With your smart TV, you have a cutting-edge tool when it comes to how you can access media and find new content. So you may delve into switching to streaming apps like YouTubeTV, Hulu, Netflix, AppleTV, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video to cut your cable. Just follow this guide and you will enjoy your favorite content in no time.

Step 1: Select the streaming services you want to try out.

Many streaming services offer a free trial for first-time customers, you will most likely need to add card info even if you are taking advantage of a free trial as they are banking on you staying around and will use auto-renew after your free trial ends. We recommend this CNET article as an introduction to the top-used streaming platforms. There are dozens of media content streaming apps, and this article touches on just the most widely used. Free trials last anywhere from a couple of days to 2 weeks, with some services offering up to a month free. It is essential to keep a note with a reminder to cancel a service if after the free trial ends you do not plan on continuing to use it. We would recommend downloading the apps you are interested in trying out to your phone and signing in through your phone as well, we will touch on why in step two. If you were required to add payment info during sign up it will most likely auto-renew even if you delete the app from your TV or other devices so make a reminder in your phone to cancel your subscription if you do not plan on using the subscription service past the free trial.

Step 2

Pair your streaming accounts with your TV. Different apps have different login methods with the most common being using a device that already has your account info to authorize a new device to add. Remember in step one where we had you make an account through your phone? Instead of trying to type a long and complicated email and password, most streaming apps will show a code on your phone or computer to pair your new TV to your streaming app account. You can still absolutely still log in with your email and password, we prefer the phone method though because it adds a touch of simplicity and efficacy. Now that you are logged in, move on to step 3.

Step 3

Kick back and relax, enjoy it : )