Recording a programme on YouTube TV
YouTube TV lets you record programmes directly through the app or website without needing extra hardware. When you find a show you want to record, select the programme and choose the record option — YouTube TV will save it to your library and keep it there for up to nine months. You can record individual episodes, entire series, or both, and recordings are available on any device where you sign in to your YouTube TV account.
The process takes seconds and works the same way whether you're watching live or browsing the guide ahead of time. Once a programme is recorded, you can watch it whenever you want, pause and resume it across devices, and delete it manually if you need the space.
Key Takeaways
- You can record any programme available on YouTube TV by selecting it and tapping or clicking the record button in the app or on the website.
- Recordings stay in your library for nine months, and you can watch them on any device where you sign in to your YouTube TV account.
- Recording an entire series automatically captures new episodes as they air, without you having to record each one separately.
- You can manage your recordings by deleting them manually, and YouTube TV does not limit how many programmes you can record at once.
How to record a single episode
Open YouTube TV on your phone, tablet, computer, or streaming device and find the programme you want to record. You can search for it by name, browse the guide by channel, or look through your watchlist. Once you've found the show, select it to open the details page.
Look for the record button — it appears as a circle icon next to the programme title. Tap or click it, and the button will fill in or change colour to show the recording is set. YouTube TV will record that episode and add it to your library automatically when it airs. If the episode has already aired, YouTube TV may have it available on demand, and recording it works the same way.
Recording an entire series
When you record a series instead of a single episode, YouTube TV captures every new episode as it airs for as long as the show continues. Open the programme details page the same way you would for a single episode, but look for a "record series" or "record all" option instead of the single-episode record button.
Select that option, and YouTube TV will record the current episode plus all future episodes. You'll see all recordings from that series grouped together in your library. If you change your mind, you can stop recording the series at any time by opening the series page again and selecting the option to stop recording — this won't delete episodes you've already recorded, only prevent new ones from being added.
Where to find your recordings
All your recordings appear in the Library section of YouTube TV. Open the app or website, select Library from the menu, and you'll see a list of everything you've recorded. Programmes are grouped by series if you recorded multiple episodes from the same show, making it straightforward to find what you're looking for.
You can also search for a recording by name using the search function. Recordings stay in your library for nine months from the date they were recorded. After nine months, YouTube TV deletes them automatically to manage storage, but you can re-record a programme if you want to keep it longer.
Recording across multiple devices
Your recordings are tied to your YouTube TV account, not to a specific device. This means you can start watching a recorded programme on your phone, pause it, and pick up where you left off on your TV or computer. All your devices stay in sync automatically.
You can record on any device — phone, tablet, computer, or streaming device — and the recording will be available on all of them. The only requirement is that you're signed in to the same YouTube TV account. If you share your YouTube TV account with family members, everyone in the household can see and watch the same recordings.
Managing storage and deleting recordings
YouTube TV does not limit the number of programmes you can record at once, and recordings don't take up space on your device the way downloaded files do. They're stored on YouTube TV's servers, so you can record as many shows as you want without worrying about running out of room.
If you want to delete a recording, open it in your library, select the delete option, and it will be removed when ready. Deleting a recording from one device removes it from all your devices. If you recorded a series and want to delete just one episode, you can do that without affecting the others or stopping future recordings.
Troubleshooting recordings that don't appear
If you set a recording but the programme doesn't show up in your library, check that you're signed in to the same YouTube TV account on the device where you're looking for it. Recordings can take a few minutes to appear after a show airs, especially if the broadcast ran late or had technical delays.
If a programme you tried to record still isn't there after an hour, the broadcast may have been cancelled or rescheduled. You can check the programme's details page to see if it aired at a different time. If YouTube TV shows the programme as available on demand, you can record that version instead, and it will work the same way as a live recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a programme that's already finished airing?
If YouTube TV has the episode available on demand, you can record it the same way you would a live show. Not all programmes are available on demand, so check the details page to see if the option is there. If it's not, the episode may not be available through YouTube TV.
What happens if I record a series and then cancel my YouTube TV subscription?
Your recordings are deleted when your subscription ends. If you resubscribe later, your old recordings won't come back. You can record the same programmes again if they're still available on YouTube TV.
Can I share my recordings with someone who doesn't have YouTube TV?
No, recordings are only available to people signed in to your YouTube TV account. If someone else wants to watch a recorded programme, they need to be part of your household account or have their own YouTube TV subscription.
How do I record a programme that airs at a time I can't watch?
Set the recording before the show airs, and YouTube TV will record it automatically. You don't need to be watching or even have the app open — the recording happens on YouTube TV's servers. Just open your library later and watch it whenever you're ready.
Can I record the same programme multiple times?
If a show airs in reruns or multiple episodes air on the same day, you can record each one separately. If you record the entire series, YouTube TV only records each new episode once, not repeats of old episodes.