YouTube just fixed one of its biggest issues on smart TVs

YouTube is one of Google's most-downloaded apps on the Google Play Store, and it's also hugely popular on U.S. televisions. In 2025, YouTube CEO Neal Mohanclaimed in a blog post that more people watch YouTube on television than on mobile phones.

So, there is a massive incentive for Google to improve the YouTube experience on television, and the company is doing exactly that. It has introduced a plethora of changes to YouTube for smart TV users so far this year. The latest one solves a common problem that smart TV users often face when sharing their YouTube app on TV.

Google has announced account lock, a major new privacy feature for YouTube on smart TVs. On its official YouTube support page, the Mountain View tech giant said that the feature is designed to give users 'peace of mind.'

YouTube can now secure individual accounts with a code

When a smart TV is a shared home device, there is a good chance a family member or roommate will open your profile and mess up your recommendations. The recently announced account lock feature wants to prevent this by allowing users to set a four-digit code to secure their individual accounts.

After you set it up, your personal recommendations, subscriptions, and search history will remain private. Additionally, you won't always have to use your TV remote to enter the four-digit code, as the YouTube mobile app is also capable of unlocking your account on TV.

For those who have been waiting for this feature, here is how you can secure your YouTube account on a smart TV.

1. Open the YouTube app on your TV.
2. Select your account from the left navigation menu.
3. Select the tiny settings button under your account.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set the four-digit code to secure your account.

Of course, you shouldn't share this four-digit code with anyone in your room to keep your YouTube recommendations private. Also, the account lock functionality allows you to reset your code in case you forget it.

However, to do so, you'll need to disable the account lock by selecting the "Forgot Code?" option on the lock screen and setting it up again.

The account lock feature isn't limited to any region. According to Google's support page, the feature is being rolled out to 'most smart TVs, streaming devices, and game consoles globally.' YouTube on all these devices also offers guest login, so you can watch videos without creating a profile.