I had to de-authorise my own laptop to get Sky Go Player to work on my own laptop. Anyway, I started watching a programme and it crashed my MacBook. Literally the first time any application has done that in years. Does anyone know if there's a (legal) way to watch Sky on your laptop without all this palaver? I work away a lot, and spend a lot of time in hotels. I take my work laptop with me every time, but as it's a work laptop, I can't bypass any security to install the Sky Go app. I'm a big sports fan and I'm growing more and more frustrated at either watching games on my phone, or missing them.

• Go Sky Watch App
• Best Sky Watch App
• How To Watch Sky Go Without App
• Watch Sky Go Online Without App Free
• Download Sky Go App
• Watch Sky Go Online Without Apple Tv
• Watch Sky Go Online

Some things are just made to be watched on a big screen. So, when it comes to Sky Go, there are times you want to ditch that laptop, tablet or smartphone and kick back in front of a TV. Here’s how to stream Sky Go on your TV.

Sky Go has been around for some time now and it’s gone through several iterations, including some confusing crossovers with the Sky Q app. The app’s main function is letting you watch your Sky package over the internet – a super useful feature when you’re away from home or just not in the same room as your Sky box.

Related: Read our full Sky Q review

While being able to watch Sky on your Android or iOS device – from a Samsung Galaxy phone to an iPad – will be a marvel for some, sometimes it just isn’t good enough. The heart-pounding action scenes of Game of Thrones or Gangs of London on even the largest mobile device just won’t do.

We’ve put together this handy guide to show you just how to watch Sky Go on a TV.

Related: What do you think is best streaming service? Vote now

How do I stream Sky Go to my TV?

Kicking things off on a bit of a downer, the simple answer is you can’t. Never fear, you can get Sky Go on a TV using a good ol’ cable.

Unfortunately, Sky is yet to add any kind of casting function to the Sky Go app – as you can do with other streaming services like Netflix or Amazon – and this means there’s no way to shift the app’s mobile content from your phone or tablet to a TV. A lack of a Sky Go app on smart TVs doesn’t help the situation either.

Instead, you’ll need to grab your laptop and download Sky Go if you haven’t already. The next step is to check what connections your laptop has and, fingers crossed, it has an HDMI port and you’ve got a handy HDMI cable lying around.

Other solutions include a VGA/DVI connection on some older machines or a more flexible Thunderbolt port, but HDMI is the simplest way of going about things. Here’s exactly how to do it:

• Open the Sky Go app on your laptop
• Find what you want to watch and go fullscreen
• Attach the HDMI cable to your laptop
• Plug the other end into a free HDMI port on the back of the TV
• Make sure you are on the correct HDMI input on the TV and you are all set

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

Live TV means any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. It’s not just live events like sport, news and music. It also covers soaps, series, documentaries and even movies.

An online TV service is any streaming or smart TV service, website or app that lets you watch TV programmes over the internet. This includes services like All 4, Sky Go, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and ITV Hub.

Don't forget, a TV Licence also covers you to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand on your television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

A standard colour TV Licence costs £159. Find out about ways to pay.

You could still need a TV Licence if you don’t have a TV

A TV Licence covers you to watch or record TV programmes live on any channel or TV service. This includes watching TV live online. A TV Licence also covers you to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. This applies to any device and provider you use, including:

• TV sets (including smart TVs)
• DVD, Blu-ray and VHS recorders
• Laptops and desktop computers
• Tablets, mobile phones and other portable devices
• Digital boxes or PVRs (such as Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV)
• Games consoles
• Media streaming devices (such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and Now TV)
• Freeview, Freesat or YouView

Some of these devices can be powered solely by their own internal batteries. Your home TV Licence will usually cover you to use these away from home.

However, if you’re away from home and plug one of these devices into the mains and use it to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, or to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, you need to be covered by a separate TV Licence at that address (unless you’re in a vehicle or vessel like a train, car or boat). It’s the law.

Please tell us if you think you don't need a TV Licence.

Do I need a TV Licence to watch TV live online?

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch TV live online. You need a licence to watch or record any TV programme live, on any channel or TV service. It doesn’t matter if you receive it over the internet, from a cable or satellite provider or through an aerial.

This applies to any provider you use, including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4, Sky Go, Virgin Media, BT TV, Apple TV, Now TV, YouTube, Roku and Amazon Prime Video. You need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch live TV on a television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

You also need a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

Answers to your questions

Yes. If you record any programme on live TV, you need a TV Licence. It doesn’t matter when you watch it, how you record it or whether you watch TV on a television, laptop or any other device.

Go Sky Watch App

You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer).

You also don’t need a licence to watch DVDs, Blu-rays or videos.

You need a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use.

• Yes – if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or through any provider.
• No – if you don’t watch any live TV and you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer.

Yes. If you record any programme on live TV, you need a TV Licence. Even if the device or technology you use creates a delay between when the programme is shown and when you watch it.

Yes, you do. You need a TV Licence to watch or record any programme that’s being shown on live TV, whether you watch it on a TV, laptop, mobile phone or any other device. This includes repeats of any programmes that have already been shown.

Best Sky Watch App

Yes you do – as you’re still watching a programme as it’s being shown on TV, whether you watch it on a TV, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch live TV programmes being shown on Red Button services.

It doesn’t matter if you receive TV programmes from a cable or satellite provider, through an aerial or over the internet. You still need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel. This also includes watching TV on a television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, no matter where they are broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows.

You don’t need a TV Licence to watch videos or clips on demand on YouTube. But you do need a TV Licence if you watch TV programmes live on YouTube. An example of this would be watching Sky News live. But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, broadcast or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time.

Yes. Online-only TV channels still count as live TV, so you need a TV Licence if you’re watching or recording their programmes.

It depends what you watch.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever download or watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer). And you don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand.

But you will need a licence if you watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or you download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use.

Subscription channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV are television services that are normally paid for on a monthly basis via cable, satellite or the internet.

You will need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on a subscription channel. But you don’t need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes (other than those on BBC iPlayer) on paid-for subscription channels.

How To Watch Sky Go Without App

Watch Sky Go Online Without App Free

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, no matter where they are broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you:

Download Sky Go App

• never watch or record live TV programmes on any channel and
• never download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

Watch Sky Go Online Without Apple Tv

If you only do the following, you don’t need a licence:

Watch Sky Go Online

• Watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer)
• Watch S4C TV on demand
• Stream, rent or buy movies from providers like Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, Netflix or Amazon
• Watch DVDs, Blu-rays or videos,
• Play internet video clips through services like YouTube or to play video games.

Note: if you are a landlord and you provide a TV to allow your tenants to watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, that address needs to be covered by a TV Licence.

If you’re thinking of buying a new TV you may find our TV buying guide helpful.