You can reorder channels in YouTube TV by dragging them in your guide, but the method depends on whether you're on a TV, phone, or computer

YouTube TV lets you move channels around in your guide so the ones you watch most often appear first. On most devices, you drag and drop channels to a new position. On some older devices or apps, you may not be able to reorder at all — the guide stays in the order YouTube sets. The steps differ between a TV remote, a phone screen, and a web browser, so find your device type below.

Key Takeaways

  • On phones and tablets, press and hold a channel until it lifts, then drag it to where you want it in the guide.
  • On computers, click and drag a channel to move it, or use the menu icon next to a channel name if your browser doesn't support drag-and-drop.
  • On TV devices, you may need to use your remote to highlight a channel, press a button to enter edit mode, and then navigate to move it — or your device may not support reordering at all.
  • Changes you make on one device sync to your YouTube TV account, so reordering on your phone affects what you see on your TV.
  • If you hide channels instead of moving them, they disappear from your guide but remain in your account and can be unhidden later.

Reordering channels on a phone or tablet

Open YouTube TV on your phone or tablet and go to the Home tab. Find the channel you want to move in your guide. Press and hold the channel tile or name until it highlights or shows a menu — the channel should appear to lift or show a drag handle.

While holding, drag the channel up or down to its new position. Release your finger when the channel is where you want it. The guide updates when ready, and the new order appears on all your devices the next time they refresh.

If pressing and holding does nothing, your app may be out of date. Check your phone's app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone) and update YouTube TV if an update is available. Older versions of the app do not support channel reordering.

Reordering channels on a computer or web browser

Go to youtube.com/tv in your browser and sign in to your YouTube TV account. On the Home page, find the channel you want to move. Click and hold the channel tile, then drag it to a new position in your guide. Release the mouse button to drop it in place.

If drag-and-drop does not work in your browser, look for a three-dot menu icon next to the channel name or on the channel tile. Click the menu and look for an option like "Move up" or "Move down". Use these buttons to shift the channel one position at a time until it reaches the spot you want.

Some older browsers or browser settings block drag-and-drop. If you cannot drag channels, try a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Clearing your browser cache can also help if reordering suddenly stops working.

Reordering channels on a TV device

On TV devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Google TV, channel reordering works differently depending on the device and app version. Open YouTube TV on your TV and navigate to the Home screen. Highlight a channel using your remote's arrow buttons.

Press the button your remote uses for menus or options — often labeled "Menu", "Options", or shown as three dots or lines. Look for an option like "Move channel", "Reorder", or "Edit". If you see this option, select it and use your remote to move the channel up or down, then confirm with the select or enter button.

If no reorder option appears, your TV device or app version does not support channel reordering. In that case, you can still reorder channels on your phone or computer, and the new order will appear on your TV the next time you open the app. You can also hide channels you do not watch to move them out of your main guide.

How to hide channels instead of moving them

If reordering is not available on your device, hiding unwanted channels can make your guide cleaner. On a phone, press and hold a channel until a menu appears, then select "Hide channel". On a computer, click the three-dot menu next to a channel and choose "Hide". On a TV, highlight a channel, press the menu button, and select "Hide channel" if the option is available.

Hidden channels do not appear in your guide, but they stay in your account. To unhide a channel, go to your YouTube TV settings, find the Channels section, and look for a list of hidden channels. Select the channel and choose "Unhide" or "Show channel". The channel reappears in your guide, usually at the end of the list.

Understanding channel order sync across devices

When you reorder channels on one device, the change syncs to your YouTube TV account within a few minutes. The next time you open YouTube TV on another device, you see the new order. This means if you spend time organizing channels on your phone, your TV, computer, and tablet all reflect that same order.

If you see different channel orders on different devices, the sync may not have finished yet. Close and reopen YouTube TV on the device showing the old order. If the problem persists, sign out of your YouTube TV account on that device, wait a minute, and sign back in. This forces a fresh sync of your channel list.

Troubleshooting when channels won't move

If you cannot drag or move a channel, first check that you are using the correct method for your device. Dragging works on phones and computers; TV remotes need a menu option. If you are using the right method and channels still will not move, try these steps.

On a phone or computer, close YouTube TV completely and reopen it. On a TV, unplug the device for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for the app to load. If the app is out of date, update it from your device's app store or settings. If you are using a web browser on a computer, try a different browser or clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign back in.

If reordering works on your phone but not on your TV, your TV device or app version may not support the feature. In that case, organize your channels on your phone, and the order will appear on your TV once it syncs. You can also contact YouTube TV support through the app's Help section if the problem continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create custom channel groups or favorites?

YouTube TV does not have a built-in favorites or groups feature. Your only option is to reorder channels in your main guide and hide the ones you watch less often. Some TV devices have their own favorites features in the TV's system settings, but these are separate from YouTube TV's guide.

If I reorder channels on my phone, will my TV show the same order?

Yes. Changes sync to your account within a few minutes, so your TV will show the new order the next time you open YouTube TV or refresh the guide. If your TV still shows the old order after 10 minutes, close and reopen the app on your TV to force a refresh.

What happens if I hide a channel by mistake?

Go to your YouTube TV settings, find the Channels section, and look for hidden channels. Select the channel you want back and choose "Unhide" or "Show channel". It reappears in your guide, usually at the end of the list, and you can then move it to your preferred position.

Why can't I reorder channels on my Roku or Fire TV?

Older versions of the YouTube TV app on TV devices do not support channel reordering. Check your device's app store or settings for a YouTube TV update. If no update is available, reorder channels on your phone or computer instead — the new order syncs to your TV automatically.

Does reordering channels affect my recordings or watch history?

No. Reordering only changes where channels appear in your guide. Your recordings, watch history, and all other YouTube TV features remain unchanged. You can move channels around as often as you want without affecting anything else in your account.