How to Cast YouTube to Your TV: Phone, PC and TV Code

To cast YouTube to your TV, put your phone or computer and the TV on the same Wi-Fi network, open the YouTube app, start a video and tap the Cast icon to choose your TV. If the devices are on different networks, link them with a TV code from the TV's Settings.

Watching a video on a small screen is fine until you want the whole room to see it. That might be a training video for your team, a client case study or just tonight's viewing. Casting lets you start a YouTube video on your phone or computer and play it on your TV, with your phone acting as the remote. The steps below follow YouTube's own help article on casting and using your phone as a companion, including the TV code route for when Wi-Fi gets awkward.

What you need before you cast YouTube to your TV

According to YouTube's help centre, the Cast icon lets you use a phone, tablet or computer to control YouTube on your TV. A few ground rules from the article:

Your computer, phone or tablet and your TV or streaming device should be on the same Wi-Fi network for the standard method.
The YouTube app needs to be open on the TV or streaming device when you cast from a computer.
Casting from a mobile device needs the YouTube app. The help article says you cannot cast from the YouTube website in a mobile browser.
For the companion features, both devices need to be signed in to the same Google Account.

Cast a YouTube video from your phone or tablet

The help article describes the Cast icon in the video player. In outline, the route's like this:

Connect your phone or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV or streaming device.
Open the YouTube app on your phone and start the video you want to watch.
Tap the Cast icon in the video player.
Select your TV or streaming device from the list.
The video moves to the TV, and you can keep controlling it from your phone.

YouTube describes the same idea as transferring playback: tap Cast in the video player, select the target device and the video moves there. Menu labels vary by app version, so look for the closest match if yours is worded differently.

Cast YouTube to your TV from a computer

The help centre lists a five-step route for computers:

Put your computer and your TV or streaming device on the same Wi-Fi network.
Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
Go to the YouTube website in your computer's browser.
Open a video, click the three-dot menu in the player and select Cast.
Choose your device, and the video plays on the TV.

To stop, click Cast and then Stop casting. YouTube's article also notes that casting from a browser lacks some advanced features, so use the YouTube app on your phone or TV for those.

Link your phone to the TV with a TV code

A TV code helps when your devices aren't on the same Wi-Fi. For example, you might be in a hotel or an office where the TV sits on a different network. YouTube's article says TV codes let you cast when devices aren't on the same Wi-Fi, but they don't work with computers. The steps are:

On the TV, open the YouTube app and go to Settings.
Select Add a device. A code made up of numbers appears on the TV.
On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app and tap Cast.
Tap Add a device.
Enter the TV code, tap Link and select the device from the list.

To disconnect, tap Cast and then Disconnect. To reconnect later, start YouTube on the TV, open the app on your phone and go to your profile picture, Settings, General, then Watch on TV. Find the linked TV and tap Link. Be aware that YouTube's article says you can't unlink TV-code devices one at a time. Unlinking removes all of them, and you'll need a new code to link any device again.

What the YouTube companion does once you're casting

Once the TV's playing, your phone becomes a companion. When you open the YouTube app, a pop-up shows what's playing on the TV, and if there isn't one you can tap the companion icon. According to YouTube's help centre, you can like videos, comment and subscribe, read descriptions and open creator links, and browse or add videos to the TV queue without interrupting playback.

The article also lists a few controls: the on-screen remote (tap Cast, then Remote), voice search (tap Cast, tap the microphone and speak) and the TV's own remote. Most TV remotes work without setup. If yours doesn't, check whether your TV supports CEC, and turn it on if it does.

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Why the YouTube cast icon is missing or not working

YouTube's article doesn't have a section on a missing Cast icon, but what it says points to the usual causes. Work through them in order:

Check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, or use a TV code if they can't be.
Make sure you're using the YouTube app on your phone, not a mobile browser.
For a computer, check the YouTube app is open on the TV first.
Check you're signed in to the same Google Account on both devices if you want the companion features.
If you're signed in to a YouTube Kids profile on the TV, the help article says you may get an error when casting. Switch to a different profile.
On supervised accounts, some features may be unavailable, according to the help article.
Update the YouTube app on both devices, and unplug the TV or streaming device for at least 30 seconds if it still misbehaves. YouTube's video errors article calls that power cycle often the most effective TV fix.

If the trouble's more general, my checklist for when YouTube isn't working covers the app, browser and connection steps in more detail.

Casting YouTube to a TV from the wrong account

A common snag in homes and offices is that the phone's signed in to a personal account and the TV's signed in to a shared one. Companion features need the same account on both. If you need to change which account the phone's using, my guide to switching accounts on YouTube walks you through it, and signing out of YouTube helps when you want to remove your account from a shared device.

Using YouTube casting for presentations and training

If you run a small business, casting's a quick way to show a video to a room without fiddling with cables. Open the YouTube app on the TV, cast from your phone and use the phone as the remote. Before a meeting, test the link a few minutes early, because the same-Wi-Fi rule catches people out in unfamiliar offices. Having a TV code ready is a good backup.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cast YouTube to my TV from my phone?

According to YouTube's help centre, connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network, open the YouTube app, start a video, tap the Cast icon and select your TV. The video then plays on the TV.

Can I cast YouTube from a phone browser?

No. YouTube's help centre says casting from a mobile device needs the YouTube app, and that you cannot cast from the YouTube website in a mobile browser.

Can I cast YouTube without the same Wi-Fi?

On a phone or tablet, yes, using a TV code. In the TV's YouTube app go to Settings, then Add a device, then enter the code in your phone's app. YouTube says TV codes don't work with computers.

Why is the Cast icon missing in YouTube?

YouTube's help article doesn't give one cause. Check the same Wi-Fi network, use the YouTube app rather than a mobile browser, confirm the TV app is open and update the apps. A YouTube Kids profile on the TV can also cause an error.

How do I stop casting YouTube?

On a computer, click Cast and then Stop casting. On a phone, YouTube's help article says to tap Cast and then Disconnect.

Published and maintained by the Lilach Bullock team, covering marketing, AI and business growth.