The Beginners Guide To Youtube Tv

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 29, 2025, 8:31 AM

If you’re new to cutting the cord, getting started with a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV may seem overwhelming. In this beginner’s guide, you’ll learn how to navigate YouTube TV’s home screen, live guide and library. Plus, I’ll share some account settings that you need to know. In the video below, I demonstrate how to use YouTube TV with a Roku Ultra streaming device. However, this tutorial will still be useful if you’re using another device to stream. You can access YouTube TV from your TV set, a web browser or the mobile app.

From your TV set, which is what we’ll focus on in this article, search for the YouTube TV app if it’s not already installed. Please note: the YouTube TV app is separate from the regular YouTube app. New to YouTube TV? This YouTube TV tutorial for beginners explains how to use YouTube TV in 2026—setup guide, live TV, Cloud DVR, pricing, and cutting the cord without contracts or tech stress. If you’re coming from traditional cable, this is usually the moment where things feel heavier than they need to. Boxes.

Contracts. Fees you never agreed to. A remote with more buttons than sense.Take a breath—YouTube TV is the opposite of all that. At its core, YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service. Instead of channels coming through a cable line, they arrive over the internet—straight to an app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, or streaming devices like Roku and Firestick. No installer.

No waiting window. No long-term contract hanging over your weekend. Think of it this way: cable locks you into their system. YouTube TV gives the control back to you. You still get what matters—live TV, local channels, news, sports, and entertainment—but without the baggage. It runs on a monthly subscription, so you can pause or cancel whenever life changes.

No “hidden fees” quietly inflating your bill. No guessing what you’re paying for. Are you tired of cable bills eating into your monthly budget? Do you want to watch live TV without the hassle of a cable subscription? Look no further than the YouTube TV app. This app offers an affordable and convenient way to watch your favorite channels on-the-go.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using the YouTube TV app. To use the YouTube TV app, first download it from either the App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded, open the app and sign in with your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, create one by clicking on “Create Account” and filling out the necessary information. Once signed in, select your location to determine which local channels will be available. Note that not all channels are available in all areas.

The YouTube TV app is straightforward and easy to navigate. The home screen displays a list of live and upcoming shows that you can scroll through horizontally. You can also browse by category (e.g., Sports, News) by clicking on the menu icon in the top left corner. To find a specific channel or show, use the search bar at the top of the screen. You can also access your library of saved shows by clicking on “Library” at the bottom of the screen. YouTube TV is the king of live-streaming video for good reason.

With roughly twice as many subscribers as its next competitor in the live streaming arena, it’s made huge gains delivering a great price, reliable service, and plenty of channels to feast you eyes on. It’s got enough features that it’s understandable why YouTube TV is one of the most popular streaming services out there. In fact, YouTube TV has so many features tucked away in there that you’ll be forgiven if you don’t spot them all at first. But we’ve done the legwork. We’ve watched hours and hours of YouTube TV. Weeks and months, really.

We’ve flipped all the buttons. We’ve pressed all the switches. (Wait — reverse that.) And we’ve put together a list of what we think are the most important — if not always obvious — YouTube TV tips and tricks. And we’re not just talking about NFL Sunday Ticket. This isn’t everything. There are still a few other places to explore in the settings menu, as well as when you’re watching shows and movies.

But these are the YouTube TV tips and tricks we absolutely think you must know. YouTube TV lets you “record” as much as you want, which is great. What it’s lacking, however, is a visible record button. Instead, just look for the plus button. As in the + symbol. You can hit it when you’re in the middle of watching something — if it’s live and you just tuned to it, you’ll get a recording from that point onward.

If it’s something that YouTube TV knows is on more than once — say, The Shawshank Redemption or Young Sheldon — it’ll wait for the next time it’s on and save it from there. YouTube has revolutionized the way we consume video content, and one of the platform’s most exciting features is YouTube TV. This streaming service offers a wide range of channels and on-demand content, making it a popular choice for cord-cutters. If you’re new to YouTube TV or considering giving it a try, this comprehensive tutorial will guide you through everything you need to know. YouTube TV is an internet-based live TV streaming service that allows users to watch their favorite shows, movies, and sports events without a traditional cable or satellite subscription. It provides access to over 85 channels, including popular networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and more.

With unlimited DVR storage space and the ability to stream on multiple devices simultaneously, YouTube TV offers an excellent alternative to traditional pay-TV services. To get started with YouTube TV, you’ll need a compatible device such as a smart TV, streaming media player (e.g., Roku or Apple TV), gaming console, or mobile device. Simply download the YouTube TV app from your device’s app store and sign in with your Google account. Once signed in, you can customize your channel lineup by selecting your favorite networks from the available options. This personalized selection ensures that you only pay for the channels you actually want to watch. YouTube TV also includes a cloud-based DVR feature that allows you to record your favorite shows and movies for later viewing.

The best part? There are no storage limits. You can record as much content as you want and access it from any supported device. If You've recently signed up for YouTube TV, this is the ultimate beginner's guide to help you get started. Today, I'm going to walk you through the basics step by step in real time. You'll learn how to navigate YouTube TV's home screen, live guide, and library, which is where you access your DVR.

Plus, I'll share some account settings and features to maximize your viewing experience. For this free training, you'll need a YouTube TV account. Sign up for your free trial of YouTube TV at tv.youtube.com. You'll also need other streaming basics: a TV set, an internet connection, and a supported streaming device. I'll be using a Roku Ultra for this tutorial, but this training will still be useful if you're using another device to stream. And if you need help setting up a Roku, watch my separate tutorials linked in the description.

To get the most out of this experience, I recommend that you watch this video either from your phone or your computer, not your TV set, because that way you can follow along on... Let's begin! There are several ways to access YouTube TV: a web browser, mobile app, and your TV set. From your TV set, which is what we're going to focus on in this video, search for the YouTube TV app if it's not already installed. Please note that the YouTube TV app is separate from the regular YouTube app. When you launch the YouTube TV app for the very first time, you should see a screen like this.

If you've already signed up directly at tv.youtube.com, select "Member Sign In" and choose from one of the options on your screen to sign in. From a web browser, go to tv.youtube.com, start, enter the code on your screen, and then sign in to your Google account. To sign in with your phone, download and open the YouTube TV mobile app, and as long as your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your TV set, you'll be able to... When you sign into YouTube TV for the first time, you'll see multiple screens to help you personalize your experience. Select your favorite news shows, movies, TV series, and even sports teams to follow with your DVR. If you're following the steps as I'm speaking, you may need to pause the video right now so that you can finish the personalization process and then we can Continue.

Let's pick up with what the YouTube TV home screen looks like on a TV set. From the navigation at the top, you can click left for your library and to the right for the live guide. I want to walk you through the home screen later on. First, click right and select "Live: Live Guide". This is the YouTube TV live guide. At the top of your screen, you'll see a collection of programs that are airing right now.

The Beginners Guide To Youtube Tv

People Also Search

If You’re New To Cutting The Cord, Getting Started With

From Your TV Set, Which Is What We’ll Focus On

Contracts. Fees You Never Agreed To. A Remote With More

No Waiting Window. No Long-term Contract Hanging Over Your Weekend.

No “hidden Fees” Quietly Inflating Your Bill. No Guessing What