How to Watch YouTube TV in 4K: A Complete Guide

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YouTube TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services in the US, offering over 85 channels from news, sports, entertainment, and more. But if you want to enjoy the best picture quality possible, you might be interested in watching YouTube TV in 4K resolution. 4K, also known as Ultra HD, is a standard that delivers four times more pixels than regular HD, resulting in sharper and more realistic images.

However, not all content on YouTube TV is available in 4K, and you’ll need some extra equipment and a special add-on to access it. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about watching YouTube TV in 4K, including how much it costs, how to find and watch 4K content, which devices support it, how to troubleshoot any issues, and what other benefits you get with the add-on. Let’s get started!

YouTube TV in 4K Plus: What you need to know

First of all, you’ll need an existing YouTube TV subscription if you want to watch anything in 4K. The base plan costs $73 a month (as of September 2023), plus tax. The 4K Plus add-on costs another $10 a month, but you’ll get the first full year at half that price. After that, you’ll pay the full price. So, with no other add-ons, including 4K on your YouTube TV subscription will cost a total of $78 a month for the first year, then $83 a month after that.

To add the 4K Plus add-on to your subscription fee, you’ll need to go into your YouTube TV account from a web browser. Click your avatar in the top right corner, then choose Settings, and then Membership. Or this link should take you right there. You’ll see the option to how to add 4k to youtube tv 4K Plus under Add-ons. Click on it and follow the instructions to complete your purchase.

How to Find and Watch 4K Content on YouTube TV

Once you have the 4K Plus add-on, you can start looking for programs that are offered in 4K quality. To do that, look for the icon when browsing for programs on YouTube TV in 4K. You can also search for “4K” to view every available 4K channel and program. If you are not subscribed to the 4K Plus add-on, 4K videos will be locked by default. To check whether YouTube TV offers a 4K version of the program, press the Down arrow below the title to expand the video info panel.

You can also use the Live tab to find channels showing 4K programs over the next 10 days. If a channel has an upcoming program airing in 4K, it will be listed here. If not, the channel won’t show up. To find out which programs are available for a specific channel, search or browse the network page (for example: NBC Sports 4K).

Currently, YouTube TV offers 4K playback on select live and on-demand content from these networks:

• Discovery
• ESPN
• FOX Sports
• FX
• Nat Geo
• NBC Sports
• Tastemade

You’ll know you’re getting 4K quality when you see “4K” on the quality selector in the video player. If you are interested to watch Horror movies, then read Top 10 Horror Movies to Watch on Hulu Right Now.

How to Add YouTube TV 4K Plus to Your Subscription?

To add YouTube TV 4K Plus to your subscription, you need to go to your YouTube TV account from a web browser. Here are the steps:

• Click your avatar in the top right corner of the screen.
• Choose Settings from the drop-down menu.
• Click Membership from the left sidebar.
• Scroll down to find the Add-ons section.
• Click Add next to 4K Plus.
• Confirm your purchase by clicking Buy.

You can also cancel your YouTube TV 4K Plus subscription anytime by following the same steps and clicking Remove next to 4K Plus.

Which Devices Support YouTube TV in 4K

Of course, having the 4K Plus add-on and finding 4K content is not enough if you don’t have a device that can display it. You’ll need a compatible device to watch 4K videos on YouTube TV. Here are some of them:

• 4K smart TVs
• Samsung, LG and HiSense smart TVs (2019 or later)
• Chromecast with Google TV
• Roku streaming devices that support 4K.
• Apple TV 4K (2021)
• PS4 Pro
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Gen – 2018)
• Nvidia Shield

Note that 4K is only available on select content for Apple TV and PS4 Pro. Some programs may have lower quality or may rebuffer when viewing.

How to Troubleshoot 4K Playback Issues on YouTube TV

If you’re having trouble seeing videos in 4K quality, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure your device is connected to a 4K TV with a high-speed HDMI cable.
• Check your internet speed and bandwidth. You’ll need at least 25 Mbps of download speed to stream 4K videos smoothly. You can use this tool to test your speed.
• Adjust your video quality settings. You can do this by clicking on the three-dot menu in the video player and selecting Quality. Choose the highest option available, or let YouTube TV automatically adjust it based on your connection.
• Restart your device and router. Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix any glitches or errors that might affect your streaming performance.
• Contact YouTube TV support. If none of the above step’s work, you can reach out to YouTube TV’s customer service team for further assistance. You can do this by clicking on your avatar, then help, then contact us.

Other Benefits of YouTube TV 4K Plus

Besides 4K playback, the 4K Plus add-on also gives you two other features that can enhance your YouTube TV experience:

• More Screens at Home: With the 4K Plus add-on, you can watch TV shows and channels on as many devices as you want at the same time when you’re connected to your home Wi-Fi. This means different family members can watch their favorite programs all together without any limits.
• Family-Friendly: Everyone in your family who shares the same YouTube TV account can enjoy this feature. Each person can have their own settings and preferences, so it’s easy for everyone to set up their own personalized TV experience.
• No Annoying Ads: Some channels on YouTube TV 4K Plus won’t show any ads. This means you can watch your favorite content without those interruptions from commercials on these specific channels, making your TV time more enjoyable.
• More Space for Recordings: The 4K Plus package comes with unlimited storage for your DVR (Digital Video Recorder). You can record and keep as much TV shows and movies as you want without worrying about running out of space. This is especially handy if you’re busy and want to catch up on shows later.
• Exclusive YouTube Shows: When you subscribe to YouTube TV 4K Plus, you also get access to YouTube Originals. These are special TV shows and movies made by YouTube, and you won’t find them anywhere else. So, you can enjoy these unique and entertaining programs along with the regular channels on YouTube TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

YouTube TV is a great way to watch live TV online, but if you want to take it to the next level, you might want to consider getting the 4K Plus add-on. For an extra $10 a month (or $5 for the first year), you can access 4K resolution on select channels and programs, as well as unlimited simultaneous streams at home and offline viewing of DVR recordings.

However, you’ll also need a compatible device and a fast internet connection to enjoy these features. If you’re ready to give it a try, head over to your YouTube TV account and add 4K Plus today!