Stop a Recording Before It Starts

To stop a recording on YouTube TV before it begins, open the YouTube TV app or website and find the show or movie you scheduled. Look for the red recording icon next to the title — it looks like a filled circle. Tap or click that icon once, and the recording will cancel. The icon will turn gray, showing the recording is no longer scheduled.

If you are on a mobile device, swipe left on the show title to reveal a delete or remove option. On a computer, right-click the show and select the option to remove the recording. The change takes effect when ready, even if the show airs in a few minutes.

You can also cancel from the "Library" section of YouTube TV. Go to Library, find the show under "Scheduled," and tap the three-dot menu next to it. Select "Remove from library" or "Cancel recording." This removes the scheduled recording without affecting any episodes you have already recorded.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap or click the red recording icon next to a show title to cancel a recording that has not yet started.
  • Use the Library section and the three-dot menu to remove scheduled recordings in bulk or one at a time.
  • Canceling a scheduled recording does not delete episodes you have already recorded.
  • On mobile, swipe left on a show title to reveal the delete option without opening the full menu.
  • Changes take effect right away, even if the show is about to air within minutes.

Delete a Recording That Has Already Finished

Once YouTube TV finishes recording a show, the episode moves to your Library. To delete it, open the YouTube TV app or website and go to Library. Find the show you want to remove and tap or click on it to open the episode details.

Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the episode card. Tap it and select "Remove from library" or "Delete." The recording will disappear from your Library when ready. YouTube TV will free up the storage space it was using, though YouTube TV does not limit how many recordings you can keep — storage is not a concern the way it is with a physical DVR.

If you want to delete multiple episodes at once, go to the show's main page in your Library, tap the three-dot menu next to the show title itself, and select "Remove all" or "Remove series." This deletes every recorded episode of that show but does not stop future recordings if you have the series set to record automatically.

Turn Off Series Recordings to Stop Future Episodes

If you set a show to record automatically, YouTube TV will record every new episode. To stop this, go to the show's page in your Library and tap the three-dot menu next to the show title. Select "Remove series" or "Stop recording series." This cancels all future recordings of that show but keeps any episodes you have already recorded.

You can also manage series recordings from the show's main page on YouTube TV. If you are browsing the guide or a show's details page, look for a toggle or button that says "Record series" or "Auto-record." Turn it off to stop scheduling new episodes. The button will change color or appearance to show the series is no longer set to record.

If you want to keep some episodes but stop recording new ones, delete the individual episodes you do not want from your Library first. Then turn off the series recording. This way you keep only what you watched and stop wasting space on future episodes.

Manage Your Recording Preferences and Limits

YouTube TV does not impose a hard limit on how many recordings you can keep, but you can set preferences for how long recordings stay in your Library. Go to your YouTube TV settings and look for "Library" or "Recording preferences." Some versions let you choose whether old episodes delete automatically after a certain number of days.

You can also set YouTube TV to keep only your most recent recordings of a series. In the series settings, choose "Keep only new" or "Keep only latest episodes." This automatically deletes older episodes as new ones record, so you always have the newest episode but not a backlog of old ones.

If you share a YouTube TV account with family members, each person can manage their own Library separately. One person's deletions do not affect another person's recordings. However, if you turn off a series recording, it stops for everyone on the account — the recording setting is shared even though the Library is personal.

What Happens When You Cancel a Recording

When you cancel a scheduled recording, YouTube TV removes it from your queue. If the show has not aired yet, it will not record at all. If you cancel after the show has already aired and recorded, the episode stays in your Library unless you delete it separately.

Canceling a single episode does not affect other episodes of the same series. If you have "Record series" turned on, YouTube TV will still record the next new episode. To stop all future recordings, you must turn off the series recording itself, not just individual episodes.

If you accidentally cancel a recording, you can reschedule it by finding the show again and tapping the record icon. YouTube TV will queue it up for the next airing. For shows that air multiple times, you can record a different time slot if you missed the original one.

Recover a Deleted Recording

YouTube TV does not have an undo button or trash folder for deleted recordings. Once you remove an episode from your Library, it is gone permanently. You cannot recover it from within the app.

If you need the episode again, you must reschedule the recording. Find the show in the YouTube TV guide or search for it by name. Check the upcoming air dates and tap the record icon for a future airing. Some shows repeat multiple times a week, so you may be able to record it again within a few days.

For popular shows, you can also check if the episode is available on the network's own streaming service or on YouTube. Many networks offer recent episodes free or with a cable login. This is often faster than waiting for the show to air again on YouTube TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stop a recording while it is happening right now?

Yes. Open YouTube TV, find the show that is currently recording, and tap the red recording icon to cancel it. The recording will stop when ready, but you will only have the portion that recorded before you canceled. If the show is halfway through, you will have roughly the first half.

Does deleting a recording stop future episodes from recording?

No. Deleting one episode does not change your recording settings. If you have the series set to record automatically, YouTube TV will still record the next new episode. You must turn off the series recording separately to stop future episodes.

What if I want to keep some episodes but delete others from the same series?

Go to your Library, find the show, and delete individual episodes one at a time using the three-dot menu. The series will keep recording new episodes unless you turn off the series recording setting. You can keep your favorites and delete the rest without affecting the automatic recording.

Can I recover a recording I deleted by mistake?

No, YouTube TV does not have a recovery option for deleted recordings. You can reschedule the recording by finding the show again and tapping the record icon for a future airing. Check the guide for upcoming air dates, as many shows repeat throughout the week.

Do my family members see the recordings I delete?

No. Each person on a shared YouTube TV account has their own Library. When you delete a recording, it disappears only from your Library. Other family members keep their copies unless they delete them separately.