How To Activate YouTube On Your TV (youtube.com/activate)

To activate YouTube on your TV: 1. Open the YouTube app on your smart TV, streaming device, or game console. 2. Choose Sign in. 3. Scan the QR code or go to yt.be/activate on your phone or computer. 4. Enter the code shown on your TV. 5. Confirm the Google Account you want linked. Google now points TV-code sign-in to yt.be/activate, while youtube.com/activate searches often mean the same code-entry flow.

Before You Start

You need the official YouTube app installed on the TV device and a phone, tablet, or computer that can sign in to your Google Account. Google's current YouTube Help page says the TV app can sign in with your phone by scanning the QR code or by going to yt.be/activate and entering the on-screen code. It also says you can sign in with the TV remote if the phone-code method is not working.

This guide is for regular YouTube, not YouTube TV. If you are trying to activate the paid live TV service, use the separate YouTube TV activation guide. If the app opens but videos fail, start with our YouTube not working fixes instead.

How To Activate YouTube With A Code

1. Install the YouTube app. On most smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming players, the app is either preinstalled or available from the device app store.
2. Open YouTube on the TV. Select Sign in. If the app asks who is watching, choose Add account.
3. Leave the TV code visible. You may see a QR code, a short URL, or both. Do not close this screen until the account links.
4. Use another device. On your phone, tablet, or computer, open yt.be/activate. If you searched for youtube.com/activate, use the official Google/YouTube sign-in page that redirects you into this same code-entry process.
5. Enter the TV code exactly. Codes expire and are easy to mistype, so generate a new one from the TV app if the page says the code is invalid.
6. Choose the right Google Account. Confirm the account you use for subscriptions, purchases, playlists, and YouTube Premium.
7. Wait for the TV app to refresh. The YouTube app should move from the code screen to the signed-in home screen within a few seconds.

Supported Devices

Google says the YouTube app is already available on most smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices. Its current install guide lists Android TV and Google TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Fire TV, LG TVs, PlayStation devices, Roku, Samsung TVs, and Xbox consoles. Availability still depends on the device model, region, app store, and operating system version.

If you cannot find YouTube in the TV app store, search the store for "YouTube" rather than relying on a browser bookmark. On older devices, the app may be unavailable or outdated. In that case, the simplest fix is usually to use a current streaming stick, cast from the YouTube mobile app, or watch on a supported game console.

Phone Sign-In vs Remote Sign-In

Phone sign-in is usually faster because you avoid typing a Google password with a TV remote. Google also supports direct remote sign-in on many devices. If the QR code fails, choose the manual code-entry option. If the phone method fails completely, back out and try Sign in with your remote.

Keep the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network when the app asks you to pair locally. Google's sign-in troubleshooting says to verify the TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi, make sure the phone is not using mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, and confirm the activation code was typed correctly at yt.be/activate.

How To Add Or Switch Accounts

YouTube lets multiple people in a household add accounts to the TV app. From the left navigation, select the profile picture, open the Accounts tab, and choose Add account. You can also use Guest mode if someone wants to watch without affecting your recommendations.

To switch accounts later, open YouTube on the TV, go to the profile picture in the left navigation, and choose the account you want. You can only switch to accounts that have already been added on that TV or console.

If YouTube Activation Is Not Working

• The code is invalid: Generate a new code from the TV app and enter it again. Codes expire, and a single wrong character can fail the link.
• The QR code will not scan: Use the manual code-entry page at yt.be/activate.
• The phone cannot find the TV: Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi network and temporarily turn off mobile data while you activate.
• The app freezes after sign-in: Force close YouTube, restart the TV or streaming device, and reopen the app.
• Activation keeps looping: Sign out of extra Google accounts in the browser, then try again in a private window.
• Older Chromecast issue: Google says signing in directly to YouTube on older Chromecast devices is not supported; control the cast session from the phone instead.

FAQ

Is youtube.com/activate still the right page?

Google's current help for TV sign-in points users to yt.be/activate. If you type youtube.com/activate and land on a Google-owned sign-in/code page, it may still complete the same flow, but yt.be/activate is the official short link Google lists now.

Do I need YouTube Premium to activate YouTube?

No. Activation just signs the TV app into your Google Account. YouTube Premium, channel memberships, rentals, and purchases appear only if they are attached to that account.

Is this the same as YouTube TV?

No. YouTube is the free video app with optional paid features. YouTube TV is a separate live TV subscription that uses its own activation flow at tv.youtube.com/start.

Can I use a computer with a TV code?

For linking a phone or tablet to the TV app with a TV code, Google says TV code is not available with computers; computer users should cast instead. For signing in to the TV app, you can use a phone, tablet, or computer to enter the activation code at yt.be/activate.