The fastest way to return to your last channel

Press the back arrow button on your remote while watching YouTube TV. This takes you when ready to whatever channel you were on before you changed. The back button is usually in the top left of your remote, sometimes labeled with a left-pointing arrow or a curved line.

If you are using the YouTube TV app on a phone, tablet, or computer instead of a TV remote, tap or click the back arrow at the top left of the screen. The location varies slightly by device, but it is always in the upper left corner of the app window.

This method works whether you changed channels using the remote, the app, or voice commands. YouTube TV remembers your last channel and holds it in memory until you switch again.

Key Takeaways

  • The back arrow button on your remote or app takes you to the channel you were watching when ready before.
  • On a TV remote, the back button is usually in the top left corner and looks like a left-pointing arrow or curved line.
  • On phones and tablets, tap the back arrow at the top left of the YouTube TV app screen.
  • YouTube TV only remembers one previous channel, not a full history of channels you have watched.
  • The back button works the same way whether you switched channels manually or by voice command.

Using the back button on different remote types

If you have a standard YouTube TV remote (the black remote with the Google logo), the back button is the curved arrow in the top left corner, just above the home button. Press it once to return to your previous channel. You do not need to hold it down—a single press is enough.

If you are using a different remote—such as a Roku remote, Fire TV remote, or your TV's native remote—the back button location changes. On Roku remotes, it is the left arrow on the directional pad. On Fire TV remotes, it is also a left arrow, usually near the top. Check your specific remote's manual if you cannot find the back button, as placement varies by manufacturer.

Some older or third-party remotes may not have a dedicated back button. If yours does not, you can still navigate backward through the YouTube TV menu by pressing the left arrow on the directional pad repeatedly until you reach the channel list, then select your previous channel manually.

Going back on phones, tablets, and computers

On an iPhone or iPad running the YouTube TV app, swipe from the left edge of the screen toward the right, or tap the back arrow at the top left of the app. The arrow appears whenever you are inside a channel or menu. One tap returns you to the previous screen or channel.

On Android phones and tablets, tap the back arrow at the top left of the YouTube TV app, or use your device's system back button (usually at the bottom left of the screen). Both methods take you to your previous location in the app.

On a computer or laptop, click the back arrow at the top left of the YouTube TV website or app. If you are using a web browser, you can also use your keyboard shortcut: press Alt + Left Arrow on Windows or Command + Left Arrow on Mac.

What happens if you press back multiple times

Pressing the back button repeatedly does not cycle through a list of channels you have watched. Instead, it moves you backward through the menus and screens you have opened. If you were watching Channel 5, switched to Channel 10, then opened the guide, pressing back once takes you out of the guide. Pressing back again takes you to Channel 5 (your previous channel before opening the guide).

YouTube TV does not store a full history of every channel you have watched. It only remembers the single channel you were on before your current one. If you want to return to a channel you watched earlier in the day, you will need to find it in the guide or search for it by name.

Using the guide to find channels you watched earlier

If you cannot remember the channel number or name of something you watched earlier, open the guide by pressing the guide button on your remote (usually labeled "Guide" or showing a grid icon). Scroll through the list of channels to find the one you want, then select it.

On the YouTube TV app, tap the Guide tab at the bottom of the screen (on phones) or the left sidebar (on tablets and computers). This shows all available channels and their current programming. You can scroll up and down to browse or use the search function to find a specific channel by name.

The guide also shows what is currently playing on each channel and what is coming up next, so you can decide whether to switch without having to tune in first.

Troubleshooting when the back button does not work

If pressing the back button does not take you to your previous channel, check whether your remote is paired correctly with your device. On most YouTube TV remotes, hold the back button for three seconds—a light on the remote should blink. If it does not, the remote may have lost its connection and needs to be re-paired.

If you are using the YouTube TV app on a phone or tablet and the back arrow is not responding, try closing the app completely and reopening it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on iPhone) or press the recents button (on Android), find YouTube TV, and swipe it away to close it. Then tap the YouTube TV icon to reopen it.

On a computer, refresh the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl + R (Windows) or Command + R (Mac). If the back button still does not work after refreshing, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log back into YouTube TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a list of all the channels I have watched today?

YouTube TV does not show a full viewing history in the app. You can only go back to the single channel you were watching when ready before. To find other channels you watched earlier, use the guide to browse or search by channel name.

Does the back button work the same way on all devices?

The back button works the same way on all devices—it takes you to your previous channel—but the location and appearance of the button change. On remotes, it is usually a left arrow in the top corner. On phones and tablets, it is an arrow at the top left of the app. On computers, it is also at the top left or accessible via keyboard shortcut.

What if I press back and nothing happens?

First, check that your remote is paired by holding the back button for three seconds and watching for a light blink. If the remote is paired but the button still does not work, restart your device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If you are using the app, close it completely and reopen it.

Can I set up a custom button to go back to a favorite channel?

YouTube TV does not allow you to program custom buttons on the remote. However, you can add channels to your favorites by opening the guide, finding the channel, and selecting the star icon. Your favorite channels appear at the top of the guide for quick access.

Does the back button remember my previous channel if I turn off the TV?

No. If you turn off your TV or close the YouTube TV app, the previous channel memory is cleared. When you turn the TV back on or reopen the app, it returns to the last channel you were watching, not the one before that.