YouTube is ranked the second most-used search engine in the world. We’re all familiar with YouTube as a video gallery where people may view educational, humorous, sad, and other types of videos.
YouTube incorporated a new service, YouTube TV, launched on February 28, 2017. A decade ago, almost everyone had cable TV, and it’s much more common nowadays to use a live TV service like YouTube TV.
YouTube TV includes standard channels you’d expect from a TV service — PBS, ABC, and CBS — as well as more niche channels like ESPN, TNT, and HGTV.
The exact channel lineup you’ll get depends on your location. Entering your zip code on YouTube TV’s welcome page will give you a preview of your channels.
YouTube has around 2 billion users worldwide, and it does have issues from time to time.
This article will provide a complete guideline to help fix the YouTube TV family sharing problem. And by the end of this article, if you’ve followed the processes explained, YouTube TV family sharing should work for you again.
Steps To Fix YouTube TV Family Sharing Not Working
1. Check YouTube-Server
The most basic first step is to check if the YouTube TV website is entirely unavailable to all users. You can check this using the Downdetector site checker or this link.
There is nothing you can do if it shows a YouTube TV outage. The problem is on YouTube, and you’ll have to wait for the service to be restored.
2. Check the Internet Connection
The next step is to ensure that you have a stable internet connection. Connect to other websites using your device and ensure those connections are functional.
After that, you’ll need to ensure your internet connection is fast enough to use YouTube TV. To stream properly, YouTube TV requires a download speed of at least 3 Mbps. If your internet connection isn’t up to the task, you might notice a lag, or YouTube TV won’t work.
YouTube suggests the following internet speeds based on your usage:
• 3 Mbps
This speed is ideal for streaming standard-definition video.
• 7 Mbps
This speed allows you to stream a single HD (high definition) video, but multiple devices streaming may cause problems.
• 13 Mbps
You can stream HD video from multiple devices.
• 25 Mbps
Allows you to stream 4K video or YouTube TV programs.
You should first try a speed test to see how fast your internet connection is. The simplest way to do this is to type “internet speed test” into Google.
To begin the test, select Run Speed Test. You’ll see your network’s download and upload speeds when you finish the test.
You need to address the Mbps download result. Check that this speed result corresponds to your YouTube TV usage from the list above.
Also, restart your data connection to ensure your mobile internet connection works properly. Open Settings, select Connections, and enable and disable Airplane mode on Android. To enable Airplane Mode on an iPhone or iPad, open the Control Center, tap Airplane Mode, and tap it again to turn it off.
3. Adjust Video Quality
If you don’t have enough bandwidth speed for YouTube TV to function appropriately, you can adjust some settings in the YouTube TV app to make it work more efficiently. To do so, follow these steps:
• When you launch a video, click the gear icon in the lower right corner of the player window.
• From the Settings menu, choose Quality.
• From the Quality menu, select a lower video resolution.
• Choosing a lower video quality will require less bandwidth, allowing you to use a slower internet connection speed.
Note: You can reduce video quality on the YouTube TV mobile app similarly by going to the video settings menu within the YouTube TV mobile player.
4. Update YouTube TV Mobile App
YouTube frequently updates the YouTube TV app. Users frequently report that when YouTube TV does not work on their mobile devices, it is usually due to a pending update for the YouTube TV app.
You can quickly check if this is the case by going to Google Play or the Apple Store and seeing if the app has an update available.
If so, install the update and restart the YouTube TV app. Check to see if this resolved your YouTube TV issues.
5. Check if you haven’t exceeded your device limit
Multiple users in your household can watch YouTube TV using their own Google account if you have a YouTube Family plan. However, regardless of whether you have this plan, you can only watch YouTube TV on up to three devices on your account simultaneously.
Regardless of how you use YouTube TV, every device you use with the service will count against your device limit. If you cannot access your YouTube TV account, check if other family members already use the service on three devices.
6. Restart YouTube TV
Restarting your connection to the service is the quickest way to get YouTube TV working again. Close it completely if you use a web browser to access YouTube TV. Reopen a new browser window and go to YouTube TV, no other websites.
You’ll need to close and restart the app if you’re watching YouTube TV on your mobile device.
Swipe up from the bottom of the main screen on Android, search for YouTube TV, and long-press on the app icon. On the pop-up menu, select App info.
Select Force Stop at the bottom of the App info window.
This fix is even more straightforward on an iPhone. To access the YouTube TV app, swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen and then swipe right or left. To close the app, swipe up on the preview window. Swipe up on the app in the App Switcher on iPad.
If you’re using the desktop YouTube TV app on Mac or Windows, close it like any other app.
After you’ve closed YouTube TV, reopen the browser or app and see if YouTube TV is still working.
7. Enable Location Permissions
YouTube closely monitors user location to ensure that specific households use the account without sharing it with people in other locations. YouTube TV may not work if you turn off your mobile device’s location setting.
Note: You can travel to other locations and still use YouTube for a limited time at that location, but you must have Location turned on for the service to work.
Enable the location on your specific device to see if it resolves the YouTube TV issues you’re experiencing.
On Android Devices:
Select Location in Settings, and make sure you turn on the toggle. Tap the YouTube TV app to ensure you list the Location under Permissions.
On iPhone or iPad:
Select “Privacy and Location Services” from the Settings menu. Check that Location Services is turned on. Then, tap the YouTube TV app and select While Using the App for the location permission.
You’ll need to change Chrome’s Google location settings if you’re using Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer.
1. In Chrome, click the three dots in the upper right corner to open the menu, then click Settings, Privacy and Security from the left menu, and Site Settings.
2. On the next screen, select Location from the Permissions section.
3. Scroll down to “Allowed” to see your Location in the next window. To the right of https://www.google.com, click the arrow. Make sure you set the Location to “Allow” in the Permissions section of the next window.
Before checking to see if YouTube TV works, restart your browser.
8. Restart Your Device
Restarting your device to access YouTube TV is a standard solution for the service not working. Restarting the device clears the memory and browser cache and any running apps or services that may interfere with the YouTube TV service.
Before restarting your computer or laptop, shut it down completely. Select the shutdown option instead of the restart option. The same is true when restarting your mobile device. Completely shut down your phone by pressing the power button on the side. Then restart the phone before re-testing YouTube TV.
9. Leave other YouTube Family groups
Based on YouTube TV terms and conditions, a user cannot be part of more than one family group. If you’re a part of multiple YouTube family TV groups, you will encounter issues like Youtube TV Family Sharing not working. You’ll have to opt-out of all but one YouTube Family Group to fix this.
To do that:
- Go to YouTube Family Group.
- Sign in, click the button at the top left, and select Family Management.
- Click Leave family group.
- Confirm, and that’s it!
10. Your location
If you have YouTube location turned on, the family share options will not work if you’re in an unsupported area. You could use a VPN, which might fail or get blocked. So if you’re traveling or currently in an unsupported area, you might have to find other alternatives or use plain ole’ YouTube.
Read also 3 Ways To Disable Restricted Mode On Youtube.
FAQs
Family members can use YouTube TV on up to three different devices simultaneously. To sign up, you must leave your family group and sign up for YouTube TV using your own Google Account.
Can YouTube TV be used in two different locations?
YouTube TV allows you to specify your “area” to receive local channels in that market. If you move or want to watch local TV from a different market, you can reset your area in the app’s settings/area section.
Can I set up family sharing on YouTube TV during a free trial?
Keep in mind that you can share your YouTube TV with your family. Your membership allows you to open up five additional accounts for your household. Each family member gets their profile and personal DVR, allowing you to create your library of things to watch.
Can I watch YouTube TV from two separate locations?
YouTube TV only allows you to watch three streams simultaneously from any location and on any device. You must log in from Family Manager’s home once every three months to maintain access. On the other hand, the concept of a YouTube TV family sharing different locations is ineffective.
Can I log in to YouTube TV with more than one account?
You cannot be a member of more than one family group, and it would be best to unsubscribe from any previous family groups.
How many users can I add to a YouTube TV Family Group?
You can add accounts to a YouTube TV subscription by creating a family group and inviting other family members. In addition to yourself, you can invite up to five other users to your YouTube TV Family Group.
Because YouTube TV is a web-based service, this error occurs occasionally. As a result, digital streaming rights for specific programs are now distinct from traditional television rights. If the content appears in the library, home, or live tabs, you will be notified when it is unavailable.
Check out 6 Fixes For YouTube Lagging Problems.
