YouTube TV's Library feature saves shows automatically, but you can also manually record individual episodes or entire series

YouTube TV records shows in two ways. First, your account comes with a Library — a cloud storage space where the service automatically saves shows you mark as favorites. Second, you can manually record specific episodes or series before they air. Both methods store recordings for up to nine months, and you can watch them on any device where you're signed into your YouTube TV account.

The key difference: marking a show as a favorite in your Library means YouTube TV records every new episode automatically going forward. Recording a single episode means you're saving just that one broadcast. Most people use the Library for shows they watch regularly and manual recording for one-off programs or special events.

Key Takeaways

  • Mark a show as a favorite to automatically record all new episodes to your Library — YouTube TV does this for you without extra steps.
  • You can manually record a single episode or entire series up to one week before it airs by finding the show in the guide and selecting the record button.
  • All recordings stay in your Library for nine months, then YouTube TV removes them automatically.
  • You watch recordings on any device signed into your account, and you can delete them anytime to free up space.
  • YouTube TV does not limit the number of shows you can record or how many people in your household can watch the same recording at once.

How to add a show to your Library for automatic recording

Open YouTube TV and find the show you want to record. You can search for it by name, browse the guide by channel, or look through categories. Once you find the show's page, look for the heart icon or "Add to Library" button — the exact location depends on whether you're on a phone, tablet, or TV.

Tap or click the heart icon. The icon will fill in (usually turning red or solid) to show the show is now in your Library. From that moment on, YouTube TV automatically records every new episode and stores it in your Library for nine months. You don't need to do anything else — the recordings happen in the background.

To remove a show from automatic recording, go back to the show's page and tap the heart icon again. This stops future recordings, but episodes already saved to your Library stay there until the nine-month window expires.

How to manually record a single episode or series

Find the show in the TV guide or search results. Click or tap on the episode or series name to open its details page. You'll see a record button — usually a circle with a dot inside, or labeled "Record" — next to the air date and time.

Tap the record button. A confirmation message appears to show the episode is now scheduled to record. If you're recording a series (not just one episode), YouTube TV asks whether you want to record this episode only or the entire series. Choose "Record series" if you want every upcoming episode, or "Record episode" if it's just this one.

You can record up to one week before an episode airs. If you try to record something that's already finished airing, the record button won't be available — you'll need to check if it's available on-demand instead, or look for it in YouTube TV's on-demand library.

Where to find and watch your recordings

Open YouTube TV and tap the Library icon at the bottom of the screen (on phones and tablets) or select Library from the menu (on TV devices). Your Library shows all the shows you've marked as favorites plus any episodes you've manually recorded.

Scroll through your Library to find the show you want to watch. Tap the show name to see all recorded episodes. Select the episode you want and tap Play. The recording starts from the beginning, and you can pause, rewind, or fast-forward just like you would with live TV.

Your recordings appear in the Library on every device signed into your account. If you start watching on your phone, you can pick up where you left off on your TV or tablet.

How long recordings stay in your Library

YouTube TV keeps recordings for nine months from the air date. After nine months, the recording automatically deletes. You don't get a warning — it straightforward disappears from your Library.

If you want to keep a recording longer, you need to watch it and finish it before the nine-month window closes. YouTube TV does not offer a way to extend the storage time or move recordings to permanent storage.

You can manually delete a recording anytime by opening it in your Library, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting "Remove from Library." This frees up space when ready, though YouTube TV does not publicly state how much storage space each recording uses.

What to do if the record button is grayed out or missing

If you see a record button that's grayed out or disabled, the episode is either too far in the past to record or YouTube TV's recording rights for that show have expired. Some shows are not available to record due to licensing agreements with networks or studios.

Check whether the episode is available on-demand instead. Open the show's page and look for an "On Demand" or "Available" section. Many shows offer recent episodes for on-demand viewing even if you can't record them.

If a show you regularly watch suddenly stops recording, contact YouTube TV support through the Help section in your account settings. Occasionally, recording rights change, and support can tell you whether the issue is temporary or permanent.

Recording limits and household sharing

YouTube TV does not limit how many shows you can record or how many episodes you can store at once. You can record dozens of series simultaneously, and they all stay in your Library until they expire or you delete them.

Multiple people in your household can watch the same recording at the same time. If you record a show, anyone else on your account can find it in their Library and watch it independently. YouTube TV does not restrict simultaneous playback of recordings the way some services do with live TV streams.

If you share your YouTube TV account with family members, everyone sees the same Library. Recordings are not private to individual users — all household members can see and watch everything in the Library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record shows that are currently airing?

Yes. You can record a show that's on the air right now by opening it in the guide and tapping the record button. The recording starts when ready and captures from that point forward. If you want to record from the beginning, you may need to wait for a rerun or check if the episode is available on-demand.

What happens if I record a show and then delete it by accident?

If you delete a recording, it's gone from your Library. You can record it again if the episode hasn't aired yet, or if it's a recent episode that YouTube TV still has available. For older episodes, you may only be able to watch them through on-demand if they're offered that way.

Do I need a YouTube TV subscription to record shows?

Yes. Recording is a feature included with any YouTube TV subscription. You don't pay extra for recordings, and there's no separate recording plan. Your subscription includes both live TV and the ability to record and store shows in your Library.

Can I read recordings to watch offline?

No. YouTube TV recordings only play while you're signed into your account and connected to the internet. You cannot read recordings to your phone or device for offline viewing. If you need to watch without internet, you'll need to use a service that offers offline downloads.

Why did my recording disappear from my Library?

Recordings automatically delete after nine months. If your recording disappeared before nine months passed, YouTube TV may have lost recording rights to that show due to a licensing change. Check your Library to see the air date — if it's older than nine months, that's why it's gone.