YouTube TV lets you arrange channels in your guide by pinning favorites, hiding ones you don't watch, and sorting by custom lists

YouTube TV's channel guide starts with a default order, but you can rearrange it to match how you actually watch. The main tools are pinning (moving channels to the top), hiding (removing channels from view), and creating custom lists (grouping channels by type or interest). These changes sync across your devices, so a channel you pin on your phone appears pinned on your TV.

The process takes seconds per channel and requires no settings menu — you manage channels directly from the guide itself. Once you set up your layout, the guide stays organized the way you want it until you change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • Pin your most-watched channels to the top of the guide by long-pressing a channel and selecting "Pin" — pinned channels appear in a dedicated section above the rest.
  • Hide channels you never watch by long-pressing and selecting "Hide" so they stop cluttering your guide.
  • Create custom lists by tapping the plus icon in the guide, naming the list, and adding channels to it for quick access to grouped content.
  • Changes you make on one device (phone, tablet, TV) automatically appear on all other devices signed into the same YouTube TV account.
  • You can unpin, unhide, or delete custom lists at any time using the same long-press menu that created them.

Pinning channels to the top of your guide

Pinning moves a channel to a dedicated section at the very top of your guide, above all other channels. This is the fastest way to reach the channels you watch most — ESPN, your local news station, or whatever you open first.

To pin a channel, long-press (or right-click on a computer) the channel name or thumbnail in the guide. A menu appears with options including "Pin." Tap or click "Pin," and the channel moves to the pinned section. You can pin as many channels as you want. The pinned section stays at the top even when you scroll through the rest of the guide.

To unpin a channel, long-press it again and select "Unpin." It moves back into the regular channel list in its default position.

Hiding channels you don't watch

Hiding removes a channel from your guide entirely without deleting it from YouTube TV. Use this for channels you inherited from a package but never open — shopping networks, sports you don't follow, or premium channels you're not using this month.

Long-press the channel and select "Hide." It disappears from the guide. If you change your mind later, you can unhide it. Go to your account settings, select "Channels," and look for a section labeled "Hidden channels" or "Manage channels." Tap the channel name and select "Unhide." It returns to the guide in its default position.

Creating custom lists to group channels by type

Custom lists let you organize channels by category — "Sports," "News," "Kids," "Movies" — so you can jump to a specific type of content without scrolling the entire guide. Each list appears as its own section in your guide.

To create a list, look for a plus icon or "Create list" option in your channel guide (the exact location varies slightly by device). Tap it, name the list, and then add channels to it. You can add the same channel to multiple lists. For example, ESPN could appear in both "Sports" and "Live TV" lists.

To add channels to an existing list after you create it, long-press a channel and select "Add to list," then choose which list. To remove a channel from a list, long-press it within that list and select "Remove from list." To delete an entire list, long-press the list name and select "Delete."

Reordering channels within lists and the main guide

YouTube TV does not let you manually drag channels into a different order within the main guide or within custom lists — the order is set by YouTube. However, pinning channels to the top gives you control over which ones appear first, and creating multiple custom lists lets you group channels the way you want to see them.

If you want a specific order within a custom list, the workaround is to create separate lists for different priorities. For example, create a "Must Watch" list with your top five channels, then a "Sports" list with all sports channels, and so on. This gives you the organization you need without relying on manual drag-and-drop.

Syncing your channel organization across devices

Any changes you make to your channel guide — pinning, hiding, or creating lists — sync automatically to all devices where you are signed into the same YouTube TV account. If you pin a channel on your phone, it appears pinned on your TV and tablet without any extra steps.

Syncing usually happens within a few seconds, but occasionally takes a minute or two if your devices are not connected to the internet at the same time. If a change does not appear on another device after a few minutes, sign out and sign back in to force a refresh.

Resetting your channel guide to the default layout

If you want to start over and undo all your pinning, hiding, and custom lists, YouTube TV does not offer a single "reset" button. Instead, you have to undo changes one at a time: unpin each pinned channel, unhide each hidden channel, and delete each custom list.

This takes longer than a reset, but it also means you can keep some of your organization while changing other parts. If you truly want a fresh start, the fastest approach is to sign out of YouTube TV on your device, clear the app's cache (on phone or tablet, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube TV > Storage > Clear Cache), and sign back in. This clears your local settings and syncs you back to your account's current state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pin channels on my phone but not on my TV?

No. Pinning syncs across all devices on your account. If you want different layouts on different devices, you would need separate YouTube TV accounts, which is not practical. The better approach is to create multiple custom lists so you can quickly jump to the channels you want on any device.

What happens to my custom lists if I cancel YouTube TV and come back later?

Your lists and pinned channels are tied to your YouTube TV account. If you cancel and resubscribe later using the same account, your organization is still there. If you create a new account, you start with a blank guide.

Can I share a custom list with other people on my YouTube TV family plan?

No. Each account holder has their own channel guide, pinned channels, and custom lists. Family members can create their own lists on their own profiles, but they cannot see or use lists created by someone else on the account.

Why do some channels not appear in my guide even though I have not hidden them?

YouTube TV only shows channels included in your current plan. If a channel is not in your package, it will not appear in the guide. To add it, you may need to upgrade your plan or add a premium channel add-on. Check your account settings under "Channels" to see what is included.

Can I hide channels temporarily and unhide them later?

Yes. Hidden channels stay hidden until you unhide them. Go to your account settings, find "Hidden channels," and select the channel you want to bring back. It returns to the guide in its original position.