To watch a YouTube video from your iPhone on a TV, open the video in the YouTube app, tap the Cast icon, and choose your TV or streaming device. For normal Cast discovery, both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and YouTube needs Local Network permission on iOS 14 or later. If they are not on the same Wi-Fi, link them with a TV code instead.
Choose how to connect
| Method | When to use it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Cast discovery | The iPhone and TV or streaming device are on the same Wi-Fi network. | YouTube on both devices and Local Network permission for YouTube on iOS 14 or later. |
| TV-code linking | The devices are not on the same Wi-Fi network. | YouTube on the TV or streaming device, plus the numeric code shown in its settings. |
Neither method requires buying hardware if your current TV or streaming device supports YouTube. YouTube says its app is available on most smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices, and provides an Apple TV installation path through the App Store. Check support for your specific device if YouTube is not available on it.
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Cast a video when both devices share Wi-Fi
- Connect your iPhone and TV or streaming device to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device.
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone and open the video you want to watch.
- Tap the Cast icon in the video player.
- Select your TV or streaming device from the list.
You can also start playback from the YouTube app’s homepage: tap the three-dot menu beside a video’s title, choose Play on different device, then select the target. Casting from YouTube in a mobile browser is not supported.
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On iOS 14 or later, YouTube needs Local Network permission to discover TVs and streaming devices. If the permission is off, the device may not appear and casting will not work. YouTube’s support guidance states: “When Local Network is turned off, casting won’t work.”
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- Open the iPhone’s Settings.
- Select YouTube.
- Turn on Local Network.
You can also begin Cast in YouTube and follow the permission prompt. If you use more than one YouTube app for casting, grant Local Network access to each app separately.
Link with a TV code when the devices are on different Wi-Fi
Use the TV-code method if the iPhone and TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network. The code is created in the YouTube app on the TV or streaming device, then entered in the iPhone app.
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- On the TV or streaming device, open YouTube and go to Settings > Add a device. Note the numeric blue code.
- On the iPhone, open YouTube and tap Cast.
- Tap Add a device, enter the code, and tap Link.
- Select the linked device to start playback.
YouTube’s TV-code linking instructions do not apply to computers.
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Reconnect, disconnect, or remove a linked TV
Reconnect a saved TV
Start YouTube on the TV. On the iPhone, open YouTube and go to Profile picture > Settings > General > Watch on TV, then tap LINK beside the saved TV.
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Disconnect the active link
Tap Cast in YouTube, then tap Disconnect.
Remove linked devices
On the iPhone, go to Profile picture > Settings > General > Watch on TV > Delete Devices. This removes all linked devices; YouTube does not offer removal of just one device from that screen.
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The iPhone remains a companion while playback runs on the TV. You can interact with the video, read its description, browse or queue other videos without interrupting what is playing. YouTube also supports moving a video to another TV or streaming device.
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To use the phone as a remote, tap Cast and choose Remote. Most TV remotes are supported. If yours does not work, check the TV manual for CEC support and enable CEC if the television offers it.
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If your iPhone cannot find the TV
- For Cast discovery: Confirm that the iPhone and TV or streaming device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Check iPhone access: On iOS 14 or later, make sure Settings > YouTube > Local Network is on.
- If the devices use different Wi-Fi networks: Link them with a TV code instead.
- Check the YouTube profile: Some features may be unavailable with supervised accounts. A YouTube Kids profile on a TV, streaming device, or game console may also cause casting errors; YouTube recommends switching to a different profile.
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