Delete a Recording from Your Library

To delete a recording from YouTube TV, open the app or website, go to your Library, find the show or movie you want to remove, and select the delete option. The exact steps depend on whether you're using a phone, tablet, computer, or TV device, but the principle is the same across all of them.

On a phone or tablet, tap and hold the recording until a menu appears, then tap the trash or delete icon. On a computer, right-click the recording and select delete from the menu that pops up. On a TV device like Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast, use your remote to highlight the recording, press the menu button (usually marked with three dots or lines), and choose delete.

YouTube TV will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the recording is removed from your library when ready and cannot be recovered. The storage space it used becomes available again for new recordings.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted recordings cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before you confirm the deletion.
  • The delete option is found by tapping and holding on a phone, right-clicking on a computer, or pressing the menu button on a TV remote.
  • Deleting a recording frees up storage space in your YouTube TV account when ready.
  • You can delete individual episodes from a series without deleting the entire series from your library.
  • YouTube TV stores recordings in the cloud, so deletion works the same way whether you're signed in on one device or multiple devices.

Delete a Single Episode from a Series

If you have recorded multiple episodes of a show, you can delete just one episode without removing the others. Find the series in your Library, open it to see all the episodes you've recorded, and then delete the specific episode using the same method you would use for a standalone recording.

This is useful when you've watched an episode and want to free up space without losing the rest of the season. The series itself stays in your Library, and new episodes will continue to record if you have the series set to record automatically.

Delete an Entire Series from Your Library

If you want to remove a whole series instead of individual episodes, go to your Library, find the series name, and delete it. This removes all recorded episodes of that show at once. YouTube TV will also stop recording new episodes unless you have a separate recording rule set up for that series.

To stop future recordings of a series without deleting what you've already recorded, you can manage your recording settings instead. Go to the series page, select the recording settings, and turn off the automatic recording option. This keeps your existing episodes but prevents new ones from being added.

Check Your Storage Space Before Deleting

YouTube TV provides unlimited cloud storage for recordings, which means you don't have to delete recordings to make room for new ones. However, there are limits on how many recordings you can have at once and how long YouTube TV will keep them.

Recordings are kept for up to nine months from the air date. After that time, YouTube TV automatically deletes them whether you've watched them or not. You can check how much of your library is being used by going to your account settings, though YouTube TV does not show a specific storage meter the way some other services do.

Recover a Deleted Recording

Once you delete a recording, YouTube TV does not offer a way to recover it from a trash folder or recovery option. The deletion is permanent. However, if the show or movie is still available in the YouTube TV catalog, you can record it again by finding it in the guide or search results and selecting the record option.

If the program is no longer available to record—for example, if it was a limited-time special or a show that has ended—you cannot get that recording back. This is why it's worth double-checking before you confirm a deletion, especially for unique or one-time events.

Why a Recording Might Disappear on Its Own

Sometimes a recording vanishes from your Library without you deleting it. This usually happens because the nine-month retention period has passed. YouTube TV automatically removes recordings older than nine months, even if you haven't watched them.

Occasionally, a recording may also be removed if there's a licensing or rights issue with the content. This is rare, but it can happen when a show is pulled from the service or when a licensing agreement expires. In these cases, YouTube TV does not send a notification, and the recording straightforward disappears from your Library.

Delete Recordings on Different Devices

YouTube TV syncs your Library across all your devices, so a deletion on one device shows up on all of them. If you delete a recording on your phone, it's gone from your tablet, computer, and TV devices too. This happens within a few seconds to a few minutes depending on your internet connection.

You can manage your recordings from whichever device is most convenient. Some people prefer to delete from their phone while watching on a TV, or to clean up their Library from a computer. The method works the same way regardless of which device you use to do the deleting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deletion?

No. Once you confirm the deletion, the recording is permanently removed and cannot be recovered. If the show is still available in the YouTube TV catalog, you can record it again, but you cannot restore the deleted file itself.

Will deleting a recording stop future episodes from recording?

Deleting individual episodes does not stop future recordings. If you have the series set to record automatically, new episodes will continue to be recorded. To stop future recordings, you need to turn off the automatic recording setting for that series in your recording preferences.

How long does YouTube TV keep recordings?

YouTube TV keeps recordings for up to nine months from the original air date. After nine months, the recording is automatically deleted. You can delete recordings yourself at any time before that period ends.

Do I need to delete recordings to make space for new ones?

No. YouTube TV provides unlimited cloud storage, so you don't run out of space. However, there are limits on the total number of recordings you can have at once. If you hit that limit, you'll need to delete some recordings before you can record new ones.

What happens if I delete a recording by accident?

If you delete a recording by accident, you cannot recover it from YouTube TV. Your only option is to record the show again if it's still available in the guide. For one-time events or shows no longer on the service, the recording cannot be restored.