To watch YouTube on your Apple TV from your iPhone, put both on the same Wi-Fi network, open the YouTube app on each, play a video on your iPhone, tap Cast in the video player, and choose your Apple TV. The video plays on the TV, and your iPhone works as the remote.
Casting saves you from typing searches with the Apple TV remote. You can also use AirPlay or a TV code. These steps follow YouTube Help and Apple Support.
In this guide:
- Cast from the YouTube app
- Link with a TV code
- Use AirPlay instead
- If your Apple TV doesn’t show up
- FAQs
How to Cast YouTube From iPhone to Apple TV
- Make sure your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the YouTube app on your Apple TV.
- Open the YouTube app on your iPhone and go to the video you want.
- Tap Cast in the video player. If asked, allow YouTube to find devices on your local network.
- Choose your Apple TV from the list.
Result: The video starts playing on your TV. YouTube says your phone becomes a companion, so you can control playback from it.
From the YouTube home feed, you can also tap the three dots next to a video, select Play on different device, and pick your TV. To stop, tap Cast and then This phone. YouTube notes that you can’t cast from youtube.com in a mobile browser, so use the app.
How to Link Your iPhone With a TV Code
If your iPhone and Apple TV aren’t on the same Wi-Fi, YouTube lets you pair them with a code:
- On your Apple TV, open the YouTube app, go to Settings, and scroll to Add a device. A blue TV code appears.
- On your iPhone, open YouTube and tap Cast.
- Tap Add a device, enter the TV code, tap Link, and select the device.
Result: Your iPhone can send videos to the TV even on a different network. To disconnect, tap Cast and then Disconnect. To reconnect later, go to your profile picture > Settings > General > Watch on TV in the YouTube app.
How to Use AirPlay Instead
AirPlay is Apple’s own way to send video to an Apple TV. Per Apple:
- Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV.
- Find the video you want to stream.
- Tap the AirPlay button. In some apps you tap another button first, such as Share.
- Choose your Apple TV.
To stop, tap the AirPlay button again and choose your iPhone. To show your whole screen instead, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and pick your Apple TV. Apple says to swipe down from the upper-right corner on iPhone X or later. If a passcode appears on the TV, enter it on your iPhone.
Result: AirPlay works in many apps, not just YouTube. You can also use AirPlay to view iPhone pictures on the Apple TV.
What to Do If Your Apple TV Doesn’t Show Up
- Check the Wi-Fi network. Both devices need the same network for casting and AirPlay. See how to connect an Apple TV to a wireless network.
- Allow Local Network access. YouTube says casting won’t work without it on iOS 14 or later. Go to Settings, select the YouTube app, and turn on Local Network. Do this for each YouTube app you use, like YouTube Music or YouTube Kids.
- Open YouTube on the TV first. YouTube’s steps start with the app open on the Apple TV.
- Check AirPlay on the Apple TV. If AirPlay is the problem, see how to enable or disable AirPlay on the Apple TV.
Result: Most connection problems come down to the network or the Local Network permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the YouTube app on my Apple TV?
For casting, yes. YouTube’s steps have you open the YouTube app on the TV. AirPlay and Screen Mirroring don’t need it.
Can I use my iPhone as a remote while the video plays?
Yes. When you cast, YouTube turns your phone into a companion for controlling playback. To find videos to send, see how to watch YouTube videos on an iPhone.
Why do I get an error when casting with YouTube Kids?
YouTube says casting may fail if the TV app is signed in to a YouTube Kids profile. Switch to a different profile on the TV and try again.
Does this work for other video apps?
Many apps support AirPlay. For example, here’s how to AirPlay a Plex movie from an iPhone to an Apple TV. Apple notes that some apps don’t support AirPlay, so check the Apple TV App Store for a version of the app.
Want live channels on your phone, too? See how to get Sling TV on an iPhone. For Yahoo clips, see how to watch Yahoo video on an Apple TV.
Want to watch on a bigger screen? See how to watch YouTube on your TV from the iPhone app.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.