Mark channels as favorites to see them first in your guide

YouTube TV lets you mark channels as favorites so they appear at the top of your channel guide instead of in alphabetical order. When you favorite a channel, it moves to a "Favorites" section that you see before all other channels. This is useful if you watch the same channels repeatedly and want faster access without scrolling through your full lineup.

Favoriting works the same way on phones, tablets, and computers. The process takes seconds and you can change your favorites anytime—there is no limit to how many you can mark.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your channel guide, long-press or right-click any channel name, and select "Add to favorites" from the menu that appears.
  • Favorite channels move to the top of your guide in a separate section, making them easier to find when you are browsing.
  • You can remove a channel from favorites the same way by selecting "Remove from favorites" from the menu.
  • Your favorite channels list is the same across all your devices if you are signed into the same YouTube TV account.
  • Rearranging the order of favorite channels requires dragging them in the guide on a computer or phone.

How to favorite a channel on your phone or tablet

Open the YouTube TV app and go to the "Guide" tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll through the channel list until you find the channel you want to favorite. Long-press the channel name or logo—hold your finger on it for about one second until a menu pops up.

Tap "Add to favorites" from the menu. The channel now appears in your Favorites section at the very top of the guide. You can favorite as many channels as you want, and they will all group together at the top in the order you added them.

How to favorite a channel on a computer

Go to YouTube TV in your web browser and click the "Guide" tab on the left side. Find the channel you want to favorite in the list. Right-click on the channel name or hover over it until a three-dot menu icon appears, then click that icon.

Select "Add to favorites" from the menu. The channel moves to the Favorites section at the top of your guide. On a computer, you can also drag favorite channels to reorder them—click and hold a channel in the Favorites section, then drag it to a new position.

Removing a channel from your favorites

If you no longer want a channel in your Favorites section, the process is identical to adding it. Open your Guide, find the channel in the Favorites section, and long-press it (on phone or tablet) or right-click it (on computer).

Select "Remove from favorites" from the menu. The channel stays in your full channel guide but moves out of the Favorites section and back into the alphabetical list below. You can add it back to favorites anytime.

Reordering your favorite channels

On a computer, you can drag favorite channels to change their order. Click and hold a channel in the Favorites section at the top of your guide, then drag it left or right to a new position. Release your mouse to drop it in place.

On phones and tablets, the order of favorite channels is set by the order you added them. To change the order on mobile, remove the channel from favorites and add it back in the position you want. For example, if you want a channel to appear first, remove all channels that should come after it, then add them back in the correct order.

Syncing favorites across devices

Your favorite channels list updates automatically across all devices where you are signed into the same YouTube TV account. If you favorite a channel on your phone, it appears in the Favorites section on your computer, tablet, and TV within a few seconds.

If a channel does not appear as a favorite on another device, sign out and sign back in to refresh your account. Make sure you are using the same email address and password on all devices.

Troubleshooting favorite channels

If the "Add to favorites" option does not appear when you right-click or long-press a channel, make sure you are in the Guide view, not the Home tab. The favorites feature only works in the Guide section where all your channels are listed.

If a channel you favorited disappears from the Favorites section, it may mean your YouTube TV subscription no longer includes that channel. Check your current channel lineup in the Guide to see if the channel is still available. If it is, try removing it from favorites and adding it back. If the channel is no longer in your lineup, you will need to add it through a package change or add-on to see it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different favorite channels on different devices?

No. Your favorites list is the same across all devices signed into your account. If you want different favorites on different devices, you would need separate YouTube TV accounts, which would require separate subscriptions.

What is the maximum number of favorite channels I can have?

YouTube TV does not set a limit on how many channels you can favorite. You can favorite your entire channel lineup if you want, though the practical limit is how much space your screen can show before you have to scroll.

Do favorite channels affect my recommendations or watch history?

No. Favoriting a channel only changes the order channels appear in your Guide. It does not change what YouTube TV recommends to you or how it tracks what you watch.

If I cancel and restart my YouTube TV subscription, do my favorites stay?

Yes. Your favorites are tied to your account, not your subscription status. When you restart your subscription with the same account, your favorite channels list returns exactly as you left it.