How to watch YouTube with friends

Watching YouTube videos is even more enjoyable when you watch them with your family or friends. If you don't see your loved ones often or they don't live near you, you'll be happy to know that this option is available. Today's technology allows you and your loved ones to watch YouTube videos at the same time.

If you want to learn more about how to watch YouTube videos simultaneously with your friends and family, look no further. This article will discuss what you need to do to enjoy YouTube videos with your loved ones on different platforms.

How to watch YouTube with friends

If you can't visit your friends for some reason, you can still enjoy YouTube content together by sharing your screen with them. The process varies depending on the application you are using. We will introduce you to the most popular ones.

How to watch YouTube together on Discord

If you are using Discord and want to watch YouTube videos with your friends, you can do so by sharing your screen, just follow the steps below:

1. Go to YouTube and find the video you want to play.
   
2. If you haven't already, install the Discord app for the operating system you're using. The option is not available on the Discord site.
3. Find and join a channel where you can broadcast your voice. If you're not sure if you can cast, make sure the "Video" or "Screen" icon at the bottom is clickable.
   
4. Choose "Screen" and select the window you want to share. In this case, it will be the browser with the YouTube tab.
   
5. Make sure the button next to "Sound" is enabled.
6. Tap "Go Live".
   
7. Invite your friends on the voice channel.
   

It is important to note that if you want to use Discord to watch YouTube with your friends, they must also have a Discord account.

How to watch YouTube together on Facetime?

Apple introduced the beta version of iOS15 and you can sign up for it here. Among other new add-ons, the beta introduced a new FaceTime feature called SharePlay. The feature allows you to share your screen with friends during a FaceTime video call.

For now, this feature is only available if you and your friends have the iOS15 beta installed. If so, here's how to use SharePlay:

1. During the call, press the icon below the "End" button.
2. Tap "Share my screen".
3. Go to YouTube and play the desired video.

Now everyone on the call will be able to see your video. As you stream, you'll see a purple frame around the time. Keep in mind that other participants will also be able to see your face. If you want to turn this off, deselect the video icon in FaceTime.

How to watch YouTube together on Messenger

Facebook Messenger lets you share your screen within the app. Here's how to access the option:

1. During the video call on Messenger, swipe up and tap "Share your screen".
   
2. Tap "Start Broadcast".
3. Go to YouTube and play the video you want to watch with your friends.
   

While you are sharing the screen, there will be a red frame around the time. Tap it whenever you want to stop screen sharing and tap "Stop Casting".

It is important to note that you can only share your screen when there are participants in the call.

How to watch Facebook videos together on Messenger?

In addition to screen sharing, Facebook Messenger offers a feature called “Watch Together”. It allows you to watch Facebook videos with your friends. In this case, you can activate the option even before the participants join the call.

Follow the steps below to enable this option:

1. Open Facebook Messenger and start a video call.
2. Swipe up from your screen and select "Watch Together".
   
3. Open the video you want to share in the call or type its name in the search bar.
   

How to watch YouTube videos together on Zoom

If you want to share a YouTube video with your friends on Zoom, follow the steps below:

1. Open YouTube and navigate to the video you want to share.
2. Fire up Zoom, host a meeting, and wait for everyone to join.
   
3. Tap "Share" at the bottom of the screen.
   
4. Check the box next to "Share computer sound". Be sure to do this as attendees will only be able to see the video (not hear it) without it.
   
5. Select the web browser you used to open YouTube in the first step.
   
6. Tap "Share".
   

Now everyone in the meeting will be able to see and hear the YouTube video you played. Whenever you want to stop sharing, tap "Stop Sharing" at the top.

Some users have reported that when they press "Stop Share", other participants cannot hear them. This is because the “Share Computer Sound” setting has remained enabled. To turn it off, uncheck the box and make sure the correct microphone is selected.

How to watch YouTube videos together on Google Meet

Google Meet is another platform you can use to watch YouTube videos with your friends. Follow the steps below to do so:

1. Open your browser and go to Google Meet. Log in if prompted.
   
2. Tap "New meeting".
   
3. Tap "Start Instant Meeting" and add your friends.
   
4. Open a new tab, go to YouTube and find the video you want to watch with your friends. Pause it for now.
   
5. Return to Google Meet and tap "Present Now".
   
6. Select "A tab" and choose the YouTube tab. Make sure the "Share audio" box is checked.
   
7. Tap "Share".
   

Now all attendees will see and hear the YouTube video you shared. You can still chat with your friends without interrupting the video.

If you want to use full screen, press "f". When you want to reduce it, press “Esc”.

To stop sharing, tap "Stop Presenting" when the video is finished or close the YouTube tab.

There is another way to share YouTube videos with friends on Google Meet. With this method, the important thing is to use Google Chrome as your browser.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open Google Chrome.
   
2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
   
3. Tap "Broadcast".
   
4. Right-click on the Cast icon and press "Always show icon".
   
5. Again, right-click on the icon and press "Enable cloud services".
6. Tap the nine dots next to your profile picture and select "Google Calendar." If you want to stream YouTube in Google Meet using this method, the meeting must be scheduled in Google Calendar.
   
7. Create a meeting and make sure to select "Add Conference". Invite your friends to the meeting.
   
8. Once everyone has joined, open a new tab, go to YouTube, and find the video you want to share.
9. Tap the Cast icon in the upper right corner and select the meeting name.

The YouTube video will now play in Google Meet. Whenever you want to stop sharing YouTube, tap the streaming icon and "Stop streaming".

How to Share Recorded Video in Google Meet

If you want to share a video you recorded on your computer via Google Meet, follow these steps:

1. Locate the video you want to share and drag and drop it into a new Chrome tab.
2. Create a meeting, invite your friends and wait for them to join you.
3. Once they've joined, tap the "Present Now" button.
   
4. Select "A tab".
   
5. Click on the tab with your video file. Check if the "Share audio" checkbox is checked. If not, you will share the video without sound.
   
6. Tap "Share".
   

When you want to stop sharing your video, tap "Stop" at the top of the video or exit the tab.

Let your friends and family have fun on YouTube

Watching YouTube videos with your loved ones is possible even when you are not next to each other. By sharing your screen, you allow selected people to see and hear the video you are playing. We hope we were able to teach you how to watch YouTube together on some of the most popular platforms for video calling.

Do you watch YouTube videos with your family and friends when they are away? What platform do you use? Tell us in the comments section below.