Delete a Recording from Your Library

To remove a recorded show from your YouTube TV library, open the app or website and find the show in your Library tab. Hover over or tap the show thumbnail, then look for a trash can icon or three-dot menu. Select "Remove from library" or the delete option. The recording disappears when ready and frees up storage space on your account.

On mobile devices (iOS and Android), the process is the same: find the recording, tap the three-dot menu icon in the corner of the thumbnail, and choose "Remove." On a computer or smart TV, you may see a trash icon appear when you hover over the thumbnail. Either way, the show is gone within seconds.

YouTube TV does not ask you to confirm the deletion, so the recording vanishes as soon as you tap the button. There is no recovery option afterward, so make sure you want to remove it before you select delete.

Key Takeaways

  • Recorded shows are deleted from the Library tab by tapping the three-dot menu or hovering to find the trash icon.
  • Deletion is when ready and permanent—YouTube TV does not ask for confirmation or offer an undo option.
  • Removing a recording frees up storage space in your YouTube TV account when ready.
  • The delete button looks the same on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, though the way you access it varies slightly by device.
  • You can delete individual episodes from a series without removing the entire series from your library.

Delete One Episode from a Series

If you have recorded multiple episodes of the same show, you can delete just one episode without affecting the others. Open your Library, find the series, and tap or click to expand it so you see all the episodes you have recorded. Then tap the three-dot menu on the specific episode you want to remove and select delete.

This is useful if you want to keep some episodes but remove ones you have already watched or no longer need. The rest of the series stays in your library untouched.

Delete All Episodes of a Series at Once

To remove an entire series from your library in one action, find the series in your Library tab and tap the three-dot menu on the series title itself (not on an individual episode). Choose "Remove series" or "Remove from library." All recorded episodes of that show disappear at once.

This is faster than deleting episodes one by one if you have recorded many episodes and want to clear them all out. After you remove a series, YouTube TV stops recording new episodes automatically unless you set up the series to record again later.

Understand YouTube TV Storage and Recording Limits

YouTube TV gives you unlimited storage for recorded shows, so you do not have to delete anything to make room for new recordings. Unlike some cable DVRs, there is no storage cap or limit on how many shows you can record at once. You can keep recordings as long as you want, and they will not disappear on their own.

The only reason to delete a recording is if you no longer want to watch it or want to clean up your library. Removing shows does not affect your ability to record future programs.

Why a Show Might Disappear on Its Own

In rare cases, a recording may vanish without you deleting it. This usually happens when a show is removed from YouTube TV's catalog entirely—for example, if a network stops licensing a program to YouTube TV. When that occurs, all recordings of that show are deleted automatically, and you receive a notification explaining why.

This is different from you choosing to delete it. If you see a recording gone and you did not remove it yourself, check your notifications or the Library tab to see if YouTube TV sent a message about why the show was removed.

Manage Your Library on Different Devices

You can delete recordings from any device where you use YouTube TV—phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV. Your library syncs across all devices, so if you delete a show on your phone, it is gone from your TV and computer too. You do not have to delete the same recording multiple times on different devices.

The steps are the same on every device: find the recording, open the menu, and select delete. The only difference is how you access the menu—on a phone you tap the three dots, on a computer you may hover to see the trash icon, and on a smart TV you navigate with your remote.

Organize Your Library Without Deleting

If you want to keep a recording but do not want to see it in your main Library view, you can mark it as watched. This moves it lower in your library list but does not delete it. To mark a show as watched, open it and look for a "Mark as watched" option in the menu.

You can also use the search function to find specific recordings instead of scrolling through your entire library. This does not delete anything but makes it easier to find what you are looking for without clutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a deletion after I remove a recording?

No. Once you delete a recording from YouTube TV, it is gone permanently. There is no trash bin or recovery option. If you want to watch the show again, you will need to record it a second time if it airs again, or watch it on demand through another service if YouTube TV offers that option.

Does deleting a recording free up space for new recordings?

YouTube TV offers unlimited storage, so you do not need to delete old recordings to make room for new ones. You can record as many shows as you want without running out of space. Deleting is optional and only necessary if you want to clean up your library.

If I delete a series, will YouTube TV stop recording new episodes?

Yes. When you remove a series from your library, YouTube TV stops recording new episodes of that show automatically. If you want to record it again in the future, you will need to set up the series to record once more from the show's page or your guide.

Can I delete a recording while it is still being recorded?

No. You cannot delete a show while YouTube TV is actively recording it. Wait for the recording to finish, then delete it from your library. If you want to stop a recording that is in progress, you can cancel the recording from the guide or the show's page before it finishes.

What happens if I delete a show I am currently watching?

If you delete a recording while you are watching it, playback stops when ready. The show disappears from your library right away. You can resume watching only if you record the show again or find it through on-demand options if available.