Passport-linked account.
- Restart the PBS App and repeat the process if necessary.
“The app is frozen or will not refresh”
Confirm the device is online, close and reopen PBS, restart the TV or streamer, and install available app or system updates. If other services are also failing, restart the router. Sign out and reactivate; reinstall the PBS App only if those steps do not help. These are standard device troubleshooting steps, not a change to your Passport entitlement.
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“I donated but never received instructions”
Check email and spam folders, use the Passport Lookup Tool, and allow up to one business day for a recent donation to process. Contact the local station if the benefit is still not available. Stations, rather than PBS nationally, handle eligibility and processing.
What to do when the TV is unsupported
Use an external streaming device
A supported HDMI streaming device is usually the most reliable replacement for an older smart TV. Choose based on the PBS support list, a simple remote, your existing Apple, Amazon, Google, or Roku ecosystem, available HDMI ports, Wi-Fi quality, resolution compatibility, and accessibility features such as captions or voice control. Current hardware prices change, so verify the model and price on the manufacturer’s site before purchasing. Official product pages include Roku players, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV 4K, Google TV, Chromecast, Android TV, and Xfinity Stream.
Cast from a phone or computer
Casting can help when the native TV app is unavailable, but behavior depends on the phone, browser, app version, network, and receiving TV or Chromecast. It is less consistent for everyday remote-controlled viewing than a supported native app.
Connect a computer by HDMI
Use a laptop or desktop with video output, the correct cable or adapter, and the TV’s matching HDMI input. Sign in at PBS.org and play the program in the browser. This bypasses TV-app compatibility issues but requires the computer to remain connected.
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PBS says Passport is available to members in the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada. A supported device does not bypass geographic restrictions; outside those regions, PBS says streaming through its site or app is unavailable. Passport can be used on multiple devices, with no stated device-sign-in limit, but simultaneous streams depend on your home network and any applicable PBS or app restrictions. (PBS common questions)
Quick Recap
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