Yes, you can record shows on Paramount Plus, but only within the app itself

Paramount Plus does not work with your cable or streaming DVR box. Instead, the service has its own built-in feature that lets you save episodes and movies directly in the app. When you mark something to record, Paramount Plus stores it in a personal list called My List, and you can watch it whenever you want as long as your subscription stays active.

The catch is that recorded content expires. If a show leaves Paramount Plus's catalog, your saved copy goes with it. You cannot read episodes to keep permanently, and you cannot record shows to watch offline on most devices. What you get is a bookmark system that prioritizes convenience over permanent ownership.

Key Takeaways

  • Paramount Plus recording happens through the My List feature in the app, not through an external DVR device.
  • You can save individual episodes or entire series to watch later, but only while they remain in the Paramount Plus catalog.
  • The My List feature works on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, but saved shows cannot be downloaded for offline viewing on most devices.
  • If you want to record live sports or breaking news, Paramount Plus does not offer a live TV recording option like traditional cable does.

How to add shows and movies to My List

Open the Paramount Plus app or website and find the show or movie you want to record. Look for a heart icon or a plus sign next to the title—the exact symbol depends on which device you are using. Tap or click it once. The icon will fill in or change color to show the item has been saved.

To see everything you have saved, go to your profile menu and select My List. All your recorded shows and movies appear there in one place. You can remove items by clicking the icon again, which will unfill it and delete the title from your list.

Recording entire series versus individual episodes

When you save a series to My List, Paramount Plus does not automatically record every episode that airs. Instead, it bookmarks the show so you can find it easily. You still have to manually select which episodes you want to watch. New episodes appear in the series page as they become available, but you will not see a notification unless you turn on alerts in your account settings.

If you want to be reminded when new episodes drop, look for a bell icon or notification toggle on the show's main page. Turning this on sends you a push notification when the next episode is released. This is the closest Paramount Plus gets to automatic recording—it alerts you rather than storing the content for you.

What happens when shows leave the service

Paramount Plus licenses content from studios and networks, which means shows and movies have expiration dates. When a title leaves the catalog, it disappears from your My List as well. You will lose access to it even though you saved it. The app does not warn you in advance that a show is about to leave, so you may open My List one day and find something missing.

To avoid losing track of what you want to watch, prioritize shows that are Paramount originals or part of the CBS library, since those tend to stay longer. Licensed content from other studios can vanish with little notice. If a show is important to you, watch it sooner rather than later.

Recording on different devices

My List syncs across all your devices. If you save a show on your phone, it appears in My List on your smart TV, computer, and tablet. You can start watching on one device and pick up where you left off on another. The app remembers your place in each episode.

However, offline read is limited. On phones and tablets, you can read some episodes to watch without an internet connection, but this feature is not available on all titles and not on all devices. Check the show's page for a read button. On computers and smart TVs, offline viewing is not an option—you need an active internet connection to stream.

Paramount Plus versus traditional DVR recording

If you are used to recording shows on cable or satellite TV, Paramount Plus works differently. A cable DVR records the broadcast signal and stores it on a hard drive in your home. Paramount Plus saves a link to content on its servers, not a copy on your device. This means you cannot fast-forward through commercials on most shows, and you cannot keep recordings after your subscription ends.

Paramount Plus also does not record live TV. If you want to record a live sports event or news broadcast, you will need to use your cable box, a separate streaming service that offers live TV, or watch the replay after it airs. Many live events are available on-demand shortly after they finish, so you can watch them later without recording.

Troubleshooting My List problems

If you add something to My List and it does not appear, try signing out of the app and signing back in. Sometimes the list takes a few seconds to update. If the problem persists, clear the app's cache by going to your device settings, finding Paramount Plus, and selecting Clear Cache. Do not select Clear Data, as that will erase your login information.

If a show you saved has disappeared, it likely left the Paramount Plus catalog. Check the show's main page to confirm it is no longer available. If it is still listed but missing from My List, log out and log back in again. If you are still having trouble, contact Paramount Plus support through the app's help menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record live TV on Paramount Plus?

No. Paramount Plus does not offer live TV recording. You can watch live events while they air, and many are available on-demand afterward, but you cannot save a live broadcast to your My List the way you would with a cable DVR.

Will my recordings stay if I cancel my subscription?

No. Everything in My List is tied to your active subscription. If you cancel, your saved shows disappear. If you resubscribe later, your old My List is gone and you start fresh.

Can I read shows to watch offline?

On phones and tablets, some episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing, but this is not available for all titles. On computers and smart TVs, offline read is not supported. Check the show's page for a read button to see if it is available.

What if a show I recorded leaves Paramount Plus?

You lose access to it when ready. Paramount Plus does not notify you before content leaves, so if a show is important to you, watch it as soon as you save it rather than waiting.

Does My List sync across all my devices?

Yes. Your My List appears on every device where you are signed in. You can start watching on your phone and continue on your TV, and the app remembers where you stopped.