How to Sign Into YouTube on TV (QR Code, Phone or Remote)

Typing a long email address and password with a TV remote is nobody's idea of fun, which is exactly why YouTube gives you easier routes. Signing in matters because it brings your Library, your channels and your recommendations onto the big screen. If you use YouTube to watch tutorials for your business, or to play your own channel's videos in a meeting room, it's worth setting up once and getting on with your day. Here are the options in YouTube's help pages.

Before you sign into YouTube on your TV

YouTube's help centre says to start by making sure the YouTube app is installed on your smart TV or game console. Have your phone, tablet or computer nearby too, because the quickest methods use a second device. Then open the YouTube app on the TV and choose to sign in.

Signing into YouTube on a TV with a QR code

1. Open the YouTube app on your TV and go to the sign-in screen.
2. Find the QR code shown on the TV.
3. Scan it with your phone's camera.
4. Follow the prompts on your phone and approve the sign-in with your Google Account.

This is the route I'd try first. You never type your details into the TV, and it takes seconds.

Signing into YouTube on a TV with an activation code

If scanning doesn't suit you, the help pages describe a code route:

1. On a phone, tablet or computer, go to yt.be/activate.
2. Enter the code that's showing on your TV or console.
3. Sign in if asked, and approve the connection.

Type the code carefully. YouTube's help pages specifically say to check you've entered the activation code correctly, since a single wrong character can make it fail.

Signing into YouTube on a TV with your remote

The third option is the old-fashioned one. Use your remote and the on-screen keyboard to enter your Google Account details. YouTube's help centre lists this alongside the QR and code methods, so it's a fair fallback if your phone isn't to hand. If one method fails, try another.

Choosing which account to use on a shared TV

A family TV can end up with the wrong account signed in, which means your recommendations get mixed with everyone else's. If you manage a business channel, choose the account that matches the channel you want on screen. My guide to switching accounts on YouTube covers the account switcher, and the opposite job is in signing out of YouTube on a TV, app or computer.

YouTube's help pages also mention guest mode, which lets other people use YouTube signed out. That's useful in a waiting room or on a TV in a shared office, because it keeps your Library private.

If you can't sign into YouTube on your TV

YouTube's help pages name several quick checks. Work down the list in order:

1. Make sure your TV and your phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. You can look at the TV's network in its Settings.
2. Turn off mobile data on your phone so it uses Wi-Fi.
3. Check you typed the activation code correctly at yt.be/activate.
4. Try the other sign-in method: if the QR code failed, use the activation code, or the other way round.
5. Power cycle the TV or console by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then restart your router and your phone.

If it still won't connect, YouTube points you to Google's sign-in troubleshooter. And if the whole app is misbehaving rather than just sign-in, my checklist on why YouTube isn't working is a good next stop.

Old Chromecast devices and signing in

There's one catch worth knowing. YouTube's help centre says older Chromecast devices don't support signing in directly. In that case, cast a video from your phone while you're signed in there, or use the app signed out with a remote. It isn't a fault with your account, just a limit of the device.

What signing into YouTube on your TV gives you

According to YouTube's help pages, signing in lets you reach your Library and your usual channels on the big screen. For everyday viewers, that means your saved playlists and your usual channels are waiting for you. For creators, it means you can pull up your own videos or playlists without carrying files around, which is handy for client presentations.

• Your playlists and Library, ready on the TV.
• Recommendations based on your own account, not a shared one.
• Quick access to channels you follow.
• The option to use guest mode when someone else takes over the remote.

Keeping your YouTube TV sign-in tidy

Once you're signed in, a little housekeeping saves trouble later. If you sell or give away a TV, or you've borrowed one for an event, sign out before you leave. If you share a TV with others, think about whether each person should use their own account. And if you ever notice a device you don't recognise, change your Google Account password and review the devices linked to your account.

Please don't try to sign in by using someone else's details, and don't share your code with anyone. The activation code is meant for the screen in front of you.

This guide is part of my YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I sign into YouTube on my TV without typing a password?

Open the YouTube app on the TV, scan the QR code on screen with your phone and approve the sign-in on the phone.

What is the YouTube TV activation code website?

YouTube's help pages name yt.be/activate. Go there on a phone, tablet or computer and enter the code shown on your TV.

Why won't YouTube sign in on my TV?

Check the TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi, turn off mobile data on the phone, check the code, then try another method or power cycle the TV for 30 seconds.

Can I sign into YouTube on an old Chromecast?

YouTube's help centre says older Chromecast devices don't support signing in directly. Cast from your signed-in phone instead.

Can someone use YouTube on my TV without my account?

Yes. YouTube mentions guest mode, which lets others use YouTube signed out.