How can I play YouTube Music on my TV?

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to play YouTube Music on your TV. There are several benefits to playing YouTube Music through your television rather than just on your phone or computer. First, the audio quality will be much better coming through your TV speakers than smartphone speakers. This allows you to truly appreciate the high-fidelity music on YouTube Music. Additionally, it’s more convenient and immersive to have the music videos and lyrics display on the big screen. You can sit back and enjoy the experience without having to crowd around a tiny phone screen. Finally, it makes controlling playback easier when the YouTube Music app is on your TV, by using your TV remote instead of constantly looking at your phone. Whether you have a Smart TV, game console, Chromecast, or HDMI cable, this article will walk through the various methods to start listening to YouTube Music on your TV.

Prerequisites

In order to play YouTube Music on your TV, there are a few prerequisites you’ll need to have in place:

• A TV that supports streaming apps and casting. Most modern smart TVs have built-in support for popular streaming platforms like YouTube, or allow screen mirroring/casting from your mobile device. Older TVs may require an external streaming device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick (Google Support).
• For casting: A phone, tablet, or computer with the YouTube Music app installed and the ability to cast to your TV. iOS and Android devices generally have built-in casting capabilities through AirPlay or Chromecast (The Verge).
• For screen mirroring: A mobile device or computer that can connect to your TV wirelessly and mirror its display. This is commonly built into smart TVs and mobile operating systems (Google Support).
• For wired connections: An HDMI cable to connect your computer directly to the TV.
• A stable internet connection for streaming music.

Using a Smart TV

To install and access YouTube Music on a smart TV, first make sure your TV has an internet connection and the latest software updates. Most smart TVs from brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio come pre-installed with the YouTube app, or allow you to download it from their app store.

Here are the steps to install YouTube Music on your smart TV’s app store:

1. Using your TV remote, navigate to the Apps or Smart Hub section on your TV’s home screen. This is usually denoted by an icon like a grid or apps menu.

2. Look for the Apps Store or App Marketplace app icon and select it.

3. Search for “YouTube Music” in the app store search bar.

4. Select the YouTube Music app icon and choose to install or download it.

Once installed, you can open the YouTube Music app from your TV’s app menu. Sign in using your Google account to access your full YouTube Music catalog, playlists, and recommendations. Use your remote to navigate the app interface, search for artists and songs, and control playback.

The YouTube Music smart TV app provides the same features as the mobile and desktop apps. You can stream music videos in up to 4K resolution if available. Bluetooth headphones can be paired to your smart TV to listen privately. Overall, the app provides a convenient way to enjoy YouTube Music on your living room TV.

Casting from Your Phone

One of the easiest ways to play YouTube Music on your TV is by casting it from your mobile device using the YouTube Music app. This allows you to use your phone or tablet as a remote to control playback on your TV screen. Here are the main ways to cast YouTube Music:

Chromecast
If you have a Chromecast plugged into your TV, you can tap the Cast button in the YouTube Music app and select your Chromecast device to connect. This works on both Android and iOS. Any TV with built-in Chromecast will also work. Learn more about casting to Chromecast.

AirPlay
On iPhone or iPad, you can use AirPlay to cast YouTube Music to an Apple TV or AirPlay 2 supported TV. Simply swipe up from the bottom of your screen and tap the AirPlay icon, then select your TV. Learn more about AirPlay.

Roku

The YouTube Music app is available on some Roku devices. Open the app on your Roku and you can then cast music from your mobile device to the TV. Learn more about casting to Roku.

Using a Game Console

You can easily access YouTube Music on your PlayStation or Xbox gaming console. Here are the steps:

On PlayStation 4 and 5, open the YouTube app and navigate to the Music section. You can browse and play YouTube Music playlists and albums here. Alternatively, you can cast music from your mobile device to the PS4/5 using the system’s Second Screen app (Source).

On Xbox One and Series X/S consoles, open the YouTube app and select Music. You can play any music content from YouTube Music through the app. To play in the background while gaming, use the Snap feature to pin the YouTube Music window. Or cast from your phone using the Xbox app (Source).

With this method, you can listen to all your personalized playlists, albums, songs and more from YouTube Music on your game consoles conveniently.

Screen Mirroring

One easy way to play YouTube Music on your TV is by using screen mirroring. This allows you to wirelessly mirror your smartphone or tablet screen directly onto your TV screen. There are a few main ways to enable screen mirroring:

• Miracast – Many newer Smart TVs have Miracast built-in, which allows wireless screen mirroring from Miracast-enabled devices like Android phones. You just need to enable Miracast on both your phone and TV and connect them on the same WiFi network. Then you can mirror your phone screen to the TV and use the YouTube Music app.
• Chromecast – The Chromecast device plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and allows you to cast or mirror your device screen directly to the TV. Enable screen mirroring in your YouTube Music app settings while connected to the same WiFi network as your Chromecast. Then choose your Chromecast device and mirror your screen.
• Roku – Roku devices also have a screen mirroring feature you can enable to cast your phone screen to your TV. Under settings on your Roku and in the YouTube Music app, choose to enable screen mirroring and select your Roku as the target device.

With wireless screen mirroring like Miracast, Chromecast, or Roku, you can easily play YouTube Music from your phone to your TV without any cables required. Just make sure your devices are compatible and connected to the same local network.

Using HDMI

HDMI is one of the most common ways to connect a laptop to a TV in order to play YouTube Music videos. Here’s how to do it:

1. First, make sure you have an HDMI cable to connect your laptop and TV. The HDMI port on your laptop is typically located along the side or back. The HDMI port on your TV will be on the back or side panel.
2. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI output port on your laptop.
3. Plug the other end into an available HDMI input port on your TV.
4. Switch your TV input mode to the HDMI input you plugged the cable into. On most TVs this can be done using the “Input” or “Source” button on the TV remote.
5. Set your laptop’s display settings to “Duplicate” or “Extend” display to the TV. On Windows 10, click the Project menu icon in the taskbar and select one of these options.
6. Open the YouTube Music app or website on your laptop and start playing music videos. The video and audio should now play through your TV.
7. You may need to adjust volume and other settings on both devices.

The benefit of using an HDMI connection is it carries both high-quality video and audio signals. This allows you to get the full YouTube Music experience from your laptop to TV. Just make sure to have the right HDMI cable to connect the two.

Source: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7640706?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop

Using Bluetooth

One easy way to play audio from your TV through external speakers is by using a Bluetooth connection. Many modern TVs have built-in Bluetooth capabilities that allow you to wirelessly pair compatible Bluetooth speakers or headphones. This gives you the ability to pump up the volume and enhance the audio experience from your smart TV without messy wires.

The pairing process will vary slightly depending on your specific TV model and Bluetooth speaker device, but the general steps are as follows:

1. First, enter your TV’s settings menu and locate the audio or Bluetooth menu.
2. Make sure the Bluetooth function is enabled on your TV.
3. Put your Bluetooth speaker or headphones into pairing mode so they are discoverable.
4. On your TV, scan and search for available Bluetooth devices.
5. When your Bluetooth speaker shows up in the list, select it to pair it to your TV.
6. Some TVs will require you to confirm pairing on both devices before the connection is established.
7. Once successfully paired, you will be able to hear your TV’s audio playing directly through your Bluetooth speaker.

The maximum Bluetooth range is usually around 30 feet, allowing you to place your Bluetooth speaker anywhere in the same room as your TV. One tip is to position it closer to where you sit so you get clearer audio. Also keep in mind that Bluetooth connections can sometimes lag behind the video. Overall though, Bluetooth speakers provide a simple and affordable way to upgrade the sound from your smart TV.

For specific pairing instructions, refer to the user manuals for both your television and Bluetooth speaker. Certain models may have slightly different menus or options, but the general Bluetooth pairing process will be similar on most modern TVs and speakers.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes you may run into issues getting YouTube Music to play on your TV. Here are some solutions for common connection problems:

If the app isn’t loading or casting isn’t working, try rebooting both your router and the Chromecast/Smart TV device. Unplug them for 30 seconds and plug them back in to restart. This often resolves temporary glitches (1).

Make sure your mobile device and TV/Chromecast are connected to the same WiFi network. YouTube Music will only cast to devices on the same network (2).

Check for app or firmware updates on your TV, streaming device, router, etc. Keeping software updated can fix bugs and improve connectivity.

If you’re trying to cast and getting error messages, uninstall and reinstall the YouTube Music app on your phone. This will clear out any corrupted data.

Move your phone, TV, and router closer together or in a more direct line of sight to improve the WiFi signal strength.

As a last resort, try a WiFi analyzer tool to detect interference on your network or switch to 5Ghz if your router offers it. This may provide a stronger, more reliable signal.

(1) – https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9027741?hl=en

(2) – https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/?hl=en

Conclusion

In this article, we covered several methods for playing YouTube Music on your TV. Whether you have a Smart TV that supports casting, a phone that can cast to your TV, a game console, an HDMI cable, or Bluetooth capabilities, you likely already have everything you need to start listening to YouTube Music through your home entertainment system.

The main benefits of playing YouTube Music on your TV include getting to enjoy your music with bigger and better speakers, being able to control playback right from your TV remote instead of a phone, and having a shared music experience with others in the room. No matter which method you choose, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your personalized YouTube Music playlists, stations, and recommendations on the biggest screen in your home.

So grab your remote, cast your smartphone screen, or plug in an HDMI cable and start listening to all your favorite music easily through your TV speakers. With YouTube Music and your television, you’ll have a world of music and audio entertainment right at your fingertips.