📋 Verified Walkthrough
Smart TV • Social Media

How to use YouTube safely to watch music, DIY tutorials, and shows

Direct Answer

Search for your favorite musical artist, hobby, or how-to guide in the top search bar and tap "Subscribe" (it is completely free) to save the channel. Tap the "CC" button on any video for subtitles, and tap the square icon in the bottom right corner for full screen. Never call phone numbers shown in scam comments or pop-up ad overlays.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • To watch classic music performances, cooking recipes, woodworking, gardening, or home repair guides for free.
  • To turn on large, easy-to-read closed caption subtitles on any video.
  • To avoid clicking fake scam ads or calling fake "tech support" phone numbers shown in comments.

Before You Start

  • Open YouTube on your Smart TV, iPad, smartphone, or computer.
  • No paid subscription is required — YouTube is 100% free to watch.

Tapping the "Subscribe" button is completely FREE. It simply adds the creator or channel to your personal "Subscriptions" list so you can easily find new videos.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Tap the magnifying glass and type what you want to watch

    Open YouTube and tap the magnifying glass icon at the top. Type your search terms, such as "1950s Big Band Music," "Easy dinner recipes," or "How to fix a squeaky door." Tap Search.

    👀 Magnifying glass icon in top corner.

  2. 2

    Tap any video thumbnail to start playing

    Tap the picture box (thumbnail) of the video you want to view. The video will begin playing immediately.

    👀 Video picture thumbnail card.

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Tap "CC" for Closed Captions and subtitles

    Tap the video screen once to reveal controls, then tap the "CC" button in the upper right corner to turn on captions.

    👀 "CC" box icon on upper corner of playing video.

  4. 4

    Tap the square frame icon to go Full Screen

    Tap the small broken-square icon in the bottom right corner of the video player to expand the video across your whole screen. Tap it again to exit full screen.

    👀 Broken square icon in bottom right corner.

  5. 5

    Tap the red "Subscribe" button to save your favorite channels

    Below the video, tap the red or black "Subscribe" button next to the channel name. Next time you open YouTube, tap the "Subscriptions" tab at the bottom to see their newest videos without searching again.

    👀 "Subscribe" button under video title.

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

If a 5-second video ad plays before your video...

Wait 5 seconds until a button labeled "Skip Ad" appears in the bottom right corner, then tap "Skip Ad" to jump directly to your video.

If you see a comment or pop-up saying "Your computer has a virus! Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX"...

It is a fake scam advertisement. Never call phone numbers listed in YouTube comments or pop-up banners. Close the video.

Good to Know

  • You can pause any video at any time by tapping the center of the video screen.
  • Subscribing to channels is 100% free and does not charge your credit card.