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How to Use YouTube on Mac

This guide walks you through downloading, setting up, and using YouTube on your Mac — one step at a time. No tech jargon, just clear instructions.

1Download YouTube

  1. 1

    Open Safari or Chrome on your Mac.

  2. 2

    Go to youtube.com.

  3. 3

    No installation needed — YouTube works in your web browser.

2Set Up Your Account

Visit YouTube

Open your browser and go to youtube.com.

Sign in

Click "Sign In" at the top right and enter your Google account details.

3How to Use YouTube

Search and watch

Type in the search bar and click a video to watch it. Use the spacebar to pause/play.

Full screen

Click the full-screen icon at the bottom right of the video, or press F.

Subscribe

Click "Subscribe" below videos from channels you enjoy.

Use captions

Click "CC" at the bottom of the video for subtitles.

Tips for Seniors

  • Press Command+"+" to zoom in on the page for bigger text.

  • Use Picture-in-Picture: right-click the video twice and select "Enter Picture in Picture" to watch while doing other things.

  • Add youtube.com to your Dock: in Safari, click Share > Add to Dock.

  • The Mac's speakers or connected headphones make for a great listening experience for music videos and podcasts.

Common Issues & Solutions

Videos do not play in Safari
Update Safari and macOS to the latest versions. Try Chrome if videos continue to have issues in Safari.
Sound is not working
Check your Mac volume. Click the speaker icon in the menu bar. Make sure the video is not muted — look for the speaker icon on the video player.
YouTube is using a lot of memory
Close other browser tabs. Try watching in a different browser. Restart your browser if it has been open for a long time.

Use YouTube on a Different Device

Same app, different device. Pick yours below:

More App Guides for Mac

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