YouTube TV's new episode recording works automatically, but you control which shows get recorded

YouTube TV records new episodes of shows you mark as favorites without you having to set up individual recordings. When you add a show to your library, the system watches for new episodes and records them to your account. You do not choose dates or times — YouTube TV handles the scheduling. What you do control is which shows get this treatment and where those recordings live in your account.

The key is understanding the difference between adding a show to your library and just watching it once. A show you watch one time does not automatically record future episodes. A show you add to your library does. This guide walks through how to set that up, manage what gets recorded, and find your recordings when you want to watch them.

Key Takeaways

  • Add a show to your library by clicking the plus icon or heart icon on the show's page, and YouTube TV will automatically record all new episodes going forward.
  • You can remove a show from your library at any time to stop future recordings, though episodes already recorded stay in your account until you delete them.
  • Recordings are stored in your Library section under the show's name, organized by season and episode.
  • YouTube TV keeps recordings for nine months from the air date, then deletes them automatically unless you watch them first.
  • If your account runs out of storage space, YouTube TV pauses new recordings until you delete old ones.

How to add a show to your library for automatic recording

Open YouTube TV and find the show you want to record. This can be from the guide, a search result, or a channel page. Click on the show's title or poster image to open its detail page.

On the show's detail page, look for a plus icon or heart icon in the top right corner. Click it. The icon will fill in or change color to show the show is now in your library. YouTube TV will begin recording new episodes automatically from that point forward. Episodes that aired before you added the show to your library will not be recorded.

You can also add a show to your library while watching it. During playback, look for the same plus or heart icon and click it. The show will be added and future episodes will record.

Stopping recordings of a show you no longer want

Open the show's detail page the same way you added it. Click the plus or heart icon again. It will empty or change color, and YouTube TV will stop recording new episodes of that show.

Stopping recordings does not delete the episodes you already have. Those stay in your Library until you delete them manually. You can watch them, keep them, or remove them one at a time or all at once. If you add the show back to your library later, YouTube TV will resume recording new episodes from that point forward.

Where to find your recorded episodes

Go to the Library section of YouTube TV. You will see a list of all shows you have added. Click on any show name to see all the episodes you have recorded of that show, organized by season.

Episodes appear in your Library as soon as they are recorded, usually within a few hours of the show airing. You can play them when ready or come back to them later. A small indicator shows which episodes you have already watched.

How long YouTube TV keeps your recordings

YouTube TV stores recordings for nine months from the original air date. After nine months, the recording is deleted automatically. This applies whether you watched the episode or not, though watching an episode does not extend how long it stays.

If you want to keep an episode longer than nine months, you will need to read it to your device before the nine-month window closes. YouTube TV allows downloads on the YouTube TV app for phones and tablets, but not on the web version or on TV devices.

What happens when your storage fills up

YouTube TV does not have a hard storage limit for most accounts, but if your account accumulates a very large number of recordings, YouTube TV may pause new recordings until you delete some old ones. This is rare for typical viewers but can happen if you record many shows and do not delete episodes regularly.

If this happens, delete recordings you no longer need. You can delete individual episodes or entire seasons at once. Once you free up space, YouTube TV will resume recording new episodes of your shows.

Recording sports and live events

Sports and live events work the same way as regular shows. Add the team or event to your library, and YouTube TV records new games or events. Some sports air multiple times per week, so you may accumulate recordings quickly.

Keep in mind that sports recordings follow the same nine-month deletion rule. If you want to keep a recording of a championship game or important match longer than nine months, read it to your phone or tablet before the important date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record only certain episodes of a show instead of all new ones?

No. When you add a show to your library, YouTube TV records all new episodes. You cannot set it to record only episodes on certain days or times. Your only options are to record all new episodes or none. You can delete individual episodes after they record if you do not want to keep them.

What if a show airs on multiple channels?

YouTube TV records the episode once, even if it airs on more than one channel. You will see it listed once in your Library under the show's name. You do not get duplicate recordings.

Do I lose my recordings if I cancel my YouTube TV subscription?

Yes. Recordings are part of your YouTube TV account and are deleted when your subscription ends. If you want to keep episodes, read them to your device before you cancel.

Can I share my recordings with other people on my account?

Yes. Everyone on your YouTube TV account can see and watch the same recordings in the shared Library. Each person can mark episodes as watched individually, but the recordings themselves are shared across all account members.

Why is a show I added not recording new episodes?

The show may have ended or gone on hiatus. YouTube TV only records new episodes that are scheduled to air. If the network has not announced new episodes, nothing will record. Check the show's detail page to see if new episodes are listed in the guide. If the show is truly off the air, no new episodes will record until it returns.