YouTube TV 4K Plus: Features, Pricing, and Setup Guide

When you have several TVs in the house, it can be hard to keep the viewing time in check and avoid bandwidth issues. Live streaming subscriptions by the standard nature of the service are limited to viewing live streams by one person at a time, which leads to frequent streaming failures when two or more family members are trying to watch a live stream concurrently. When it comes to creating a dependable home entertainment system, the key is to strike a balance between accounts and streaming demands. 

Today, a lot of homes have more than one smart TV and/or cell user, and they typically locate it difficult to enjoy live content at the same time without encountering artificial caps. The YouTube TV 4 K Plus add-on provides its solutions for these domestic issues through ultra-high-definition resolution, limitless home streaming allowances and downloadable media. Upgrade to get the maximum flexibility for the busy family watching live sports and daily programming. If you are exploring additional features to expand your channel lineup or streaming capabilities, check out our breakdown of available YouTube TV add-ons.

What features are included in the YouTube TV 4K Plus Add-On?

The standard base plan includes high-definition live channels, unlimited cloud DVR space, and up to three simultaneous streams across all connected profiles. If you are exploring additional features to expand your channel lineup or streaming capabilities, check out our breakdown of available YouTube TV add-ons.

• Ultra-High-Definition Streaming: Delivers 2160p resolution on compatible sports, special events, and select on-demand broadcasts.
• Unlimited Home Screens: Removes the standard 3-device viewing restriction for all screens connected to the primary home Wi-Fi network.
• 3 Out-of-Home Mobile Streams: Allows up to three concurrent streams on mobile devices using cellular data or external Wi-Fi networks.
• Offline DVR Storage: Enables subscribers to download recorded shows directly to mobile devices for playback without an active internet connection.

How Much Does YouTube TV 4K Plus Cost?

The add-on requires an active base subscription. Monthly pricing remains straightforward without hidden hardware maintenance charges.

Note: For more details on overall billing structures, see our breakdown of YouTube TV cost or review your complete YouTube TV membership options.

Hardware and Internet Requirements for 4K Playback

Streaming in 4K resolution demands specific hardware capabilities and sufficient network bandwidth.

1. Network Bandwidth Needs

Smooth 4K playback requires a sustained internet download speed of at least 25 Mbps per active 4K stream. If multiple household screens stream 4K content concurrently, total bandwidth allocation must scale accordingly to prevent buffering or automatic quality downscaling.

2. Device Compatibility

• Smart TVs: 4K models from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio running updated operating systems.
• Streaming Media Players: Chromecast with Google TV (4K), Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Roku Ultra, and NVIDIA Shield.
• Gaming Consoles: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

How to Set Up Your Home Network for Unlimited Streams

To unlock unlimited screens inside your house, you must designate your primary Wi-Fi network within the app settings. Account management guides can also be found at youtvstart.com.

Step-by-Step Setup Process:

1. Connect your streaming device or smart TV to your primary home Wi-Fi network.
2. Launch the YouTube TV application.
3. Select your Profile Avatar in the top-right corner.
4. Go to Settings > Location.
5. Select Home Network and click Set Current Network as Home.

Important Location Note: Setting your home network establishes your primary household location. Family group members using mobile devices away from home retain three separate stream allowances, provided they check in on the home Wi-Fi network periodically.

How to Download DVR Content for Offline Viewing

The offline download function lets viewers take recorded content on travel without consuming mobile data.

1. Open the YouTube TV app on a supported mobile device (phone or tablet).
2. Navigate to your Library tab.
3. Locate the recorded show or movie you want to store.
4. Tap the Download icon next to the title.
5. Once complete, access stored files via Library > Downloads when offline.

Practical Viewing Examples

• Large Family Gathering: Four family members watch live college football in the living room, two stream kids’ programming in separate bedrooms, and another watches news in the home office. All seven screens run smoothly without triggering stream limit errors because they connect to the designated home network.
• Travel and Commuting: A parent streams a live golf tournament on a tablet at home, while two college students use laptops off-site. A third family member watches pre-downloaded episodes on an airplane flight without using internet data.

Troubleshooting Common 4K Streaming Issues

When playback falls back to standard HD or buffers unexpectedly, review these quick checks:

• Verify Stream Quality: Open the video player, select the Gear Icon (Settings), choose Quality, and confirm that 2160p (4K) is selected.
• Check HDMI Port Compliance: Ensure external streaming devices connect via an HDMI 2.0 or higher port that supports HDCP 2.2.
• Confirm Network Status: Re-check that your TV device displays as connected to your primary Home Network in app settings if you encounter device limit blocks.
• Restart Networking Hardware: Reboot internet routers and streaming sticks to clear cached connection delays affecting high-bandwidth video streams.

If you encounter general app loading issues or connection drops while streaming, take a look at our guide on YouTube TV not working.

Conclusion

For households with several TVs and high viewing requirements, upgrading to the YouTube TV 4 K Plus is quite beneficial. This is because it delivers 2160p resolution and allows for unlimited in-home screens and downloads to devices without needing to connect to the internet. When you create your own home network, you know you will be able to watch TV without any problems for all your family members.