Creating a Favorites list on YouTube TV

YouTube TV lets you save shows and movies to a Favorites list so you can find them quickly without scrolling through your entire library. To add something to Favorites, open the show or movie detail page, look for the heart icon, and tap or click it. The heart fills in when the item is saved. You can add live channels, on-demand shows, movies, and entire series to your Favorites at once.

Your Favorites list appears at the top of your Library tab on any device where you're signed into the same YouTube TV account. This means if you add a show to Favorites on your phone, it shows up on your TV, computer, and tablet automatically. The list syncs across all your devices within a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • The heart icon on any show, movie, or channel detail page adds that item to your Favorites list when ready.
  • Your Favorites appear at the top of the Library tab and sync across all devices signed into your account.
  • You can remove items from Favorites by tapping the filled heart icon again, which turns it back to an outline.
  • Favorites are separate from your Watch history and recordings, so adding something to Favorites does not record it or change when it airs.
  • You can organize Favorites by removing items you no longer watch regularly, keeping the list focused on what you actually use.

Where to find the heart icon on different devices

On a TV connected to YouTube TV, use your remote to navigate to any show or movie. Press select or enter on the title, and the detail page opens. The heart icon appears in the top right corner of the screen. Press select on the heart to add it to Favorites.

On a phone or tablet running the YouTube TV app, tap any show or movie from the home feed, search results, or your Library. The detail page slides up or opens. The heart icon sits near the top of the screen, usually next to the title. Tap it once to save to Favorites. On a computer, the heart icon appears on the right side of the show or movie title when you open its detail page.

Managing and removing items from your Favorites list

To remove something from Favorites, open its detail page again and tap or click the filled heart icon. It returns to an outline, and the item disappears from your Favorites list. Removing an item from Favorites does not delete it from YouTube TV or affect your recordings — it only takes it off the quick-access list.

Your Favorites list has no limit on how many items you can add, but keeping it to shows and movies you actually watch makes it more useful. If your Favorites list grows too long, you may want to remove older shows you have finished watching or movies you have already seen.

The difference between Favorites, Watch history, and Library

Favorites is a manual list you create by tapping the heart icon. Watch history is automatic — YouTube TV tracks what you have watched and shows it in your Library under "Continue Watching" or "Recently Watched." You cannot add something to Watch history yourself; it updates only when you actually play something.

Library is the full collection of everything available to you: your Favorites, your recordings, your Watch history, and all the shows and movies you can watch on demand. Favorites is a subset of Library that you control. If you want to hide something from your Watch history, you can remove it from the "Continue Watching" section, but that is separate from Favorites.

Using Favorites to organize what you watch

A well-organized Favorites list saves time when you sit down to watch. Add the shows you are currently following so you can jump to them without searching. Add movies you have been meaning to watch. Add live channels you tune into regularly. Over time, remove shows you have finished so the list stays current.

Some people use Favorites as a "watchlist" for things they plan to watch later, while others use it only for shows they are actively watching. There is no right way — use it however makes your viewing faster and easier. You can change what is in Favorites anytime without affecting recordings or your account settings.

Troubleshooting Favorites that do not sync across devices

If you add something to Favorites on one device and it does not appear on another, first check that you are signed into the same YouTube TV account on both devices. Open the account menu and confirm the email address matches. If the accounts are different, sign out and sign into the correct account.

If the accounts match, try closing the YouTube TV app completely and reopening it. On a TV, unplug the device for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. On a phone or tablet, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or use the app switcher) to close YouTube TV, then tap the app icon to reopen it. Favorites usually sync within a few seconds of the app refreshing. If syncing still does not work after 5 minutes, check that your internet connection is stable on both devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create multiple Favorites lists or organize them into folders?

YouTube TV has one Favorites list per account, and you cannot create separate lists or folders within it. You can only add or remove items from the single Favorites list. If you need to organize shows by type, you can use your Watch history or the Library search to find them by category.

Does adding something to Favorites record it automatically?

No. Adding a show to Favorites does not record it or schedule a recording. Favorites is just a bookmark list. If you want to record a show, you must set up a recording separately through the show's detail page or the TV guide.

What happens to my Favorites if I cancel YouTube TV?

Your Favorites list is tied to your YouTube TV account. If you cancel your subscription, your Favorites are saved with your account. If you resubscribe later using the same email address, your Favorites list returns. If you create a new account, you start with an empty Favorites list.

Can family members on my account see my Favorites?

YouTube TV does not separate Favorites by profile within a household account. All members signed into the account see the same Favorites list. If you want to keep your watchlist private, you would need a separate YouTube TV account.

Why is the heart icon grayed out on some shows?

If the heart icon appears grayed out or inactive, the show or movie may not be available in your region, or there may be a temporary issue with the app. Try closing and reopening YouTube TV. If the icon remains grayed out, the content may not support the Favorites feature on that particular device.