YouTube TV's cloud DVR records automatically to your library

YouTube TV includes cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, and it works differently from a traditional DVR box. When you mark a show to record, YouTube TV saves it to your online library instead of a physical device. You can then watch that recording from any device signed into your account—phone, tablet, computer, or TV—for up to nine months after it airs.

The key difference is that you do not need to set up hardware or manage storage space. The system handles everything in the background once you tell it what to record.

Key Takeaways

  • You record a show by clicking the plus icon next to its name in the guide or on its detail page, and YouTube TV saves it automatically to your library.
  • Recordings stay in your library for nine months, then delete automatically unless you remove them sooner.
  • You can record entire series at once by selecting "Add series" instead of recording individual episodes.
  • Recordings are available on all your devices at the same time—there is no waiting for the DVR to finish recording before you can watch elsewhere.
  • YouTube TV stores unlimited recordings, so you will not run out of space the way you might with a physical DVR.

Recording a single show or episode

Open YouTube TV on any device and find the show you want to record. You can search for it by name, browse the guide by channel, or look at the "Recommended" section. Once you find the show, look for a plus icon (it looks like a + sign) next to the title or air time.

Click or tap that plus icon. The icon will change to a checkmark, which means the show is now set to record. YouTube TV will capture it when it airs and add it to your library automatically. You do not need to do anything else—no need to be home, no need to keep the app open.

If you change your mind before the show airs, click the checkmark to remove the recording. After the show has already aired, you can delete it from your library by opening it and selecting the delete option.

Recording an entire series at once

If you want to record every episode of a show instead of picking them one by one, find the series in the guide or search results and look for an "Add series" button. This is usually on the show's main page or detail screen.

Click "Add series" and YouTube TV will record every new episode going forward. It will also record past episodes that are still available—usually the last few that aired. Once you add a series, new episodes appear in your library automatically as they air.

You can remove a series recording at any time by opening the show and selecting "Remove series." This stops future recordings but does not delete episodes you have already recorded.

Finding and watching your recordings

Your recordings live in the Library section of YouTube TV. On a TV or computer, look for the "Library" tab at the top of the screen. On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select "Library."

Your recordings are organized by show name. Tap or click a show to see all the episodes you have recorded, then select the one you want to watch. The recording starts playing when ready—YouTube TV does not require you to wait for it to finish downloading or processing.

You can also search for a recording by name from the main search bar, just as you would search for a live show.

How long recordings stay in your library

YouTube TV keeps your recordings for nine months from the date they aired. After nine months, they delete automatically. This applies to all recordings, whether you recorded them on purpose or they came from a series you added.

If you want to keep a recording longer, you need to watch it or delete it yourself before the nine-month window closes. There is no way to extend the storage time or mark a recording as permanent.

You can delete a recording whenever you want by opening it and selecting the delete option. This frees up space when ready, though YouTube TV does not have a storage limit anyway—you can record as many shows as you want without running out of room.

Recording while traveling or offline

One of the advantages of cloud DVR is that recordings happen whether you are home or not. You do not need to leave your TV on, keep your device plugged in, or have a physical DVR box running. YouTube TV's servers handle the recording on their end.

You can watch your recordings from anywhere you have an internet connection. If you are traveling and want to watch offline, YouTube TV does not offer a read feature for recordings—you will need an active internet connection to stream them.

Troubleshooting recordings that did not appear

If you set a show to record and it did not show up in your library, check whether the recording window has passed. YouTube TV records shows at their scheduled air time, so if the show aired while you were setting it up, it may have already finished. You can only record future airings or episodes that have not yet aired.

If the show aired and you still do not see it, sign out of YouTube TV completely and sign back in. Sometimes the library takes a few minutes to update across all your devices. If it still does not appear after an hour, the recording may have failed due to a network issue on YouTube TV's end—try adding the show again for its next airing.

For series recordings, check that you selected "Add series" and not just a single episode. If you only recorded one episode by mistake, you can add the series now to catch future episodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record multiple shows at the same time?

Yes. YouTube TV's cloud DVR has no limit on simultaneous recordings. You can record ten shows airing at the exact same moment without any conflict. This is different from a traditional DVR box, which can usually only record two or three programs at once.

What happens to my recordings if I cancel YouTube TV?

Your recordings delete when ready when your subscription ends. YouTube TV does not give you a grace period to read or save them. If you think you might cancel, watch or delete the recordings you want to keep before your subscription runs out.

Can I share my recordings with someone else on a different account?

No. Recordings are tied to the YouTube TV account that made them. Only people signed into that account on a shared device can watch those recordings. Each household member with their own account has their own separate library.

Do I need to do anything special to record sports or live events?

No. The process is the same as recording any other show. Find the event in the guide, click the plus icon, and YouTube TV records it. You can watch the recording later even if you missed the live broadcast.

Can I fast-forward through commercials in my recordings?

Yes. YouTube TV lets you fast-forward, rewind, and skip around in any recording just as you would with a traditional DVR. There is no restriction on skipping commercials in recorded content.