Two ways to use your phone
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Scan the QR code | Point your phone camera at the QR code on the TV's sign-in screen and open the link. How to scan |
| Type the code | Go to yt.be/activate on your phone and type the code shown on the TV. How to enter it |
Step by step
- On the TV, open YouTube, choose Sign in, then Sign in with your phone.
- On your phone, scan the QR code or open yt.be/activate.
- Enter the code if asked, pick your Google account and choose Allow.
Opens Google's official page in a new tab. Type your code there, never on any other site.
Linking your phone is a different thing
The YouTube app on your phone can also connect to the TV to cast videos and act as a remote. That connection works best when both are on the same Wi-Fi and signed in to the same Google account. It does not replace signing in on the TV itself.
If phone sign-in fails
- Put the phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi, and turn off mobile data on the phone for a moment.
- Restart the phone and the router, and unplug the TV for 30 seconds.
- Switch to Sign in with your remote instead. How
Questions people ask
Does my phone need to be on the same Wi-Fi as the TV?
Not for the code at yt.be/activate. It matters if you use the YouTube phone app to connect to the TV, or if the phone sign-in keeps failing; Google's advice is then to put both on the same Wi-Fi and turn off mobile data for a moment.
I linked my phone to the TV. Am I signed in?
Not necessarily. Linking lets your phone cast and act as a remote. Signing in is a separate step from the TV's Sign in menu.