Manage your location settings for YouTube Primetime Channels

To watch sports, shows, and other content on YouTube Primetime Channels, you may need to turn on Location Sharing and set your location. Verifying your location is necessary because the content you see can depend on where you are.

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

YouTube uses two types of location settings: Current playback area and Home Area.

Current playback area

Your Current Playback Area is your actual location at the moment you are watching YouTube. It impacts what you can watch live and is tied to your current location.

Verify your playback area on your TV

You may be asked to verify your playback area while watching YouTube Primetime Channels. Before you get started, make sure that Location sharing is turned on for your mobile browser on your mobile device.

On your mobile device, sign in to the same Google account you use on your TV or streaming device.
Scan the QR code on the TV screen or go to https://youtube.com/locate.
If prompted, turn on Location Sharing for your browser.
Select Next or Add Location and then Allow or Allow While Using App.
The location should update automatically on your TV. If not, refresh the https://youtube.com/locate page on your mobile device, then quit and reopen the app on your TV.

Update your playback area in Settings

Open the YouTube app on your TV.
Go to Settings Current playback area.
Select Edit and enter your zip code.
Follow the prompts on your TV screen.

Clear your playback area on your TV

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

Home area

Your Home area is the location where you primarily live. It is required for certain Primetime Channels that have live, location-dependent content and are DVR enabled.

Set or update your Home area

Only the Family Manager or the head of household can set or change the Home area. Please note that you must be physically located in your new Home area to make this update, and you can only change your Home Area twice per year.

Update your Home area

Open a web browser (like Chrome or Safari) and go to tv.youtube.com/settings/area.
Select Update next to "Home area".
Enter your new zip code and allow the website to access your device's location to verify your new Home Area.

Your Home area impacts

DVR Recordings: You only get DVR from your Home area.

Watching DVR while traveling: You can watch your Home area DVR recordings anywhere in the U.S. after the airing ends, but you cannot record local stations from other areas while traveling.

Access limits: You must check in from your Home area at least once every 3 months to maintain access to your local DVR content.

Note: Home area is a shared value across YouTube products. If you have already set a Home area for YouTube TV, it will be the same for Primetime Channels.

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