Casting YouTube from your smartphone to a TV without an internet connection is a handy feature that can be incredibly useful. You might be visiting a grandparent who doesn’t have internet, or staying in a remote cabin that only has a small Smart TV.
By using the “Link with TV code” option, you can start casting videos from YouTube to your TV or streaming device.
Connecting YouTube to Your TV Using TV Codes
TV codes allow you to control YouTube on your TV by linking your phone or tablet to a smart TV, even if your device is not connected to Wi-Fi.
You do need either a Smart TV or streaming device connected to your TV that has the YouTube app already downloaded.
So, if you plan on going to a house where there is no internet, it’s best to make sure that you bring a streaming device with the YouTube app already loaded and ready to go.
Since you will be relying on mobile data to connect with YouTube, you should make sure that you have decent mobile coverage as well.
Steps to Link Your Device
- Open the YouTube app on your smart TV.
- Go to Settings and scroll to “Link with TV code”.
- A blue, numbers-only TV code will appear on your TV screen.
- Open the YouTube app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the Cast icon.
- Select “Link with TV code”.
- Enter the blue TV code shown on your TV.
- Tap “Link”.
Using Your Linked Device
Once linked, you can use your phone or tablet to control your YouTube experience on the TV. Once linked, you can easily cast YouTube videos to your TV without the need for an internet connection.
Other Methods
Some people have had luck with using an HDMI adaptor to connect a smartphone to a TV. But those results have been mixed, especially when you start using subscription streaming services like Netflix, which might block the connection.
When you do have Wi-Fi access, you can set up a smartphone with a data plan to serve as a mobile hotspot to connect to your Chromecast. You do internet to make the initial connection, but you can stream local content without internet once the connection is set up.
If connecting with YouTube isn’t crucial, you could connect a TV antenna to your Smart TV and non-Smart TV and get a number of broadcast channels. The key is to picking the correct antenna for your location.
There is one final thing to know about connecting YouTube to a TV without Wi-Fi or internet. You can’t use the “TV Link Code” method with a computer.
If you want to connect a computer to your TV or streaming device, you’ll need to use the Cast feature instead.
By following these steps, you can easily control YouTube on your TV using your mobile device, even without an internet connection.
