Where to find the Guide on YouTube TV

The Guide on YouTube TV is a grid showing what's on across all your channels right now and coming up over the next several hours. To open it, select the Guide button on the left sidebar of your YouTube TV home screen. On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left, then select Guide. The Guide appears as a full-screen grid with channel names down the left side and time slots across the top.

If you're using a TV remote, press the Guide button directly if your remote has one — many cable-style remotes do. On a computer, the Guide link sits in the left navigation menu alongside Home, Live, and Search. The Guide loads within a few seconds and shows your subscribed channels by default.

Key Takeaways

  • The Guide button is in the left sidebar on desktop and behind the menu icon on mobile devices.
  • The Guide displays all your subscribed channels in a grid with current and upcoming programs listed by time.
  • You can scroll left and right to see programs further in the future, and up and down to browse different channels.
  • Selecting a program in the Guide opens its details page, where you can start watching or set a reminder.
  • The Guide remembers your scroll position, so it returns to the same channels and time when you open it again.

Scrolling through channels and time slots

Once the Guide is open, scroll up and down to move between channels. Scroll left and right to see programs further ahead in time — you can typically view up to 14 days out, depending on what data YouTube TV has from your broadcasters. The current time is marked with a vertical line, making it straightforward to see what's on right now versus what's coming next.

On a TV remote, use the arrow buttons to navigate. On a phone or tablet, swipe left, right, up, or down to move through the grid. On a computer, use your mouse to scroll or click and drag the grid itself. The Guide stays responsive as you move, so you can browse quickly without waiting for it to load between sections.

Selecting a program to watch or record

When you find a program you want to watch, select it in the Guide. A details panel opens showing the program name, description, start and end times, and the channel it's on. From this panel, you can select Watch to start watching when ready if the program is currently airing, or Add to Library to record it if you have a subscription that includes cloud DVR.

If the program hasn't started yet, the Watch button may be grayed out. Instead, you'll see options to add it to your library or set a reminder. A reminder sends you a notification when the program is about to start, giving you time to tune in. You can set reminders for programs up to two weeks in advance.

Filtering channels in the Guide

By default, the Guide shows all your subscribed channels. To narrow it down, look for a Filter or Categories option near the top of the Guide (this location varies slightly between devices). You can filter by channel type — for example, showing only sports channels, news channels, or movie channels — to find what you're looking for faster.

You can also favorite channels to make them appear at the top of your Guide. To favorite a channel, select it in the Guide and look for a star or heart icon. Favorited channels stay pinned to the top, so your most-watched networks are always straightforward to find. This is especially useful if you subscribe to a large channel package and want quick access to your regular channels.

Using the Guide on different devices

The Guide works the same way across YouTube TV's apps, but the navigation changes slightly by device. On a Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Chromecast, use your remote's arrow buttons to move through the grid and the select button to open program details. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe to navigate and tap to select. On Android phones and tablets, the controls are the same as iOS.

On a web browser, click and drag to move through the grid, or use your mouse wheel to scroll. The Guide is fully functional on all platforms, so you can check what's on from your phone while away from home or browse on your TV at full size. Your viewing history and reminders sync across devices, so a program you add to your library on your phone appears in your library on your TV.

Troubleshooting Guide problems

If the Guide won't load or appears blank, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and reopening it. On a TV, unplug the device for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. On a phone or computer, force-close the app from your device settings and relaunch it. If the Guide loads but shows no programs, check that you're connected to the internet and that your YouTube TV subscription is active.

If the Guide is slow to scroll or freezes, clear the app's cache. On most devices, this is in Settings > Apps > YouTube TV > Storage > Clear Cache. On a web browser, clear your browser cache through your browser settings. If problems continue, sign out of YouTube TV completely, restart your device, and sign back in. YouTube TV's servers occasionally have brief outages that affect the Guide — if nothing works after these steps, wait a few minutes and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see programs from channels I don't subscribe to in the Guide?

No. The Guide only shows channels included in your YouTube TV plan. If you want to see programs on a channel you don't have, you would need to add that channel to your subscription. Some channels are part of your base plan, while others are available as add-ons for an extra monthly fee.

How far ahead can I see in the Guide?

You can typically scroll forward up to 14 days in the Guide, though the exact number depends on how far ahead your broadcasters provide schedule data to YouTube TV. Most major networks provide data 7 to 14 days out. Very new programs or last-minute schedule changes may not appear until closer to their air date.

What's the difference between Watch and Add to Library?

Watch starts the program when ready if it's currently airing. Add to Library records the program to your cloud DVR so you can watch it later, anytime within your storage period (usually 9 months). You need a YouTube TV plan that includes cloud DVR to record programs.

Why does the Guide show different channels on my phone than on my TV?

This usually means your subscriptions differ between devices, or one device hasn't synced your latest subscription changes. Sign out of YouTube TV on both devices, restart them, and sign back in. Your channel list should match once the sync completes, which typically takes a few minutes.

Can I search for a specific program instead of browsing the Guide?

Yes. Use the Search function in YouTube TV's main menu to find a program by name. Search is often faster than scrolling the Guide if you already know what you're looking for. Search results show when the program airs across all your channels and let you watch or record directly from the results.