Delete a Recording From Your Library
To delete a recorded show on YouTube TV, open the app or website, find the show in your library, and select the delete option. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a phone, tablet, computer, or TV device, but the principle is the same: locate the recording and remove it.
On a phone or tablet, open YouTube TV, tap the Library tab at the bottom, find the show you want to delete, press and hold the title, and tap Delete from the menu that appears. On a computer, go to your Library, hover over the show, click the three-dot menu icon, and select Delete. On a TV device like Chromecast or a smart TV app, navigate to Library, select the show, and choose Delete from the options.
Once you delete a recording, it is removed from your account when ready. You cannot undo the deletion, so make sure you have finished watching before you remove it.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted recordings cannot be recovered, so confirm you are done watching before you remove a show.
- On phones and tablets, press and hold the show title to bring up the delete menu.
- On computers, use the three-dot menu next to the show to find the delete option.
- Deleting a recording frees up space in your library but does not affect your ability to record the show again in the future.
- YouTube TV does not limit how many shows you can record at once, so you can delete and re-record as needed.
Delete Multiple Shows at Once
If you have several recordings you want to remove, you can delete them one at a time using the steps above, but there is no bulk delete feature in YouTube TV. You must select and delete each show individually through the Library menu.
To speed up the process on a phone or tablet, stay in the Library tab and work through your list systematically. Press and hold each title, tap Delete, and move to the next one. On a computer, you can open multiple browser tabs to your Library and delete from each tab, though this is not significantly faster than the standard method.
Understand the Difference Between Deleting and Unwatching
YouTube TV has two separate actions: deleting a recording and marking it as unwatched. These are not the same thing. When you delete a recording, it is gone from your account entirely. When you mark a show as unwatched, the recording stays in your library but YouTube TV stops showing it as something you have already seen.
If you want to keep a recording but reset its watched status, look for a Mark as unwatched option in the same menu where you would find the delete button. This is useful if you want to re-watch a show later and have YouTube TV treat it as new content in your library.
Free Up Space by Deleting Old Recordings
YouTube TV does not charge you based on how many shows you record or how much storage you use. Your library can hold a large number of recordings without affecting your subscription cost or service speed. However, a full library can become difficult to navigate, so deleting old shows you have finished watching helps keep your account organized.
There is no automatic deletion feature that removes recordings after a certain number of days. You must delete them manually. If you want to keep your library tidy, set a habit of deleting shows shortly after you finish watching them, or do a cleanup pass once a month.
What Happens to a Show Series When You Delete One Episode
If you have recorded multiple episodes of the same show, deleting one episode does not affect the others. Each recording is treated separately in your library. You can delete episode three of a series while keeping episodes one, two, and four.
If you have set up a series recording (where YouTube TV automatically records new episodes as they air), deleting individual episodes does not cancel the series recording. New episodes will continue to be recorded automatically. To stop recording new episodes, you must cancel the series recording itself, not just delete the episodes you have already recorded.
Re-Record a Show After Deletion
After you delete a recording, you can record the same show again if it airs in the future or if it is available on-demand through YouTube TV. Deleting a recording does not remove the show from your available channels or prevent you from recording it later.
If the show is still airing new episodes and you have a series recording set up, the next episode will be recorded automatically even if you deleted the previous one. If the show has ended or you want to record a past episode, check whether YouTube TV offers it on-demand, which may be faster than waiting for a rerun.
Troubleshoot if You Cannot Delete a Recording
In rare cases, you may not see a delete option for a recording. This usually happens if the show is still in the process of being recorded. Wait for the recording to finish before you try to delete it. If the recording is complete and you still cannot delete it, try signing out of YouTube TV and signing back in, or restart the app or device you are using.
If the problem continues, check that you are using the most recent version of the YouTube TV app. On phones and tablets, update the app through your device's app store. On a computer, clear your browser cache and try again. If deletion still does not work after these steps, contact YouTube TV support through the Help section in the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a recording after I delete it?
No. Once you delete a recording from YouTube TV, it cannot be recovered. Make sure you have finished watching before you delete. If you want to watch the show again, you will need to record it again if it airs in the future or check if it is available on-demand.
Does deleting a recording affect my subscription or billing?
No. YouTube TV does not charge based on the number of recordings you have or how much storage you use. Deleting recordings does not change your subscription cost or billing in any way.
What is the difference between deleting a show and canceling a series recording?
Deleting a show removes one recorded episode from your library. Canceling a series recording stops YouTube TV from automatically recording future episodes. You can delete individual episodes while keeping the series recording active, or cancel the series recording to stop new episodes from being recorded.
Can I delete a show that is currently recording?
No. You must wait for the recording to finish before you can delete it. Once the recording is complete, the delete option will appear in your Library.
Is there a way to automatically delete old recordings?
YouTube TV does not have an automatic deletion feature. You must delete recordings manually through your Library. Consider setting a monthly reminder to clean up shows you have finished watching.