Adding shows and movies to your library takes three taps

Open the show or movie you want to save. Look for the plus sign or Add to Library button — it appears next to the play button on the show's detail page. Tap it once. The button will change appearance (usually to a checkmark or filled icon) to confirm the item is now in your library.

Your library lives in the Library tab at the bottom of the YouTube TV app. Everything you add appears there, organized by type: shows you're following, movies you've saved, and live events you've marked. You can access your library from any device where you're signed into the same YouTube TV account.

Removing something from your library is just as quick — tap the same button again, and it disappears from your saved list. This does not delete the show or movie from YouTube TV itself; it only removes your personal bookmark.

Key Takeaways

  • The plus sign or Add to Library button sits on every show and movie detail page, next to the play button.
  • Your library syncs across all devices signed into your YouTube TV account, so saves on your phone appear on your TV.
  • Adding a show to your library does not record it — it only bookmarks it so you can find it faster later.
  • You can remove items from your library at any time by tapping the same button again.

Where to find the add button on different screens

On the home screen, when you see a show or movie in the carousel or recommendations, swipe to open its detail page first. The add button appears once you're on that page, not from the preview card itself.

In search results, tap the show or movie title to open its full page. The button is in the same spot — to the right of the play button at the top. You cannot add directly from the search list; you must open the detail page.

When you're watching live TV and want to save the show, pause or exit the video. Open the show's detail page from the guide or search, then add it. The button works the same way whether the show is currently airing or in the archive.

What happens when you add a show versus a movie

Adding a TV show to your library marks you as a follower. YouTube TV will notify you when new episodes air (if you have notifications turned on), and the show appears in your Library tab with an indicator showing how many unwatched episodes you have. You do not record the episodes — you're just following the series so YouTube TV reminds you it's on.

Adding a movie to your library straightforward bookmarks it. The movie stays in your library until you remove it, and you can watch it whenever it's available on YouTube TV. Movies do not generate notifications; they just sit in your saved list.

For live events (sports, award shows, special broadcasts), adding them to your library works like movies — it bookmarks the event so you can find it easily. Some events may send a reminder notification depending on your account settings.

Organizing and finding your saved content

Your library is divided into sections: Shows, Movies, and sometimes Live Events, depending on what you've saved. Tap the Library tab at the bottom of the app to see everything in one place. The shows section displays how many episodes of each series are unwatched.

YouTube TV does not let you create custom folders or playlists within your library. Everything is sorted by type and then alphabetically. If you want to organize further, you can use YouTube's general watchlist feature (separate from YouTube TV), but that's a different tool with its own interface.

To find something you added weeks ago, use the search function at the top of the app. Search by title, and the show or movie will appear in results. From there, you can tap it to open the detail page and resume watching or remove it from your library.

Syncing your library across devices

Everything you add to your library on your phone, tablet, or computer appears automatically on your TV and vice versa. YouTube TV syncs your library in real time as long as you're signed into the same account on all devices.

If you add something on your phone and it doesn't show up on your TV right away, try closing and reopening the YouTube TV app on the TV. Occasionally a refresh is needed, but the sync usually happens within seconds.

If you're signed into different YouTube accounts on different devices, each account has its own separate library. Make sure you're using the same account everywhere if you want your saves to appear on all your screens.

Troubleshooting when the add button doesn't work

If you tap the add button and nothing happens, check that you're signed into your YouTube TV account. Open the app menu and look for your account name or profile picture. If you're not signed in, sign in first, then try adding again.

Some content on YouTube TV is not available to add to your library — usually very new releases or content with licensing restrictions. If the button is grayed out or missing entirely, that particular show or movie cannot be bookmarked. You can still watch it; you just cannot save it for later reference.

If your library is not syncing across devices, sign out of the YouTube TV app on one device and sign back in. This forces a fresh sync with your account. If the problem persists, restart the app or restart the device itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does adding a show to my library record it automatically?

No. Adding a show to your library only bookmarks it and marks you as a follower. It does not record episodes. To record a show, you need to use YouTube TV's recording feature separately, which is a different action from adding to your library.

Can I add a show to my library if it's not currently airing?

Yes. You can add any show or movie that's available on YouTube TV, whether it's airing now or in the archive. Once you add it, you can watch it whenever you want, and if new episodes air later, YouTube TV will track them for you.

What's the difference between adding to library and adding to watchlist?

YouTube TV's library is built into the app and syncs across your devices. YouTube's general watchlist is a separate feature in the main YouTube app. They are two different tools. For YouTube TV content, use the library feature within the YouTube TV app.

Can I share my library with other people on my YouTube TV account?

Your library is personal to your profile within the YouTube TV account. Other profiles on the same account have their own separate libraries. Each person's saves are independent, even though you all share the same YouTube TV subscription.

If I remove something from my library, can I add it back later?

Yes. Removing something from your library does not delete it from YouTube TV. You can search for it again anytime and add it back to your library by tapping the add button.