Top 5 Tips and Solutions to Play YouTube on TV

YouTube has changed the way we think about video, and has moved from a quirky site of odd content to professionally produced entertainment, and as such, more and more people are looking to view YouTube videos on their TV's. However, there are ways to improve your viewing experience and there are issues to face, and so we are going to look at some tricks for improving the experience and some common issues and the best way to overcome them. (Also, learn how to download YouTube videos to TV)

You might want to consider downloading the YouTube video to watch offline on TV. Try out iTube Studio for Mac (or iTube Studio for Windows) to download YouTube videos for free. And it comes with a built-in HD media player that allows you to play YouTube with ease.

Part 1. Useful Tips for Playing YouTube Videos on a TV

Tip 1. Sign In

To get the best out of YouTube on your TV however you are accessing it, sign in with your Google account to get access to your subscriptions, history and favorites.

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Tip 2. Use the right resolution

Even good connections can struggle with full 1080p resolution videos, and although YouTube does adjust the display video to suit the speed of your connection, restricting to lower resolutions in the stings menu can make watching those YouTube videos a much smoother process.

Tip 3. Choose the best way to access YouTube

You don't necessarily need a smart TV to watch your YouTube videos on your TV, set top boxes work just as well, or you can watch through your games console. Another option is Google Chromecast, an inexpensive dongle that plugs into a spare HDMI socket and offers YouTube streaming over your home Wi-Fi network.

Tip 4. Use Ethernet if possible

Wireless connections are very reliable these days, however for streaming video you want as much bandwidth as possible, and unless you have one of the very latest (and expensive) AC routers, which is the wired Ethernet connection.

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Tip 5. Make the most of your account

One of the benefits of signing into your YouTube or Google account is that you have access to all the subscriptions and playlists you have already set up, and this can be really useful. One of the flaws of the YouTube interface on these devices is it is a little awkward when typing searched and do on, so you can find the videos you want on a more user friendly device, such as your laptop, and create a playlist, making them all easily accessible from the TV interface. (Learn More Tips for YouTube Playback )

Part 2. Problems You May Have When Playing YouTube Videos on TV

Problem 1. Signing in

This is a tow stage process on TV and set top boxes etc. You open the app and sign in with your account, however this will not give you access straight away, but present you with an activation code. You then need to visit www.youtube.com/activate on your computer and input the code. This will then authorize the device for your account.

Problem 2. Buffering

If you are finding videos buffering frequently as you try and watch them, the most likely cause is that they are trying to play in a resolution too high for the speed of your connection. You can adjust the resolution on the video in the settings and the lower ones should see buffering eliminated.

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Problem 3. Cannot access paid content

Paid content is a reasonably new addition to YouTube, and as such can often simply be missing from your smart TV or set top box YouTube app. The solution is to check for updates to the app, and update it if so, then sign out and back into your account, the paid content should then appear.

Problem 4. Videos refuse to pla

This can happen sometimes, and can lead to a lot of frustration as there seems to be no cause. However, one of the main culprits here is an out of date app or TV software, and checking for updates and installing them will very often fix these issues straight away.

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