YouTube is a website and app where you can watch videos on almost any subject, from cooking and gardening to news, music, lessons, and entertainment. You can use it on a phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV.
You do not need an account to watch many YouTube videos. Creating or signing in to a Google Account adds useful features, such as subscribing to channels, saving playlists, and keeping track of your viewing activity.
1. Open YouTube
On a phone or tablet, find the YouTube app and tap it. If you do not have it, you can install it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
On a computer, open a web browser and go to youtube.com. On a smart TV, open the YouTube app from the TV’s app menu.
You can watch many public videos without signing in. If you want to subscribe to channels or save videos to your own playlists, sign in with your Google Account.
Tip: Make sure you are using the official YouTube app or website. Be cautious of look-alike sites that ask for your Google password.
2. Search for a video
The search box is one of the easiest ways to find something to watch. On a phone, tap the magnifying-glass icon near the top of the screen. On a computer, click the search box at the top of the YouTube page.
Type a few words describing what you want to see, then tap or click Search. For example, you might search for “how to prune roses” or “beginner yoga stretches.”
YouTube displays a list of matching videos. Each result usually includes a title, channel name, thumbnail (a small preview picture), and other information. Choose a result to open it.
Be specific when you search. Adding a word such as “beginner,” “review,” or “step by step” can help narrow the results.
3. Play, pause, and adjust a video
Tap or click a video to start watching. The playback controls appear when you touch the video or move your mouse over it.
- Play/Pause: Tap or click the video, or use the play and pause button.
- Volume: Use the speaker icon or your device’s volume buttons.
- Full screen: Select the full-screen icon to make the video fill the screen. Press the escape key on a computer or use the on-screen control to leave full screen.
- Progress bar: Move the marker along the line at the bottom of the video to jump to another point.
- Captions: Select the CC button when captions are available. Captions display spoken words as text.
- Settings: Select the gear icon to see options such as playback speed, quality, and available subtitles.
Some options vary depending on the video, device, and account. For example, not every video has captions or multiple quality settings.
Screenshot suggestion: Show a YouTube video player with the play, volume, captions, settings, and full-screen controls visible. Use a non-personal example video.
4. Find more videos from a channel
A YouTube channel is a page where a person, organization, or company publishes videos. If you enjoy a video, select the channel name below the video title to visit its channel page.
You can browse the channel’s videos and, where available, sections such as Shorts, Live, and Playlists. This is a good way to find more content from the same creator.
Check the channel name and video details before relying on information, especially for health, money, or news topics. A professional-looking video is not automatically accurate.
5. Subscribe to a channel
Subscribing makes it easier to find new videos from channels you like. It is free to subscribe to a channel, and you can unsubscribe whenever you want.
- Open a video from the channel you want to follow.
- Select Subscribe near the channel name.
- If prompted, sign in to your Google Account.
- To manage alerts, select the notification bell beside the subscription.
The bell may offer choices such as All, Personalized, or None. All sends alerts for more channel activity, while Personalized lets YouTube choose which notifications may be useful. You can change this later.
6. Save videos to a playlist
A playlist is a collection of videos you can return to later. You might create one for gardening advice, favorite recipes, or travel ideas.
- Open a video you want to save.
- Select Save below the video.
- Choose an existing playlist, or select the option to create a new playlist.
- Give the playlist a name and choose its privacy setting.
- Confirm by selecting Create or Done, depending on the screen.
To find saved playlists later, open the You section in the YouTube app or website. The exact layout may vary by device.
Remember: A playlist does not download a video to your device. It saves a link to the video so you can find it again while it remains available on YouTube.
7. Use the Home, Shorts, and Subscriptions sections
YouTube’s navigation helps you discover different kinds of content.
- Home shows recommended videos based partly on your activity and viewing history.
- Shorts is a feed of short-form videos that you can browse by swiping or scrolling.
- Subscriptions helps you find recent uploads from channels you follow.
- You provides access to your history, playlists, and other account-related items.
On some devices, these sections may appear in a side menu or along the bottom of the screen. If you do not see a section immediately, look for the navigation menu.
8. Manage your viewing history and recommendations
YouTube uses viewing activity to help personalize recommendations. If you watch several videos about a particular topic, you may see more videos about that subject on your Home page.
You can review your activity in the You section and find History. Depending on your account and device, you can remove individual videos from your watch history or manage history settings through your Google Account.
If you do not want a particular recommendation, open the menu beside the video and choose an option such as Not interested or Don’t recommend channel, when available. These choices help adjust future recommendations.
Troubleshooting: When YouTube does not work as expected
A video will not play. Check your internet connection, then close and reopen the app or browser. Try another video to see whether the problem affects one video or all videos.
The sound is missing. Check the video’s volume control and your device’s volume. If you use headphones or a Bluetooth speaker, make sure the audio is playing through the device you expect.
The picture is blurry. Open the video settings using the gear icon and check Quality. A higher setting may look clearer but can use more data and may buffer on a slow connection.
You cannot subscribe or save a playlist. You may need to sign in to your Google Account. Select the account icon and follow the sign-in instructions.
You see unfamiliar recommendations. Recommendations can change as your viewing activity changes. Use Not interested for videos you do not want to see, and review your watch history if you want to manage what influences suggestions.
Safety note: Be careful with links in video descriptions and comments. Do not share passwords, payment details, or personal information with someone just because they appear in a video or claim to represent YouTube.
Enjoy exploring YouTube
You can get started with just three actions: open YouTube, search for a topic, and select a video. Once you feel comfortable, try subscribing to a channel and saving a few useful videos in a playlist.
Take your time exploring the controls. You can pause, replay, or stop a video whenever you like, so there is no need to rush.
