TV YouTube Com Start Code: How to Link a Device to Your TV

Quick answer: the tv.youtube.com/start code is used to sign in to the YouTube TV app on a TV. Open YouTube TV on your smart TV, streaming device, or game console, display the activation code, then open tv.youtube.com/start on a phone, tablet, or computer. Enter the code, choose the Google Account connected to your YouTube TV membership, and approve the connection.

YouTube TV and the standard YouTube app use different sign-in methods. If you only want to pair the regular YouTube app with your phone, you usually do not need tv.youtube.com/start.

Which YouTube code or link should you use?

Using the wrong page is a common reason a valid-looking code appears not to work.

How to use the TV YouTube com start code

1. Open YouTube TV on your television

Launch the YouTube TV app and choose the sign-in option. The TV should display a QR code and/or an activation code. Google’s current instructions allow either scanning the QR code or entering the displayed code on another device.

2. Open tv.youtube.com/start

On your phone, tablet, or computer, open a browser and go to tv.youtube.com/start. You can instead scan the QR code shown on the TV if that is quicker.

3. Enter the activation code

Type the code exactly as shown and select Continue. If the code is rejected after sitting on the screen for a while, it may have expired. Google recommends going back and reloading the TV sign-in screen to generate a fresh code, then entering the new one.

4. Choose the right Google Account

Select the Google Account associated with your YouTube TV Base Plan, then choose Allow when prompted. If you use several Google Accounts, choosing the wrong one can sign you in without giving you access to the membership you expect.

5. Return to the TV

After approval, the TV app should finish signing in. You can browse with the TV remote, and supported devices can also cast or control playback from another device.

If you meant the regular YouTube app

The standard YouTube app uses a different account sign-in flow. YouTube’s current instructions say to scan the QR code shown on the TV or open yt.be/activate and enter the code there. See the official YouTube sign-in instructions.

For a separate TV code that links a phone or tablet as a controller, open YouTube on the TV and choose Settings > Add a device. A blue, numbers-only code appears. In the YouTube app on the phone or tablet, tap Cast > Add a device, enter that code, and tap Link. Google says this method can work even when the phone and TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network; TV-code pairing is not available from a computer. See YouTube’s official device-linking guide.

Why a tv.youtube.com/start code may not work

• The code expired: refresh the TV sign-in screen and use the newly displayed code.
• You opened the wrong activation page: tv.youtube.com/start is for YouTube TV, while regular YouTube account sign-in currently uses yt.be/activate.
• You chose the wrong Google Account: select the account that is linked to the YouTube TV membership.
• The app or device is outdated: install available YouTube TV and system updates, restart the device, and try again.

YouTube TV is currently available throughout the United States, and location requirements apply to the service. For current coverage details, see YouTube TV’s official availability information.

How to disconnect later

In YouTube TV on your television, open your profile and choose Sign Out. To remove an account from the device, use Switch account and select Remove. Google lists the current controls in its YouTube TV sign-in and sign-out guide.

If you linked the regular YouTube app with a TV code, remove the pairing from Settings > Linked devices on the TV or from Settings > General > Watch on TV on the phone. You will need a new code if you pair the devices again later.