- Step 1: Sign up on a web browser
- Step 2: Confirm your home location
- Step 3: Choose your plan and add-ons
- Step 4: Confirm payment
- Step 5: Get YouTube TV on your TV
- Step 6: Add your household and tidy your guide
- If YouTube TV says it can't find your location
- Before your trial ends
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To set up YouTube TV, go to tv.youtube.com, start the trial, sign in with your Google Account, confirm your home ZIP code, pick your plan and any add-ons, then confirm your card and select Buy. After that, download the YouTube TV app on your TV or streaming device and sign in with the same account.
The whole thing takes a few minutes, but two steps decide whether it works smoothly later: the home location you confirm, and the payment card you use. Get those right and the rest is straightforward.
Step 1: Sign up on a web browser
- Go to tv.youtube.com on a web browser.
- Select the button to begin the trial.
- Sign in with your Google Account. This account becomes your YouTube TV login.
YouTube TV's plan page shows a 'Try 5 days for $0' offer as of October 2026, and its help page says trial lengths vary by plan. You can check the days left at any time under Settings, then Membership.
Step 2: Confirm your home location
YouTube TV asks for your home ZIP code and may ask you to allow location access on your device. This is how it gives you the right local networks. If the ZIP code shown is wrong, select I don't live here and enter the correct one.
Take care here. YouTube TV won't let you change your home area if you've already changed it twice in the last 12 months, so set it to where you live, not where you happen to be today.
Step 3: Choose your plan and add-ons
- Review the networks included in the plan and the price shown.
- Select Next.
- Add any premium networks by selecting the circle next to each one. You can add as many as you like during the trial.
- Select Next again when you're happy.
You can switch plans during your free trial, but YouTube TV notes the trial period won't restart.
Step 4: Confirm payment
Confirm the card you'd like to use and select Buy. YouTube TV says you won't be charged until the trial ends. Two things catch people out:
- YouTube TV places a small authorisation charge on your card when the trial starts to check it's active. It's removed once the card is confirmed, on a timescale set by your bank.
- YouTube TV doesn't support purchases made with prepaid credit cards.
Step 5: Get YouTube TV on your TV
Download the YouTube TV app from your device's app store and sign in. YouTube TV's supported devices list includes:
| Type | Examples YouTube TV lists |
|---|---|
| Game consoles | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One |
| Smart TVs | Roku TVs, LG and Samsung smart TVs from 2017 onwards, select Hisense and Vizio models |
| Streaming devices | Apple TV 4th generation and 4K, Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV, Fire TV Stick models, Roku players |
| Phones and tablets | Android L or later, iPhone and iPad on iOS 15 or later |
| Computers | tv.youtube.com in an up-to-date Chrome or Firefox |
Once you're in, YouTube TV says you can check what your device supports under Settings, then Support, then Device Capabilities, including 4K, 5.1 surround sound and full multiview. It recommends an internet connection of at least 3 Mbps.
Step 6: Add your household and tidy your guide
A membership includes up to 6 accounts for people in your household, each with its own recordings and recommendations. My guide to adding family members to YouTube TV covers the invitation steps, and you can reorder or hide channels using the YouTube TV live guide settings.
If YouTube TV says it can't find your location
Allow location access when your browser or phone asks. YouTube TV says that if it still can't identify where you are, it'll send you to tv.youtube.com/verify to confirm your current location. A VPN or proxy stops YouTube TV streaming altogether, so switch it off before you set up.
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If something goes wrong, my guide to contacting YouTube TV support shows how to reach the team.
Before your trial ends
When the trial finishes, YouTube TV switches you to a paid membership at the standard price for your plan, plus any add-ons, and that date becomes your billing date. If you're only testing it, read my notes on the YouTube TV free trial so you know exactly when the first charge lands.
My verdict
Set up YouTube TV on a computer first, not on the TV. It's quicker to type your ZIP code and card details there, and you can check the home location carefully before it locks in your local channels. Then sign in on the TV and you're done.
Once it's running, my explainer on how many screens YouTube TV covers shows how many people can watch together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up YouTube TV for the first time?
Go to tv.youtube.com, start the trial, sign in with your Google Account, confirm your home ZIP code, choose your plan and add-ons, confirm your card and select Buy.
Can I use a prepaid card for YouTube TV?
No. YouTube TV says it doesn't support purchases made with prepaid credit cards.
Why did YouTube TV charge my card during the free trial?
YouTube TV places a small authorisation on your card when the trial starts to check it's active, and removes it once the card is confirmed.
What internet speed do I need for YouTube TV?
YouTube TV recommends an internet connection of at least 3 Mbps.
