How to connect YouTube to TV
After reading my guide on how to watch movies on YouTube, you have discovered a new world and you do not do is see the titles on the Google platform. However, the idea of spending evenings in front of the computer screen or, even worse, that of your smartphone, does not excite you and you’re wondering if there is a more convenient solution, perhaps that allows you to enjoy the content on YouTube TV .
Well, if things are really like that, let me say you’ve come to the right place at the right time! In fact, with today’s guide, I’ll tell you how to connect YouTube to TV and how to play content on your TV directly from your smartphone, tablet or computer. How do you say? Can not wait to learn more and start playing YouTube on your TV “commanding” from a distance? So do not waste any more time and read the topic straight away.
Courage, get comfortable and take five minutes of free time to devote to reading the next paragraphs. Read carefully the instructions I am about to give you, choose the solution that suits you best and try to put it into practice. I assure you that everything is much simpler than it seems and I am sure that in a short time you will be able to enjoy a good movie on TV via YouTube, starting and stopping playback whenever you want via your computer or your mobile device. Good reading and, above all, have fun!
How to connect YouTube to TV – How to connect YouTube to Smart TV
Connecting YouTube to Smart TV is a simple operation that takes only a few minutes. All you need to complete the link is a Smart TV, a computer or mobile device with the YouTube app installed and an Internet connection.
How to connect YouTube to TV – Via smartphone and tablet
How to connect YouTube to TV
To start playing YouTube videos on your Smart TV, take your smartphone or tablet and make sure you have installed the YouTube app, which is available for both Android and iOS. If not, access the store of your device and start the download: if you have an Android device, then presses the icon of the Play Store (the symbol ︎ colored presente) on the home screen, type YouTube in the search engine at the top and presses the Search button. Then locate YouTube in search results, presses on its icon and tap the Install and Accept buttons.
If, however, you have an iPhone or an iPad, start the App Store (the white “A” on a blue background in home screen), presses the item Search in the bottom menu, type YouTube in the Search field at the top and start the search by pressing the Search button. Then click on the YouTube icon and tap the Get and Install buttons and you’re done. You may be asked to verify your identity using Touch ID, Face ID or entering the Apple ID password.
After completing the installation of YouTube, make sure that the application is also present on your Smart TV: if not, proceed with the download and installation. In this regard, my guide on how Smart TV works may be useful.
Now, you’re ready to connect YouTube to your Smart TV! Then start the service app on the TV and go to the Settings section (the gear wheel icon) visible in the left menu, then move to the Connect TV and phone box and press the OK button on the remote control to enter.
How to connect YouTube to TV
If your mobile device and your Smart TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, choose the Connect via Wi-Fi option, then take your smartphone or tablet, launch the YouTube app and press the transmission button (the screen with the waves of the Wi-Fi network) at the top and you’re done.
Alternatively, presses the icon of the little man at the top right (or on your picture if you are logged in to your account), tap the Settings and Watch TV to view the list of connected TVs and press ‘Connect option related to your Smart TV.
If the two devices are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network, on the Smart TV choose the Connect with TV code option, then take your smartphone and access the settings of the YouTube app, tap on Watch on TV and press on the Insert TV Code option. Now, type the code you see on your Smart TV screen in the Enter TV code field of your smartphone and tap the Connect button to complete the link.
How to connect YouTube to TV
To delete the devices associated with your Smart TV, start the YouTube app, access the Settings and select the item Connect another device, then press on Delete devices and press the button Delete all.
How to connect YouTube to TV By computer
How to connect YouTube to TV
If you prefer to connect YouTube to Smart TV via computer, start the service app on your TV and presses the Settings item in the menu on the left, then select the item Connect TV and phone using the arrow keys on the remote control and choose the option Insert TV code.
Now, connected to the YouTube site through your computer’s browser and, if you have not already done so, log in to your account. Then press on your photo on the top right and click on the Settings item, then click on the connected TV option in the menu on the left and enter the code displayed on your Smart TV in the Connect with TV code field. Then presses the Add this TV button, enter a name to give to the connected TV and click the Finish button to complete the link.
To watch a YouTube video on your TV via your computer, find the video of your interest, press the ▶ ︎ button and automatically it will be played on your Smart TV. During playback, you can also use your computer to do anything else, without the video playing on the TV being interrupted.
If you want to disconnect the two devices, access the YouTube Settings, press the TV option connected and first click on the Edit button and then the trash icon for your Smart TV. You can learn more about how the service works by reading my guide on how YouTube works.
How to connect YouTube to TV via Chromecast
How to connect YouTube to TV
If you do not have a Smart TV and do not want to give up the possibility of connecting YouTube to your TV, you can consider Chromecast. It is a small device made by Google whose purpose is to turn a normal TV into a Smart TV.
If you’ve never heard of it, you can get an idea of its use by reading my guide on how Chromecast works, while if you’ve already purchased the device and you’re having difficulty setting it up, I’ll leave you to my tutorial on how to install and configure Chromecasts.
Once you’ve purchased and installed the Google device, you can connect YouTube to your TV. First, make sure your smartphone, tablet or computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network that your Chromecast is connected to, then start the YouTube app on your devices and press the broadcast button (the screen with the waves of the Wi-Fi network) visible in the upper part if you use a mobile device or placed in the lower right corner of the player if you are connected to the YouTube site through the browser on your computer.
Now, select the Chromecast device to which you want to transmit content, press the ▶ ︎ button to start playback and you’re done.
How to connect YouTube to TV – Other devices to connect YouTube to TV
How to connect YouTube to TV
You must know that in addition to Chromecast there are other devices to connect YouTube to the TV and allow you to turn a normal TV into a Smart TV. Here is a list of some of them.
- Apple TV: Apple’s media center is connected to your TV and allows you to access a rich catalog of online content. Its older versions (eg the 3rd generation version) allow you to use only some predefined applications, including YouTube. The latest versions, like the 4th generation, have a dedicated store to download and install many other apps.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick: the solution proposed by Amazon to turn your TV into a Smart TV. Unfortunately, as of January 1, 2018, the YouTube application is no longer compatible with Amazon Fire TV Stick, but alternative solutions are available to install the app in question.
- NOW TV Box: is the set-top box distributed by Sky Italia that allows NOW TV subscribers to easily and quickly access Sky’s online TV content. The YouTube app was officially released recently, making it a viable solution to link YouTube to TV.
- Android TV Box: are small computers equipped with Android that come in the form of a box or key to be inserted directly into the HDMI input of the TV. On the market there are many brands and for all budgets.
After installing and configuring one of these devices, the connection between the YouTube application of the TV and mobile devices or computers is similar to that described previously for Smart TVs. To learn more about this and learn about other solutions similar to those mentioned above, you can read my guide on how to turn TV into Smart TV.
How to connect YouTube to TV via console
How to connect YouTube to TV
If you have an Internet-connected console, such as PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Wii U, you can connect YouTube to your TV via the console you own. The connection procedure is almost identical for all gaming systems.
Let’s take a practical example: if you have a PS4, make sure first of all that the console is connected to the Internet. Pigia then on the toolbox icon to access the Settings, presses then on the options Network and Configure Internet connection and select the type of connection choosing between Use Wi-Fi and Use a network cable (LAN).
Now, go to the Settings> Account Management> Go to PlayStation Network menu and log in to your account by entering your details in the Login ID and Password fields. If you do not have an account yet, press on the New user of PlayStation Network? Create an account and click on the Subscribe Now option to create one.
If the YouTube app is not on your PS4, log in to the PlayStation Store by clicking on Search and typing YouTube in the search field, then presses the Download button to start the download. When the installation is complete, start the YouTube app and access the Settings, then select the Pair device option and press the joystick X button to view the code to connect your mobile device or your computer.
To complete the link, start the YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet, go to Settings, tap on Watch on TV and enter the code in the Enter your TV code field. To connect your computer, connected to the YouTube site, go to the Settings section, presses on the connected TV option and type the code in the Connect with TV code field.
How to connect YouTube to TV via HDMI cable
How to connect YouTube to TV
One of the solutions to connect YouTube to TV is to rely on an HDMI cable. Probably this is the cheapest and easiest solution to put into practice, but certainly also the less “useful” and convenient.
In fact, connecting a computer or a mobile device to the TV via an HDMI cable is nothing more than playing back the screen of the device connected to the TV. This means that if you connect YouTube to TV with an HDMI cable, the device used for the connection can not be used for anything else.
If you think this is the solution that best suits your needs, take the HDMI cable and plug one end into the HDMI input on the back or side of the TV and the other end into the input on your computer. If instead you prefer to connect your smartphone or your tablet, you must first get one of the adapters available on the market, then you can proceed with the connection as described above.
After completing the cable connection, turn on your TV, presses on the external inputs button on your remote control (usually it is the button identified by an arrow inside a rectangle), select the HDMI option using the arrow keys of the remote control and press on OK button.
If you need more information on how to connect the PC to the TV or how to connect the smartphone to the TV, see my tutorials dedicated to these issues.
How to connect YouTube to TV