YouTube TV lets you rearrange channels, hide ones you don't watch, and create a custom guide that matches how you actually use the service

YouTube TV's channel list comes in a default order, but you can move channels around, remove them from your guide, and organize them by your own preferences. The customization happens in the guide itself — the grid of channels and programs you see when you open the app. You can pin your most-watched channels to the top, hide channels you never use, and sort what remains in any order you want.

The process differs slightly between the web version and mobile apps, but the core options are the same. You do not need to change your subscription or pay extra; customization is built into your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide channels from your guide without unsubscribing, so they stay in your account but do not clutter your channel list.
  • Pinning channels moves them to the top of your guide and keeps them there even when you scroll.
  • The guide customization is tied to your YouTube TV account, so your layout appears the same on all your devices.
  • You can undo any change by unhiding a channel or unpinning it, so there is no permanent consequence to rearranging.

How to hide channels from your guide on the web

Open YouTube TV in a web browser and look at your channel guide. Hover your mouse over any channel tile until a three-dot menu appears in the corner. Click that menu and select "Hide from guide." The channel disappears from your list when ready.

Hidden channels are not gone from your account — they are just removed from the guide view. If you search for a hidden channel by name or navigate to it directly, you can still watch it. To bring it back, go to your account settings, select "Manage channels," find the hidden channel in the list, and click "Unhide."

How to hide channels on mobile apps

On the YouTube TV app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, open your guide and long-press (or press and hold) any channel tile. A menu will pop up with the option to "Hide from guide." Tap it, and the channel is removed from your view.

To unhide channels on mobile, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, go to "Settings," then "Manage channels." Scroll through the list of hidden channels, tap the one you want back, and select "Unhide."

How to pin channels to the top of your guide

Pinning keeps your favorite channels at the top of the guide so you do not have to scroll to find them. On the web, hover over a channel and click the three-dot menu, then select "Pin to top." On mobile, long-press the channel and tap "Pin to top."

Pinned channels stay in the order you pin them. If you pin three channels, they appear at the very top of your guide in the sequence you selected them. You can pin as many as you want, and unpinning works the same way — use the menu and select "Unpin."

How to rearrange channels in your guide

On the web version, you can drag channels to reorder them. Click and hold a channel tile, then drag it to a new position in the grid. Release the mouse button, and it stays where you placed it. This works for both pinned and unpinned channels.

On mobile, the drag-and-drop method is not available in the same way. Instead, use the hide-and-unhide method to control what appears: hide the channels you want to move, then unhide them in the order you prefer. They will reappear in the sequence you unhid them.

How to manage your channel list in account settings

For a full view of all your channels and their status, go to your YouTube TV account settings. On the web, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Settings," then "Manage channels." You will see every channel in your subscription, with toggles showing which are hidden and which are visible.

From this screen, you can hide or unhide channels in bulk, which is faster than doing it one at a time in the guide. You can also see which channels you have added or removed from your subscription if you have a plan that lets you customize your package.

What happens to your custom guide across devices

Your guide customization syncs across all devices signed into your YouTube TV account. If you pin channels on your phone, those same channels stay pinned when you watch on your TV or computer. If you hide a channel on the web, it is hidden on mobile too.

This means you set up your guide once, and it follows you. If you share your YouTube TV account with family members, they see your customized guide unless they sign in with their own account. Each person with their own YouTube account can have their own custom layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I hide a channel, do I lose access to it?

No. Hiding a channel only removes it from your guide view. You can still search for the channel by name, watch it if you navigate to it directly, and unhide it anytime. Hiding is purely a visual preference.

Can I create multiple custom guides for different people?

Not within a single account. Each YouTube TV account has one guide layout. If multiple people watch on the same account, they all see the same customized guide. To have separate layouts, each person needs their own YouTube account signed into the same YouTube TV subscription.

Will my pinned channels stay at the top if I add new channels?

Yes. Pinned channels remain at the top regardless of whether you add or remove other channels. New channels you subscribe to appear below your pinned channels in the default order.

Can I sort channels alphabetically or by category?

YouTube TV does not have a built-in alphabetical or category sort. You control the order manually by pinning, hiding, and dragging channels. This gives you full control but requires you to arrange them yourself.

What if I accidentally hide a channel I use often?

Go to your account settings, select "Manage channels," find the channel in the hidden list, and click or tap "Unhide." It reappears in your guide when ready. There is no waiting period or penalty for unhiding.