Activating YouTube TV vs. YouTube: What’s the Difference?
While they share a name and are both owned Google, YouTube and YouTube TV are distinct services with different purposes and separate activation processes. Understanding the difference is crucial for setting them up correctly on your smart TV or streaming device visit youtube.com/activate.
Understanding YouTube and YouTube TV
The standard YouTube app is the platform everyone knows for user-generated content, music videos, tutorials, and more. It is a free service, with an optional YouTube Premium subscription to remove ads and add background play. Activating the standard YouTube app on a device links your Google account to sync your subscriptions, playlists, and viewing history.
YouTube TV, on the other hand, is a subscription-based live TV streaming service designed to replace traditional cable. It offers access to over 100 live broadcast and cable channels, cloud DVR storage, and on-demand content. It is a paid service with its own app and a different activation process geared toward verifying your subscription.
Activating the Standard YouTube App
Activating the free YouTube app is a simple process. You open the app on your device, select “Sign In,” and an 8-character code appears on the screen. You then visit youtube.com/activate on a separate device, sign into your Google account, enter the code, and grant permissions. This links your personal YouTube profile to the device, personalizing the experience with your recommended videos and subscribed channels. This process does not involve any payment or subscription verification.
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The Separate Process for Activating YouTube TV
Activating the YouTube TV app follows a similar code-based system but uses a different website. After opening the YouTube TV app on your smart TV, you will be prompted to sign in. It will display a code on the screen and direct you to visit tv.youtube.com/start on another device. When you go to this URL, you will need to sign in with the Google account that has your active YouTube TV subscription. After entering the code from your TV, the system verifies your subscription status before granting access to live channels and your DVR library. This step ensures only paying subscribers can use the service.
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Do You Need Both Apps on Your TV?
Whether you need both apps depends on your viewing habits. If you only subscribe to YouTube TV for live television and do not use the standard YouTube for other content, you only need the YouTube TV app. However, most people use both services. The YouTube TV app is for watching live sports, news, and network shows, while the standard YouTube app is for everything else. Most smart TV platforms allow you to install both apps side--side, so you can easily switch between live TV and on-demand video content. Both can be linked to the same Google account, but they remain separate applications.