How To Get YouTube on LG TV | Fast App Install Steps

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To get YouTube on an LG TV, add the YouTube app from the LG Content Store or use a streaming device or phone to cast videos.

If you like watching videos on your phone but want them on a bigger screen, getting YouTube on your LG TV makes a big difference. The exact steps depend on your TV’s year, webOS version, and whether you’re happy using just the TV remote or prefer your phone as the main controller.

This guide walks through every practical way to get YouTube on an LG TV: installing the app from the LG Content Store, casting from your phone, using a streaming stick or console, and fixing common problems when the YouTube app disappears or refuses to load.

Check Your LG TV And Setup First

Before you start hunting for the YouTube app, a short check of your TV and network saves time. LG smart TVs from the mid-2010s onward usually run webOS and either include YouTube out of the box or allow you to install it from the LG Content Store. Older smart TVs made before around 2013 lost access to the classic YouTube app when Google retired support for those platforms, so those sets normally need a streaming device instead of a direct app.

  • Confirm That It Is A Smart TV — Press the Home button on your remote and see whether you get a ribbon of apps or tiles along the bottom of the screen. If you see only basic inputs like HDMI and Live TV with no apps at all, the set is likely not a smart model and will need an external device.
  • Check The WebOS Home Screen — On most recent LG TVs, the Home screen shows tiles such as Live TV, Settings, and apps like Netflix or Prime Video. Scroll sideways and look for a YouTube tile; if it is already there, you can skip straight to launching and signing in.
  • Connect To The Internet — Open Settings > All Settings > Network and make sure your TV is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If apps will not install or open, many times the problem is simply a weak or unstable connection.
  • Update The TV Software — From Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV, run a software update if one is available. Newer firmware often fixes app bugs and makes the LG Content Store run more smoothly.
  • Have Your Google Login Ready — To sync subscriptions and watch history in the YouTube app, you will sign in with the Google account you use on your phone or laptop. You can skip sign-in and still watch videos, but you lose recommendations and playlists.

Once these basics are ready, you can go straight to installing YouTube or checking whether the app is already present on your LG TV.

How To Get YouTube On LG TV Step By Step

On most LG smart TVs, the simplest method is to install or open the YouTube app through the LG Content Store or the Apps hub. Google’s own YouTube app help page for LG TVs explains the same steps, and they line up with LG’s instructions for installing apps in webOS.

  1. Open The Home Screen — Press the Home button on your LG remote to bring up the main bar of apps and inputs along the bottom of the screen.
  2. Open The Apps Or LG Content Store — Look for an icon labeled Apps or LG Content Store on that bar. On newer webOS versions you often see an Apps tile; on older versions you may see LG Content Store instead.
  3. Search For The YouTube App — Inside the Apps or LG Content Store screen, move to the search icon in the top corner and type “YouTube” using the on-screen keyboard. Pause a second for the search results to load.
  4. Select The Official YouTube Tile — Choose the standard YouTube app tile from the results list. You may also see YouTube Kids or YouTube TV; for regular videos, pick the plain YouTube app first.
  5. Install The App On Your LG TV — On the app detail screen, choose Install. The TV will show a progress bar; wait until it finishes and shows a button labeled Launch or Open.
  6. Add YouTube To Your Home Row — After installation, highlight the YouTube tile, press and hold the OK button, and move it toward the front of the app row so you do not need to scroll every time you want it.
  7. Launch YouTube And Pick How To Sign In — Open the app. You can sign in directly with your remote or use the “Sign in with your phone” option, which shows a code on the TV. On your phone, open YouTube, go to Settings > Watch on TV, and enter that code to link the TV smoothly.

What If You Cannot Find The YouTube App

Some owners open the LG Content Store and see no YouTube tile at all. This usually happens in three situations: the TV is set to a region where the app is not offered, the software has not been updated for a long time, or the TV is from an older line that no longer runs the official YouTube app.

  • Check Region Settings — Go to Settings > All Settings > General > Location and make sure the service country matches where you live. On some models, switching to a different country then switching back refreshes the app catalog and brings missing apps back.
  • Update And Restart The TV — Run a software update, then turn the TV off at the wall for half a minute before turning it back on. After the restart, open the LG Content Store and search for YouTube again.
  • Check The TV’s Year — If your LG smart TV is from around 2012 or earlier, YouTube may simply no longer work on that built-in platform. Google removed support for older smart TV systems, and those sets now need an external device to watch YouTube.

If those steps still do not reveal the app, skip ahead to the section on streaming devices so you can still watch YouTube on an LG TV that no longer handles the native app.

Watch YouTube On LG TV From Your Phone

Once the YouTube app is installed on your LG TV, you do not have to do every search with the remote. The YouTube app on your phone or tablet can send video straight to the TV, so you type on glass and relax while the TV simply plays what you pick. YouTube’s own TV help pages describe this link feature as a main part of the living-room experience.

Cast From The YouTube App On Android Or IOS

  • Put Phone And TV On The Same Network — Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network. The cast icon will not show your LG TV if one of them sits on a different network or guest network.
  • Open YouTube On Your Phone Or Tablet — Use the regular YouTube app from the Play Store or App Store. If updates are waiting, install them first to avoid pairing glitches.
  • Tap The Cast Icon — In the YouTube app, tap the small rectangle with wireless waves in the corner. This opens a list of nearby devices that can play YouTube.
  • Select Your LG TV Or Streaming Device — Pick your LG TV’s name from the list. If you use a Chromecast or another streaming stick on the TV, you might see that device name instead; choose the one that suits your setup.
  • Play A Video And Control It From Your Phone — Once connected, choose a video as normal and press Play. The TV starts playing it, while your phone turns into a remote for pause, volume, queue, and related videos.

Use A TV Code When The Cast Icon Does Not Find The TV

Sometimes the cast list refuses to show your LG TV even though both devices are on the same network. In that case, open the YouTube app on the LG TV, go to Settings inside the TV app, and look for the option that shows a TV code. Then on your phone, open YouTube, go to Settings > Watch on TV, pick the “enter TV code” method, and type the code from the TV screen. This manual link often stays more stable on busy home networks.

Mirror From iPhone Or iPad With AirPlay

Many newer LG TVs include Apple AirPlay. If you see the AirPlay icon when you press the Input button, you can mirror your iPhone or iPad screen and show YouTube that way.

  • Enable AirPlay On The TV — On the LG TV, press Settings, open All Settings, then look for the AirPlay settings tile and turn it on.
  • Open Control Center On The iPhone Or iPad — Swipe down from the top right, tap Screen Mirroring or the AirPlay icon, then pick your LG TV from the list.
  • Open YouTube On The Phone — Start the YouTube app and play a video; the TV now mirrors what you see on the phone.

Casting or AirPlay is handy when guests are sharing videos or when you want to keep using the TV remote for volume only.

Use A Streaming Device To Get YouTube On Any LG TV

If your LG TV cannot run the YouTube app or the LG Content Store refuses to install it, a streaming stick or box is usually the cleanest workaround. YouTube maintains a long list of compatible streaming devices and smart TVs, including Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and modern game consoles.

  1. Choose A Streaming Device That Suits You — Pick a Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, Apple TV, or a console such as Xbox or PlayStation. All of these can run the standard YouTube app.
  2. Plug The Device Into An HDMI Port — Insert the streaming stick or HDMI cable into a free HDMI port on your LG TV, then connect any required power cable.
  3. Switch The TV Input — Press the Input or Source button on the remote and choose the HDMI port where you connected the device.
  4. Complete The Device’s Setup Screens — Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the streaming device to Wi-Fi, sign into its account system, and reach its home menu.
  5. Install Or Open The YouTube App — On Chromecast with Google TV, Roku, or Fire TV, open the app store and install YouTube. On most modern consoles, the YouTube tile is already present in the main apps section.
  6. Sign In To YouTube If You Want Personalization — Open YouTube and log in with your Google account to see subscriptions and recommendations. Otherwise, you can skip sign-in and still search and watch.

This method works on almost any flat-screen LG TV with an HDMI port, even if the built-in smart interface is outdated or very slow.

Quick Comparison Of Ways To Get YouTube On LG TV

The three common paths to YouTube on an LG TV each suit different situations. The table below gives a fast overview so you can pick the one that fits your setup without trial and error.

Method What You Need Best For
Built-in YouTube app LG smart TV with webOS, stable internet Newer LG TVs where the app is available
Phone casting or AirPlay Android or iOS device on same network Fast search, shared viewing, simple control
Streaming stick or box Free HDMI port and power outlet Older LG TVs or missing YouTube app
Game console app Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch already attached Viewers who already play games on the LG TV

Many homes end up using a mix of these methods: the built-in app for quick solo viewing, casting from phones during group sessions, and a streaming stick on older sets in bedrooms or guest rooms.

Fix Problems Getting YouTube On LG TV

Even when YouTube is available for your LG TV model, things sometimes go wrong. The app might be missing from the store, show a black screen, or constantly buffer. LG’s own help articles and YouTube’s TV guides point to a short list of fixes that solve most issues.

Start With Simple Connection Checks

  • Restart The LG TV And Router — Turn both off, unplug them for at least 30 seconds, then power them back on and test YouTube again.
  • Try Another Streaming App — Open a different app such as Netflix or a web browser. If those apps also stutter or fail, the problem sits with the network or router, not only with YouTube.
  • Move The Router Or Use Ethernet — If the TV sits far from the router, Wi-Fi may drop during high-resolution playback. When possible, connect the TV to the router with an Ethernet cable for steadier video.

Reinstall The YouTube App

When the YouTube app crashes or refuses to launch, deleting and reinstalling it often clears corrupted data. LG’s guides for installing and removing apps on webOS match the steps below, and their LG help guide for apps on webOS walks through the same process.

  • Remove The Existing YouTube Tile — On the Home screen, highlight the YouTube app, then press and hold the OK button until edit mode appears. Choose the delete or trash icon and confirm.
  • Restart The TV After Removal — Turn the TV off for at least half a minute before turning it back on. This clears cached app data.
  • Reinstall YouTube From The Store — Open the Apps or LG Content Store, search for YouTube, and install it again. After installation, launch the app and test a video before signing in.

Update Software Or Refresh Region Settings

Sometimes the app list itself misbehaves. LG’s troubleshooting steps often include running a software update and toggling region settings to refresh the catalog.

  • Run A Software Update — Go to Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV, then check for updates. Install any available update and restart the TV once it finishes.
  • Toggle Service Country — In Settings > All Settings > General > Location, change the service country to a different region, accept the restart, then change it back to your actual region. After the reboot, open the LG Content Store again and search for YouTube.

When Your LG TV Is Too Old For YouTube

Some older LG smart TVs, especially those made before roughly 2013, run legacy platforms that no longer receive the YouTube app. In those cases, no amount of reinstalling or region switching brings the official app back. The most practical route then is to connect a small streaming stick or HDMI box and use its YouTube app instead of relying on the built-in system.

If you already own a console or streaming device on another TV, you can also move that device to your LG TV when you want YouTube, then move it back when you are finished. This avoids buying new hardware while still letting you watch current videos on an older screen.

Tune YouTube Settings On LG TV For Easier Viewing

Once YouTube runs smoothly on your LG TV, a few small tweaks can make daily viewing feel far more natural. These settings live inside the YouTube app itself and carry across devices when you sign in with the same Google account.

  • Sign In To Your Google Account — Open the YouTube app on the TV, go to the account icon, and sign in. This brings your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history from phone and laptop to the LG TV.
  • Adjust Video Quality — While a video is playing, open the options menu and choose a resolution. If your connection struggles with 4K, pick a lower resolution for smoother playback.
  • Turn On Subtitles When Needed — Use the captions option during movies, tutorials, or foreign-language clips. Subtitles often help when the TV’s speakers sit in a noisy room.
  • Set Restricted Mode Or Use YouTube Kids — In YouTube settings on the TV, enable Restricted Mode to filter mature content, or install YouTube Kids where available for younger viewers.
  • Use Voice Search On The Remote — On remotes with a microphone button, hold the button and say the channel or topic you want to watch. This shortcut saves time when typing long titles is a chore.

A short session adjusting these options makes YouTube on your LG TV feel tailored to your living room instead of a one-size-fits-all app. Once everything is set, you can move between phone, laptop, and TV without losing your place in a series or playlist.