Tech Reference

How to set up a YouTube TV account and customize your subscription in several ways

Written by Steven John and Grace Eliza Goodwin
youtube tv app
YouTube TV is a premium streaming app that's easy to set up. Shutterstock
Updated
Read in app

Whether you want to watch live TV, sports, news, record favorite TV shows for later viewing, or browse through an impressive archive of past programming, a YouTube TV subscription has you covered.

YouTube TV isn't meant to be a cheaper alternative to cable — its $64.99 monthly cost is comparable to what you'd pay for legacy cable providers. But the many ways you can engage with the content and the range of programming offered makes YouTube TV an excellent service.

How to set up a YouTube TV account

1. On a Mac or PC computer, go to the YouTube TV website. On an Android device, download the YouTube TV app from the app store. You can't sign up through the iPhone or iPad YouTube app, but you can watch YouTube TV on them.

Once there, sign into your Google or YouTube account.

2. Tap or click the "Try It Free" button to begin the free trial. 

youtubetv
Click the blue button to start the free trial.  Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

3. Share your home location and zip code. 

youtubetv2
Type in your zip code and click the Next arrow.  Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

4. Review the total price and networks included in your membership, then tap or click "Next: Add-Ons."

youtubetv3
Review the price and included networks and hit the blue Next button.  Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

5. Select any premium networks to add to your membership by checking the circle next to each network, then tap or click "Next: Checkout." You can also add these channels later if you decide you want more.

youtubetv4
Select premium add-ons and click the Next button.  Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

6. Enter and confirm the credit card you'd like to use for your membership, or connect your PayPal account. You'll be charged after your free trial ends, but you can cancel at any time before that date. 

7. Tap or click "Free Trial" or "Buy" (if you've already used up your trial) to finish the process.

youtubetv5
Enter your credit card information and click "Start Trial."  Grace Eliza Goodwin/Business Insider

How to watch YouTube TV on your smart TV or gaming system

You can watch YouTube TV on most smart TVs and gaming systems. 

Options include Apple TV, PS4, Roku, Xbox One, Android TV, Fire TV, and select Samsung, LG and Vizio models. You can also stream on your TV with AirPlay, Google Chromecast, or a Chromecast-enabled TV.

Just note that even if you have a 4K TV and streaming device, YouTube TV can't be streamed in 4K.

How to customize your YouTube TV subscription

Once you've made your account and started watching, there are various ways to enhance your subscription, and personalize it for your tastes.

Navigate and customize the three main tabs on the YouTube TV homepage

These tabs are "Library, Home," and "Live." The "Home" tab is where YouTube gives you recommendations of what to watch. 

You can tap the "+" button next to programs you'd like to add to your library, and YouTube TV will automatically record all programs as they air. You can then access all of them in the Library tab. 

Screen Shot 2019 08 07 at 1.45.17 PM
The YouTube TV home screen gives you recommendations to watch.  Steven John/Business Insider

The "Live" TV tab shows you everything that's playing right now. Check out your local live broadcast channels and watch sports, local news, or catch primetime shows airing on those broadcast networks. You can scroll down further to see over 70 popular cable networks and local sports networks.

You can customize the Live tab to match your viewing preferences. For example, you can reorder networks in the guide or hide certain networks so that only your favorite networks appear. 

To do this, select "Sort" on the Live tab, tap "Edit" and customize your Live tab.

Screen Shot 2019 08 07 at 1.47.22 PM
You can see what's currently playing on YouTube TV in the Live tab.  Steven John/Business Insider

 

Finally, the "Library" tab is for your recordings. Add any show, sports team, event, movie, and so on to your library just by tapping the "+" button. YouTube TV will record all current and upcoming airings. 

You can add as many programs to your library as you like — YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud-based DVR space, and recording doesn't take up space on your device.

Screen Shot 2019 08 07 at 1.45.39 PM
You can access all recent and upcoming recordings in Library.  Steven John/Business Insider

Search for shows, sports, and movies by genre 

Head to the search area by clicking the magnifying glass at the top right. 

You can search via general terms like Sports, News, or Movies, or you can search for specific shows, movies, or televised events.

Screen Shot 2019 08 07 at 1.44.59 PM
You can search for shows and movies in the Search bar.  Steven John/Business Insider

Hide sports scores (and avoid spoilers)

You can turn on the "Hide all scores for this team/league" feature in YouTube TV to hide scores for specific sports teams and leagues. 

This will prevent spoiler information, like final scores or live previews, from appearing before you've started watching. 

To enable this feature, open YouTube TV, select the overflow menu three-dot on a team or league page, and toggle on "Hide all scores for this team/league."

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Read next

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

极速168赛车官方网站图片

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Headshot of Steven John
Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.
Grace Eliza Goodwin
Grace Eliza Goodwin
Grace was a politics and business reporter at Business Insider, with a particular focus on topics related to the Department of Government Efficiency. She was previously a homepage and breaking news reporter at BI and an associate producer for BI's breaking news podcast, The Refresh. She has a Master of Science from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with a focus on investigative journalism and audio/radio production.