Location Sharing & playback area on TV

To watch certain sports, shows, and other content on YouTube Primetime Channels, you have to turn on Location Sharing and set your playback area. Verifying your location is necessary, because sometimes the content you see can depend on your location.

If you’ve already enabled Location Sharing and just need to update your playback area, follow these steps. If you encounter any error messages, these steps can help.

When you select a program to watch that requires location verification, like a live or upcoming game on NFL Sunday Ticket, you’ll see a prompt instructing you to use Location Sharing on a mobile device to verify your location. Once completed, this will set your “playback area”.

How to Turn on Location Sharing to Watch Primetime Channels on your TV

If you’re using the YouTube app on your TV, you’ll need both your TV and your mobile device to verify your location and set your playback area. You’ll need to turn on Location Sharing for your mobile web browser on your phone or tablet. This will let the YouTube app on your TV verify your location.

Turn on Location Sharing

To watch or cast Primetime Channels, including NFL Sunday Ticket, on your smart TV or other streaming device, you must turn on Location Sharing and verify your playback area.

Tip: Make sure your mobile device and the YouTube app on your TV versions are up to date before completing the steps below. You can check that your versions are updated in the app settings.

Turn on Location Sharing on Safari:

Go to your device Settings .
Tap Privacy & Security tap Location Services.
At the top of your screen, make sure "Location Services" are switched On. The button will turn green.
Scroll to find and tap Safari Websites tap Location.
Make sure “Ask Next Time Or When I Share” or “While Using the App” is selected.
If your default browser is Safari, you can also set your device’s default Location Sharing settings. Go back to Settings .
Scroll to find and tap Safari tap Location.
Make sure “Ask” or “Allow” is selected.

To turn on Location Sharing for another mobile web browser, like Chrome, on your iPhone or iPad:

Go to Settings .
Scroll to find and tap your mobile web browser icon tap Location.
Make sure “Ask Next Time Or When I Share” or “While Using the App” is selected.

Turn on Location Sharing for the YouTube app:

Go to your device Settings .
Tap Privacy & Security tap Location Services.
At the top of your screen, make sure "Location Services" are switched On. The button will turn green.
Scroll to find and tap YouTube .
Make sure “Ask Next Time Or When I Share” or “While Using the App” is selected.

Verify or change your playback area on your TV

Once Location Sharing is turned on for your mobile browser, select content to watch on your TV. If you receive a message to ‘verify your current playback area’, follow these steps:

Go to youtube.com/locate from a mobile browser sign in to the same Google account you are signed into on your TV or streaming device.
- Tip: Your account's email address should be shown on your TV screen under Settings Purchases and Memberships.
Once signed in, you should see a popup to turn on Location Sharing for your browser. Tap NEXT Allow.
Refresh the youtube.com/locate page on your mobile device quit and reopen the app on your TV.

If you're not seeing the update go through on your TV, double check that you’re signed into the correct account on both your mobile browser and TV. Afterwards, try quitting and re-opening the app on your TV. If it’s still not working, try clearing your cache and cookies and try again.

Troubleshoot error messages like ‘Area update unavailable'

If you’re seeing the error message “Turn on browser location permissions” or “Area update unavailable”, try these steps:

Confirm that Location Sharing is turned on for your mobile device and mobile browser with the above steps.
Ensure you are using a mobile device and not a computer to follow the steps at youtube.com/locate.
Quit and reopen the YouTube app on your TV and try again.
Confirm that your mobile and TV devices are up to date by checking the version in your settings.
Clear the cache and cookies on your mobile device and try again.

Troubleshoot casting

If you have any trouble verifying your location when casting, try:

Recasting and walking through the steps above.
Clearing cache and cookies for your browser (for youtube.com) and casting again.
Make sure you’re logged into the same account on the YouTube app on mobile and the YouTube app on your TV.

Turn on Location Sharing for casting to your TV

Make sure you’re signed into the same account on both your mobile device and the YouTube app on your TV and that you’ve enabled Location Sharing for both your mobile browser and your YouTube app by following the steps above. Then:

Open the program on your mobile device and cast the program to your TV.
Follow the prompts on the YouTube app on your TV.
Open youtube.com/locate on a mobile web browser using the same account signed in to the YouTube app.
Your TV should automatically start playing once location is successfully provided from your mobile device.

Update your playback area on your smart TV if it is incorrect

Once your playback area is saved on your smart TV, if you find that it is incorrect, you can edit or clear it by going to your device settings:

Open the YouTube app on your smart TV.
Go to Settings Playback area.
Change your location:
- Select the pencil to edit and enter your zip code.
- Follow the on-screen instruction to set and verify your current Playback area.

Clear your Playback area on your smart TV

To clear your Playback area:

Open the YouTube app on your TV.
Go to Settings Clear Playback area.

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