YouTube for Android TV is now bringing the account switcher to the application’s initial startup to help ensure the right person is logged in.
This was hinted at by reports last year that showcased the in-app account switcher, which, despite the claims, did not show at launch every time unless you were signed out or had been signed out. This new change is even more like services such as Netflix, Disney+, and the myriad online streaming platforms, as you get a screen to choose who is watching explicitly. The UI has evolved slightly over the past year or so, with the “Guest” option now its own M3 button, while the “Add account” option and YouTube Kids are dedicated buttons that can be accessed using your remote.
When you launch YouTube on your Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, or other Android TV box from cold, you are likely to see a brief account switcher screen, which will appear if multiple accounts are logged into the streaming service. Once you sign in or choose an account with the switcher, closing and reopening YouTube will default to the last signed-in profile. You can see just how this works in the brief video below:
For anyone wondering, the actual account switcher interface is not new in the YouTube app. It has been an option that you had to choose within the YouTube app on your Android TV box or streaming device by clicking your profile picture in the top left of the application. In our testing, only accounts with users with active channel subscriptions appear as part of this start-up cycle change. However, that might not be true for everyone who sees this new interface.
Luckily, if you do not interact, it seems that you will be auto-logged in from this screen to the highlighted user profile after idling for a while – so maybe not a total annoyance, but not quite as streamlined as it was previously.
If you have multiple people using a shared TV in your home, this might be a good way to keep watch history and content separate, as you’re able to choose whose account you are using explicitly right at launch. Let’s be honest, this is one of those little inconvenient changes, especially as in my own case, you are the only person with access to a specific TV and are given an account switcher option every time you launch the YouTube app.
More on YouTube for Android TV:
- YouTube video player redesign & new icons roll out to Android, iOS
- YouTube’s new daily timer stops you from wasting all your time watching Shorts
- YouTube rolling out video player redesign, other ‘expressive and intuitive’ updates
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