Reorder channels by dragging them in your YouTube TV guide
YouTube TV lets you move channels around in your guide so the ones you watch most often appear first. You do this by dragging channels to new positions—the process works the same way on phones, tablets, and computers, though the exact steps differ slightly by device.
The channel order you set becomes your personal guide. Other people watching on the same account will see the same order, but if you share your account with family members, you may want to discuss the arrangement first since everyone sees it the same way.
Key Takeaways
- On phones and tablets, open YouTube TV, tap the guide icon, then press and hold a channel until a menu appears and drag it to a new spot.
- On a computer or TV, click and drag channels directly in the guide to move them left or right.
- Your new channel order saves automatically and appears the next time you open the app.
- You can also hide channels you do not watch by selecting "Hide channel" from the menu, which removes them from your guide entirely.
- Rearranging channels does not affect your recordings or saved shows—it only changes how the guide displays.
Reordering channels on a phone or tablet
Open the YouTube TV app and tap the Guide icon at the bottom of the screen. This shows your full channel list. Find the channel you want to move, then press and hold it until a menu pops up with options like "Hide channel" or "Move channel."
Tap Move channel (or the move option your device shows). The channel will highlight or show a drag handle. Drag it up or down to the position you want, then release your finger. The channel moves to that spot when ready, and the change saves on its own.
If you want to move multiple channels, repeat this process for each one. There is no limit to how many times you can rearrange them, so you can adjust your guide as your viewing habits change.
Reordering channels on a computer or web browser
Go to YouTube TV in your web browser and click the Guide tab on the left side. Your channel list appears in the main area. Find the channel you want to move and click and hold on it with your mouse.
While holding the mouse button down, drag the channel left or right to its new position. You will see the other channels shift to make room. Release the mouse button to drop the channel in place. The order updates right away and stays that way the next time you visit.
On a computer, you can move channels more quickly than on a phone because you have more screen space. If you have a long list, you may want to hide channels you rarely watch to make the guide shorter and easier to scan.
Reordering channels on a TV or streaming device
On a TV, open YouTube TV and go to the guide. Use your remote to highlight a channel, then look for a menu button (often labeled as three dots or lines). Press it to open options, and select Move channel or a similar option.
Use the arrow buttons on your remote to move the channel up, down, left, or right. Press the select or OK button when the channel is in the position you want. The change saves automatically.
Moving channels on a TV is slower than on a phone or computer because you navigate with a remote, but the result is the same. If you have a lot of channels to rearrange, you might find it faster to do on your phone or computer first, then check the result on your TV.
Hiding channels you do not watch
If you want to clean up your guide without deleting channels, you can hide them. Press and hold a channel (on phone or tablet) or right-click it (on computer) and select Hide channel. The channel disappears from your guide but remains in your account.
To unhide a channel later, look for a menu option like "Manage channels" or "Show hidden channels" in your guide settings. Select the channel and choose to show it again. It will reappear in your guide, usually at the end of the list.
Hiding channels is useful if you subscribe to channels you rarely watch but do not want to remove completely. It keeps your guide focused on what you actually use.
What happens when you rearrange channels
Your new channel order appears when ready on the device you are using. If you rearrange channels on your phone, the same order shows up when you open YouTube TV on your computer or TV—the order syncs across all your devices because it is tied to your account.
Rearranging channels does not affect your recordings, saved shows, or watch history. It only changes the visual order in the guide. Your DVR recordings stay in the same place, and any shows you have bookmarked remain bookmarked.
If you change your mind about the order, you can rearrange channels as many times as you want. There is no limit, and YouTube TV does not charge you or restrict you for moving channels around.
Troubleshooting channel order problems
If your channel order keeps changing back or does not save, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and reopening it. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to sync your changes across devices. On a computer, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.
If you are using a shared account and notice the channel order changed when you did not move anything, another person on the account may have rearranged them. Since all users see the same guide, you may need to talk about the order you all prefer.
If a channel is missing from your guide and you did not hide it, check your account settings to make sure you are still subscribed to it. Channels sometimes drop off if your subscription ends or if there is a billing issue with your YouTube TV account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different channel orders on different devices?
No. YouTube TV syncs your channel order across all devices tied to your account. If you rearrange channels on your phone, the same order appears on your TV and computer. If you want different orders, you would need separate accounts.
Does hiding a channel remove it from my recordings?
No. Hiding a channel only removes it from your guide view. Any shows you have recorded from that channel stay in your library, and you can still find them by searching or looking in your saved content.
What if I accidentally hid a channel I want back?
Open your guide settings and look for an option to manage or show hidden channels. Select the channel and choose to unhide it. It will reappear in your guide, usually at the end of the list, and you can then move it to wherever you want.
How long does it take for channel order changes to show on all my devices?
Changes usually appear within a few seconds on all your devices. If a device does not show the new order after a minute, close and reopen the YouTube TV app on that device to force it to sync.
Can I sort channels alphabetically instead of dragging them?
YouTube TV does not have an automatic alphabetical sort option. You have to arrange channels manually by dragging. However, you can organize them however makes sense to you—by genre, by how often you watch, or any other system you prefer.