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How to Watch a YouTube Live Stream on Your TV

Open the YouTube app on your TV for the simplest route, or cast a live stream from a phone, tablet or computer. Here’s how each option works.
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The easiest way to watch a YouTube live stream on your TV is to open the YouTube app on the TV, game console or connected streaming device and select the stream. If the app is unavailable, cast from the YouTube mobile app over the same Wi-Fi, link the phone to the TV with a code if the devices are on different networks, or cast from a computer browser.

Start with the YouTube app on your TV

  1. Open YouTube on your smart TV, game console or streaming device.
  2. Find and select the live stream. You can search for the channel or stream, or open it from your subscriptions or library if available.

YouTube says its app is available on most smart TVs, game consoles and streaming devices. If you cannot find it, check the device’s app store and the platform-specific instructions in YouTube’s app installation guide. Availability and compatibility vary by model; no method guarantees that every stream works on every TV or in every country.

Cast a live stream from a phone or tablet

  1. Connect the phone or tablet and the TV or streaming device to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
  3. Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet and select the live stream.
  4. Tap Cast, then choose the TV or streaming device.

Use the YouTube app on the mobile device for this casting method; YouTube says a mobile browser at youtube.com cannot cast this way. If the TV does not appear in the Cast list, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi, YouTube is open on the target device, and any required local-network discovery permission is enabled.

Link your phone and TV with a code on different networks

If your phone and TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network, YouTube’s TV-code method can link them:

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  1. On the TV or streaming device, open YouTube and go to Settings > Add a device. A code should appear on the screen.
  2. On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app and tap Cast > Add a device.
  3. Enter the code shown on the TV.
  4. Select the stream on your mobile device and cast it to the linked TV.

This linking option is for phones and tablets, not computers. YouTube’s instructions are in its TV and casting help page.

Cast from a computer browser

  1. Connect the computer and TV or streaming device to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open youtube.com in a browser and start the live stream.
  3. In the video player, open the three-dot menu, choose Cast, and select the TV or streaming device.

YouTube notes that browser casting does not include some features. If you need advanced app features, use the YouTube app on a supported TV or streaming device, or cast from the mobile app.

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If your TV does not have YouTube

Check the TV’s app store first. If it does not support the YouTube app, a compatible streaming device with YouTube may be an option. YouTube documents installation paths for Android TV or Google TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast with Google TV, but support depends on the specific model. Check the device’s app compatibility before buying; an external device is not necessary if your TV already runs YouTube.

For older Chromecast devices, YouTube says direct sign-in on the Chromecast is unsupported. Instead, viewers can control the cast session from a phone signed in to YouTube. See YouTube’s TV sign-in help.

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Choose the method that fits your setup

Method What you need Best fit
YouTube TV app A TV, console or streaming device with the YouTube app Watching directly without using a phone or computer as the controller
Cast from a phone or tablet YouTube app on both devices and the same Wi-Fi network Starting a stream on a mobile device and sending it to the TV
TV-code linking YouTube app on the TV and phone or tablet; the devices may be on different networks Connecting a mobile device when same-network casting is unavailable
Cast from a computer Computer and target device on the same Wi-Fi network Watching from youtube.com when browser casting is sufficient

These steps concern ordinary YouTube live streams, not YouTube TV, which is a separate subscription television service with its own help center.

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