YouTube TV allows account holders to add up to 5 additional users to a single subscription plan. This allows family members and friends to access the YouTube TV service without having to pay for separate accounts.
Managing users on YouTube TV is easy to do through the account settings. As the main account holder, you have control over adding, editing, and removing additional users.
Table of Contents
Adding Additional Users
To add someone to your YouTube TV subscription:
- Sign in to YouTube TV on a web browser and click on your profile icon in the top right.
- Select Settings.
- Under Membership & billing, select Family sharing.
- Click Invite more people.
- Enter the email address of the person you want to add.
- Set permissions for the new user:
- Viewer – Can watch YouTube TV but not make account changes
- Manager – Can make some account changes like adding shows to the library
- Click Send invite.
- The invited person will receive an email to join YouTube TV. They must accept the invite to be added to your subscription.
Once the invite is accepted, the new user will have access to YouTube TV on any device they’re signed into with their Google Account.
You can repeat steps 4-7 to continue adding users up to the 5 user limit.
Managing Additional Users
As the main account holder, you have control over the additional users on your YouTube TV subscription. You can edit settings and remove users when needed.
To manage users:
- Sign in to YouTube TV on a web browser and click on your profile icon.
- Select Settings.
- Under Membership & billing, choose Family sharing.
- Here you will see a list of the additional users on your account.
- Click the three dots next to a user’s name to access management options:
- Change permissions – Update between Viewer and Manager access
- Remove – Delete user from your YouTube TV subscription
- Click Done when finished.
The user list will update to reflect any changes you make.
Pausing Devices
YouTube TV allows account managers to pause devices for additional users. This temporarily blocks access to that user’s devices without removing them from the account.
To pause devices:
- Follow steps 1-4 above to access Family Sharing settings.
- Click the three dots next to the user and choose Pause devices.
- Select the devices you want to temporarily disable.
- Click Pause devices to confirm.
The user will no longer be able to watch or access recordings on paused devices until they are unpaused.
Setting User Profiles and Preferences
Each additional user on your YouTube TV account has their own profile and settings. As the account holder, you manage the master account but users control their own profiles.
Users can set up profile information and viewing preferences like:
- Profile name, icon, and avatar
- Content ratings and parental controls
- Live guide customization
- Library and watch history
- Streaming device linking
Encourage users to explore their account profile and YouTube TV settings when they first gain access. This allows them to personalize their viewing experience.
Profiles are a helpful way to separate watch history and recommendations between different users. The home screen will also change based on the profile that is actively signed in across devices.
Using YouTube TV on Multiple Devices
An advantage of having multiple YouTube TV users is that you can stream simultaneously on different devices. However, streaming is limited based on your account membership type:
- Base Plan – Up to 3 concurrent streams
- Family Plan – Unlimited concurrent streams at home + 3 on mobile
If you exceed the concurrent stream limit, YouTube TV will prompt users to try again later.
To manage what devices are currently in use:
- Click on your profile icon while signed into YouTube TV.
- Select Account.
- Here you can see all active streams and pause devices if needed.
This allows you to monitor usage across profiles and troubleshoot any streaming conflicts caused by hitting your account limit.
When using YouTube TV on a shared streaming device like a living room TV, it’s easy to switch between user profiles.
On smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming players:
- Access the YouTube TV app.
- Using your remote, scroll up on the home screen.
- Select your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Choose the user profile you want to switch to from the dropdown menu.
The home screen and recommendations will change based on the active user profile.
This makes it simple for different family members to access their own watch history, scheduled recordings, and customizations even when sharing a TV.
Best Practices for Sharing YouTube TV
Here are some tips for smoothly sharing a YouTube TV account with multiple household users:
- Communicate – Let additional users know when you are adding or removing them from the service. Coordinate profile setup.
- Share Login Info – Provide additional users with your YouTube TV subscriber email and password so they can easily sign in on new devices.
- Rename Profiles – Encourage users to update the default “Family Member” names for their profiles to avoid confusion.
- Prevent Simultaneous Streaming Conflicts – If you only have 3 concurrent streams, coordinate access with other users to prevent playback interruptions.
- Troubleshoot Issues – If users have trouble accessing the service, they should sign out and back into YouTube TV using your account credentials.
Managing a shared YouTube TV subscription takes some coordination upfront but allows your whole household to enjoy cable-free live TV streaming. Encouraging users to customize their profiles and review account settings ensures the best streaming experience.
Contacting YouTube TV Support
If you have issues adding or removing users from your YouTube TV account, you can contact customer support for assistance:
- Live chat agents available daily
- Support site with FAQs and troubleshooting guides
- Active YouTube TV community on social media for advice
