YouTube TV's Cloud DVR Records Programs Automatically

YouTube TV includes cloud storage for recordings at no extra cost. When you mark a program to record, YouTube TV saves it to your account and you can watch it later on any device where you are signed in. The recording stays available for nine months unless you delete it sooner.

You do not need to set up hardware or manage storage space on your TV—everything happens in the cloud. This means you can start watching a recording on your phone, pause it, and finish on your television without losing your place.

Key Takeaways

  • Mark a program to record by opening its details page and selecting the record button, which appears as a circle icon.
  • YouTube TV automatically records all episodes of a series when you record the show, unless you change the setting to record only new episodes.
  • Recordings stay in your library for nine months, and you can delete them at any time to free up space.
  • You can watch recordings on any device signed into your YouTube TV account, including phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices.
  • If a program is currently airing, you can also start watching it live and then save it to your library afterward.

How to Record a Single Program

Open the YouTube TV app or website and find the program you want to record. This can be a show listed in the guide, a program you are currently watching, or a title you found through search. Tap or click on the program name to open its details page.

On the details page, look for a circle icon (the record button) near the top. Tap or click it once. The icon will fill in with color to show the program is now set to record. YouTube TV will save that episode to your library when it airs.

Recording All Episodes of a Series

When you record a show, YouTube TV defaults to recording all episodes—both past episodes that are still available and all future episodes. This means if you record The Office on Tuesday, YouTube TV will add every episode of that series to your library, not just the one airing that day.

If you want to record only new episodes going forward, open the show's details page and look for the recording settings. Tap or click the record button again to see options. Select "New episodes only" if you do not want YouTube TV to add older episodes you may have already seen.

Finding and Playing Your Recordings

Open the YouTube TV app or website and tap or click the Library tab at the bottom of the screen (on mobile) or the left sidebar (on computer). Select Recordings to see all your saved programs.

Your recordings are organized by show name. Tap or click any title to see all episodes you have recorded of that show. Select the episode you want to watch and it will start playing when ready. YouTube TV remembers where you stopped, so you can pause and resume on any device.

Managing Your Recording Library

Recordings take up space in your cloud storage, though YouTube TV does not limit how many you can keep until the nine-month expiration. If you want to delete a recording to make room, open your Library, find the show, and tap or click the three-dot menu next to the episode. Select Delete and it will be removed when ready.

You can also delete an entire series at once. In your Library, find the show name, tap or click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Delete series. This removes all episodes of that show from your recordings.

Recording Programs That Are Currently Airing

If you are watching a program live and decide you want to keep it, you can record it while it is still playing. Tap or click the record button on the player controls. YouTube TV will save the entire episode from the beginning, even though you are already partway through watching it.

This is useful if you are watching something live and realize you want to pause and finish later, or if you want to save it for rewatching. The recording will appear in your Library when ready, and you can resume from where you left off.

What Happens When a Recording Expires

YouTube TV keeps recordings for nine months from the date they were recorded. After nine months, the recording is automatically deleted from your account. You will not receive a warning before this happens, so if there is a program you want to keep permanently, you should delete it yourself and save it another way before the nine months are up.

Some programs may become unavailable sooner than nine months if licensing agreements change or the content is removed from YouTube TV's catalog. In those cases, YouTube TV will delete the recording early, though this is less common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a program that already aired?

If YouTube TV still has that episode available in its catalog, you can record it and it will appear in your Library. However, you cannot record a program that is no longer available on YouTube TV. Check the guide or search for the show to see if it is currently offered.

What if I record a show but then cancel my YouTube TV subscription?

Your recordings will no longer be available once your subscription ends. YouTube TV stores recordings only for active subscribers. If you resubscribe later, your old recordings will not return.

Can I record the same program multiple times?

If a show airs in multiple time slots or on different dates, you can record each airing separately. YouTube TV will save each recording as a separate episode in your Library, even if they are the same program.

Do I need to do anything special to record a program on a specific device?

No. Recordings are stored in the cloud, not on your device. You record through any device signed into your account, and you can watch that recording on any other device signed into the same account.

Can I share my recordings with someone else on my YouTube TV account?

Recordings are tied to your YouTube TV account. Other people with their own accounts on the same household membership can see and watch your recordings, but people outside your household cannot access them.