Stop a Recording Before It Starts

To turn off recording on YouTube TV, open the show or movie details page, find the recording icon (a red circle with a dot inside), and tap or click it once. The icon will turn gray, and YouTube TV will cancel the recording. If you have already set the show to record automatically every time it airs, this method stops future recordings of that series.

The fastest way is to do this from the show's details page while you are browsing. You can also manage recordings from your library or from the notification that appears when a recording is about to start. The process takes about five seconds and works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and TV devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the red recording icon on any show's details page to cancel that single recording when ready.
  • To stop all future recordings of a series, turn off the recording toggle on the show's main page before the next episode airs.
  • You can also remove recordings from your library by selecting them and choosing the delete or remove option.
  • YouTube TV sends a notification a few minutes before recording starts, and you can cancel from that notification without opening the app.

Cancel a Recording from the Show Details Page

Open YouTube TV and search for the show or movie you want to stop recording. When you find it, tap or click on the title to open the full details page. Look for the red recording icon — it looks like a filled red circle with a dot in the center. Tap this icon once, and it will turn gray, which means the recording is now off.

This method works whether you set the recording yourself or YouTube TV suggested it to you. The icon change happens when ready, and the recording will not happen. If the show is part of a series and you only want to cancel this one episode, this is the right approach.

Turn Off Series Recording to Stop Future Episodes

If you have set a show to record every new episode automatically, you need to turn off the series recording, not just one episode. Go to the show's main page and look for a toggle or switch that says "Record series" or "Auto record." This toggle will be blue or highlighted when recording is on. Tap it once to turn it off, and the toggle will turn gray.

After you turn off series recording, YouTube TV will not record any future episodes. Episodes that have already been recorded will stay in your library unless you delete them separately. This is useful when you have finished watching a show or no longer want new episodes saved.

Remove Recordings from Your Library

To delete a recording you have already made, go to your Library in YouTube TV. Find the show or movie you want to remove, tap or click on it, and look for a menu icon (three dots or lines). Select "Remove from library" or "Delete," depending on your device. The recording will be removed when ready and the storage space will be freed up.

You can also remove entire series at once by selecting the series title and choosing remove. This does not stop future recordings — it only deletes what you have already recorded. If you want to stop future recordings of that series, you must also turn off the series recording toggle on the show's details page.

Use Notifications to Cancel Before Recording Starts

YouTube TV sends a notification a few minutes before a scheduled recording begins. On your phone or tablet, you can tap this notification and select "Don't record" without opening the full app. On a TV device, you will see a banner at the top of the screen with the same option. This is the quickest way to cancel if you change your mind at the last moment.

If you miss the notification, the recording will proceed as scheduled. You can still delete it from your library afterward. Notifications appear on all your devices, so you can cancel from whichever one is closest to you.

Manage Storage When Recordings Fill Up

YouTube TV does not charge extra for storage, but the service limits how many recordings you can keep at once. When you reach the limit, older recordings are deleted automatically to make room for new ones. If you want to keep specific recordings longer, delete ones you have already watched to free up space for future recordings.

You can see how much of your recording limit you have used by going to your account settings and looking at the storage or library section. The exact limit varies depending on your YouTube TV plan. Turning off series recordings for shows you have finished watching is the easiest way to manage space without losing anything you want to keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off a recording delete episodes I have already recorded?

No. Turning off the recording toggle only stops future episodes from being recorded. Episodes you have already recorded stay in your library until you delete them manually. You must remove them separately if you want to free up space.

Can I cancel a recording after it has already started?

Once a recording has started, you cannot stop it mid-way. However, you can delete it from your library when ready after it finishes. If you want to cancel before it starts, use the notification that appears a few minutes before recording begins.

What happens if I turn off series recording by mistake?

You can turn it back on anytime by going to the show's details page and tapping the recording toggle again. YouTube TV will then record all future new episodes. Any episodes that were not recorded while the toggle was off will not be added retroactively.

Do I need to turn off recording on every device I use?

No. Recording settings are tied to your YouTube TV account, not to individual devices. If you turn off a recording on your phone, it is turned off on your TV and computer as well. You only need to change the setting once.