YouTube TV's Cloud DVR Records Automatically to Your Library

YouTube TV includes cloud storage for recordings at no extra cost. When you mark a show as saved, YouTube TV records new episodes automatically and stores them for up to nine months. You do not need a separate DVR box or external hard drive — the recordings live in your YouTube TV account and play on any device where you sign in.

The recordings appear in your Library, organized by show name. You can watch them anytime within the nine-month window, rewind and fast-forward through them, and delete them manually if you want to clear space. YouTube TV does not limit how many shows you can record or how much storage you use.

Key Takeaways

  • Save a show from the guide or while watching it, and YouTube TV records all future episodes automatically to your Library.
  • Recordings stay available for nine months from the air date, then disappear automatically.
  • You can watch recordings on phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices using the same YouTube TV account.
  • Fast-forward and rewind work on all recordings, and you can delete individual episodes to free up space.

How to Save a Show from the TV Guide

Open the YouTube TV app or website and go to the guide. Find the show you want to record. Tap or click the show title or thumbnail — this opens the show's details page.

Look for a plus sign or a "Save" button on the details page. Tap or click it. The button changes to a checkmark or "Saved" label, and YouTube TV begins recording all new episodes. You will see the show appear in your Library within a few minutes.

If you want to record only one episode instead of the whole series, look for the specific air date in the upcoming schedule on that show's page. Tap the episode and select "Record this episode" or a similar option. That single episode will record when it airs.

How to Save a Show While You Are Watching It

While a show is playing, look for a menu button — usually three dots or lines in the corner of the screen. Open that menu and select "Save show" or "Add to Library." YouTube TV will record all future episodes and add the show to your saved list.

If you are watching a recorded episode that is already in your Library, the save button may not appear because the show is already saved. Check your Library to confirm the show is there.

Where to Find and Play Your Recordings

Open YouTube TV and tap or click the Library tab at the bottom or side of the screen. Your saved shows appear as a list or grid. Tap a show name to see all recorded episodes, organized by air date with the newest first.

Tap an episode to start playing it. The playback controls work like any video player — you can pause, rewind, fast-forward, and adjust the volume. If you stop watching partway through, YouTube TV remembers where you stopped and resumes from that point the next time you play that episode.

How Long Recordings Stay in Your Library

YouTube TV keeps recordings for nine months from the original air date. After nine months, the recording disappears automatically. You do not need to do anything — YouTube TV removes it without warning.

If a show you are recording ends its season or is cancelled, YouTube TV stops recording new episodes but keeps the ones already in your Library until the nine-month window closes. You can delete any recording manually at any time by opening the episode and selecting "Delete" from the menu.

Removing Shows from Your Library

Open your Library and find the show you want to stop recording. Tap or click the show name to see the episodes. Look for a menu button (three dots or lines) on the show's page and select "Remove from Library" or "Unsave." YouTube TV stops recording new episodes when ready.

The episodes already in your Library stay there until the nine-month expiration date, unless you delete them individually. To delete a single episode, open it and select "Delete" from the menu. The episode is removed right away and does not count toward any storage limit.

Recording Limits and Storage

YouTube TV does not cap the number of shows you can save or the total number of recordings you can have. You can record as many series and episodes as you want, and they all stay in your Library until they expire or you delete them.

The nine-month expiration is the only real limit. If a show airs and you do not watch it within nine months, it vanishes. This is different from a traditional DVR, where storage space runs out and you have to delete old recordings to make room for new ones. With YouTube TV, space is not a concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a show that already aired?

No. YouTube TV records only episodes that air after you save the show. If you want to watch a past episode, check if it is available on-demand in the show's details page, or search for it in the YouTube TV guide to see if a rerun is scheduled.

Do I need to do anything to start recording after I save a show?

No. Saving a show turns on recording automatically. YouTube TV records all new episodes without any extra steps. You just check your Library to watch them when they air.

What happens if I save a show, then cancel my YouTube TV subscription?

Your recordings disappear when your subscription ends. If you resubscribe later, your old recordings are gone. You would need to save the show again to start recording new episodes.

Can I watch recordings on my phone and TV at the same time?

Yes. YouTube TV lets you stream on multiple devices at once, depending on your plan. Check your plan details to see how many simultaneous streams you have. Recordings count toward that limit just like live TV does.

Why is a show I saved not recording?

Check that the show is still marked as saved in your Library. If it shows as unsaved, tap it again to re-save it. Also confirm that new episodes are actually scheduled to air — if the show is on hiatus or has ended, there may be nothing new to record.