You can rearrange, hide, and favorite channels in YouTube TV to match how you actually watch

YouTube TV lets you reorganize your channel list so the ones you watch most appear first, hide channels you do not use, and mark favorites for quick access. These changes happen in your account settings and take effect across all your devices — phone, tablet, computer, or TV. The process takes a few minutes and does not affect your subscription or billing.

Your customizations sync automatically within minutes, so if you rearrange channels on your phone, those changes appear on your TV and computer without any extra steps. You can undo any change at any time, including restoring the entire list to YouTube TV's original order.

Key Takeaways

  • You can drag channels to reorder them, hide unwanted channels, and star channels as favorites from the Guide tab on any device.
  • Hidden channels remain part of your subscription but disappear from your channel list until you unhide them.
  • Favorite channels appear in a separate section at the top of your guide for faster browsing.
  • Changes you make on one device sync automatically to all your other devices within a few minutes.
  • You can restore your channel list to YouTube TV's default order at any time if you want to start over.

How to reorder channels on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and tap the Guide tab at the bottom. Long-press any channel name until it highlights, then drag it up or down to a new position. Release your finger to drop it in place. Repeat for each channel you want to move. The list updates when ready and syncs to your other devices within a few minutes.

If you have many channels, this method works best for moving a few at a time. You can also scroll through your full list while dragging to move channels further up or down without lifting your finger. The drag-and-drop works the same way whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

How to reorder channels on a computer

Go to youtube.com/tv and sign in. Click the Guide icon on the left side. Hover your mouse over any channel name until a six-dot menu icon appears on the left. Click and hold that icon, then drag the channel to a new position. Release to drop it. The order changes when ready on your screen and syncs to your apps within a few minutes.

On a computer, you can also use the search box in the Guide to find a specific channel quickly if your list is long, then move it from there. The web version of YouTube TV gives you the same full control as the mobile app.

How to hide channels you do not watch

Open the Guide on any device. On a phone or tablet, swipe left on a channel name, then tap the Hide button. On a computer, right-click a channel name and select Hide channel from the menu. The channel disappears from your list but remains part of your subscription — you can unhide it anytime.

Hidden channels do not appear in your Guide, search results, or recommendations, so they will not clutter your browsing. If you hide a channel by mistake, scroll to the bottom of your Guide, tap or click Manage all channels, find the hidden channel, and tap or click the eye icon to unhide it. The channel returns to its previous position in your list.

How to mark channels as favorites

Open the Guide. On a phone or tablet, tap the star icon next to a channel name. On a computer, click the star icon next to the channel. The star fills in and the channel moves to a Favorites section at the top of your Guide. Tap or click the star again to remove it from favorites.

Favorite channels appear in their own section so you can find them without scrolling through your entire list. You can favorite as many or as few channels as you want, and the list syncs across all your devices. Favoriting a channel does not hide the other channels — it straightforward creates a shortcut to the ones you use most.

How to restore your channel list to the default order

If you have rearranged your channels and want to start over, open the Guide and scroll to the bottom. Tap or click Manage all channels. Look for an option labeled Reset channel order or Restore default (the exact wording varies by device). Confirm your choice. Your channels return to YouTube TV's original order, and all hidden channels reappear. Your favorite stars are also cleared.

This action cannot be undone when ready, so if you reset by mistake, you will need to rearrange your channels again. YouTube TV does not save a backup of your previous order, but the reset only takes a few minutes to redo if needed.

What happens when you add or remove channels

When you add a new channel to your subscription, it appears at the end of your Guide by default. You can then move it, hide it, or favorite it like any other channel. If you remove a channel from your subscription, it disappears from your Guide entirely and cannot be unhidden — you would need to add the channel back to your subscription first.

Pausing a channel (if that option is available in your area) hides it temporarily but does not remove it from your subscription. You can resume it anytime without losing your custom order. This is useful if you want to take a break from a channel without permanently removing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my channel changes sync to my TV if I use YouTube TV on a smart TV?

Yes. Changes you make on your phone, tablet, or computer sync to your smart TV within a few minutes. You can also rearrange channels directly on your TV using the remote — the process is the same as on other devices, though you navigate with arrow keys instead of dragging.

Can I have different channel orders on different devices?

No. YouTube TV syncs your channel order across all devices tied to your account. If you want a different order on a specific device, you would need to use a different account, which is not recommended because each account requires its own subscription.

If I hide a channel, will it still appear in search results?

No. Hidden channels do not show up in search, recommendations, or your Guide. They only reappear if you unhide them through the Manage all channels menu at the bottom of your Guide.

What if I favorite a channel but then hide it?

The channel is removed from both your Favorites section and your main Guide. If you unhide it later, it will not automatically return to Favorites — you will need to star it again.

Can I customize my channel list on a Roku, Fire Stick, or other streaming device?

Yes. The steps are similar to a smart TV — use your remote to navigate to a channel, then look for a menu option to hide, reorder, or favorite it. The exact buttons vary by device, but the result syncs to all your other devices the same way.