The fastest way to find a channel on YouTube TV

Use the search bar at the top of the YouTube TV home screen. Type the channel name or the show you want to watch, and YouTube TV will display matching channels and programs. This is the quickest method if you know what you're looking for.

If you want to browse instead of search, go to the Guide tab on the left side of your screen. The Guide shows all available channels in a grid format, organized by category. Scroll through to see what's on now, or click any channel to see its full schedule.

On mobile devices, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Guide to access the same channel list. The layout adjusts to fit your phone or tablet screen, but the channels are organized the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • The search bar at the top of the home screen finds channels by name or by the shows they're airing right now.
  • The Guide tab displays all your channels in a grid, organized by category, and shows what's currently playing on each one.
  • You can customize your channel list by hiding channels you don't watch, which makes the Guide easier to navigate.
  • Channels are grouped by type — news, sports, entertainment, kids — so you can jump to the category you want instead of scrolling through everything.

Using the Guide to browse channels by category

The Guide organizes channels into sections like News, Sports, Entertainment, Kids, and Movies. Each section shows multiple channels at once, with the current program displayed as a thumbnail. This layout lets you see what's on across several channels without clicking into each one.

Scroll down within a category to see more channels in that group. If a category takes up most of your screen, you can collapse it by clicking the category name, which hides those channels and gives you more room to see others. This is useful if you have a large channel list and want to focus on specific types of programming.

The order of categories stays the same each time you open the Guide, so you'll learn where to find what you watch most often. Channels within each category are also consistent, making it easier to navigate over time.

Hiding channels you don't watch

Right-click (or long-press on mobile) any channel in the Guide, then select Hide channel. The channel disappears from your Guide when ready. You can hide as many channels as you want, and your customized list will appear the same way each time you open YouTube TV.

If you hide a channel by mistake, or if you want to watch it again later, you can unhide it. Go to your account settings by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner, select Settings, then choose Channels. You'll see a list of hidden channels with the option to show them again.

Hiding channels doesn't cancel your subscription to them — it just removes them from your Guide view. You can still search for and watch hidden channels by name if you want to.

Searching for specific shows across all channels

Type a show name into the search bar to find which channels are airing it and when. YouTube TV displays all upcoming episodes across your available channels, along with air times. This is helpful if you know what you want to watch but aren't sure which channel carries it.

Search results also show on-demand versions of shows if they're available through your subscription. You can start watching when ready without waiting for a scheduled broadcast. The search results page tells you whether each option is live, on-demand, or recorded in your library.

Finding channels by genre or type

The Guide groups channels by broad categories — News, Sports, Entertainment, Kids, Movies, and others — depending on your subscription package. Click or tap any category name to expand it and see all channels in that group. This method works well if you know what type of content you want but not the specific channel name.

Within each category, channels are listed in a standard order that doesn't change. Once you've browsed a category a few times, you'll recognize where your favorite channels sit, making it faster to find them without scrolling.

Accessing your favorite channels quickly

You can add channels to a Favorites section for faster access. Click the star icon next to any channel name in the Guide to add it to Favorites. Your favorite channels appear at the top of the Guide, grouped separately from the rest.

This customization is especially useful if you subscribe to a large channel package and want your most-watched channels visible without scrolling. You can add or remove favorites at any time by clicking the star icon again.

Navigating channel lists on different devices

On a web browser, the Guide appears as a full grid on the left side of your screen, with the current program displayed on the right. On a phone or tablet, the Guide takes up the full screen and scrolls vertically. On a TV connected to YouTube TV, the Guide displays as a large grid that you navigate with your remote.

The channel organization and search function work the same way across all devices, so your customizations (hidden channels, favorites) sync automatically. If you hide a channel on your phone, it stays hidden when you open YouTube TV on your TV or computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rearrange the order of channels in my Guide?

YouTube TV doesn't allow you to manually reorder channels within categories. Channels appear in a fixed order set by YouTube TV. You can use Favorites to put your most-watched channels at the top, which is the closest option to custom ordering.

What if I search for a channel and it doesn't appear?

The channel may not be included in your subscription package. YouTube TV offers different channel packages depending on your plan. Check your account settings under Channels to see which channels are part of your current subscription. You can also upgrade your plan to add more channels.

How do I find channels that just launched or were recently added?

New channels appear in the Guide automatically once they're added to your subscription. There's no separate "new channels" section, so you'll see them mixed in with existing channels in their category. Searching by channel name is the fastest way to locate a recently added channel.

Can I search for channels by number, like on cable TV?

YouTube TV doesn't use channel numbers. All navigation is by channel name, category, or search. If you're used to cable channel numbers, the Guide's category organization and search function are the fastest ways to find what you want.