How to Delete Recordings on YouTube TV: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve binged watched everything in your YouTube TV library and are now swimming in digital clutter? Fear not! Deleting recordings on YouTube TV is a breeze, but understanding the nuances of the platform is key. Here’s the straight dope:

To delete a recording on YouTube TV, simply navigate to your Library, select the recording you wish to remove, and choose the “Delete” option. However, and this is a big however, YouTube TV’s DVR system doesn’t actually let you delete individual episodes of a show if you’ve recorded the entire series. Instead, it manages recordings based on series.

Let’s break it down step-by-step:

1. Access Your Library: On the YouTube TV app (whether on your TV, phone, or web browser), head over to the “Library” tab. This is your central hub for all things recorded.

2. Locate the Recording: Browse through your library to find the show or movie you want to remove.

3. Select the Show/Movie: Click or tap on the title of the show or movie. This will open the details page.

4. Delete (Series vs. Individual Episodes): This is where it gets interesting.

   • For Movies: If you selected a movie, you’ll see a “Delete” (trash can) icon right there. Click it, confirm your choice, and poof, it’s gone.
   • For TV Shows (Series Recording): If you selected a TV show, you won’t see a delete option for individual episodes (if you are recording the entire series). Instead, you’ll see options related to managing the series recording. To remove the entire series, you will see a checkmark next to the show’s title indicating it is in your library. Click on this checkmark to remove the entire series from your library. This will stop future recordings and remove the previously recorded episodes. You can also select “Manage Recording” to adjust your recording options, such as recording new episodes only.

5. Confirm Deletion (If Applicable): A confirmation prompt will appear to ensure you really want to delete the selected content. Click “Delete” or “Remove” to confirm.

That’s the basic process. Now, let’s dive into some common questions and scenarios that might arise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why Can’t I Delete Individual Episodes of a TV Show?

This is perhaps the most frequently asked question about YouTube TV’s DVR system. The platform prioritizes series-based recording. When you add a TV show to your library, YouTube TV automatically records all new episodes (and sometimes reruns, depending on your settings). The assumption is you want to keep up with the entire series. Therefore, the primary control is to either record the whole series or not record it at all. You cannot cherry-pick individual episodes for deletion while still maintaining the series recording.

2. What Happens When I Remove a Show from My Library?

Removing a show from your library on YouTube TV has two primary effects:

• Future Episodes: It stops YouTube TV from recording any new episodes of that show.
• Existing Recordings: All previously recorded episodes of that show are removed from your library.

3. Can I Recover Deleted Recordings?

Unfortunately, no. Once you delete a recording on YouTube TV, it’s gone for good. There’s no “recycle bin” or “recently deleted” folder to retrieve it from. So, be absolutely sure you want to delete something before you confirm.

4. How Much DVR Storage Do I Get with YouTube TV?

YouTube TV offers unlimited DVR storage. Yes, you read that right, unlimited. This is a major advantage over many other streaming services. However, recordings are only saved for nine months. After nine months, they are automatically deleted from your library.

5. How Do I Stop YouTube TV From Recording a Show?

Simply navigate to the show in your Library and click the checkmark next to the title, removing it from your recordings. You can also do this via the “Manage Recording” option, choosing not to record the show.

6. Can I Delete Recordings from My Phone?

Yes! The YouTube TV app on your phone offers the same functionality as the web version or TV app. Follow the same steps outlined above to delete recordings directly from your mobile device.

7. Does Deleting a Recording Free Up Storage Space?

While YouTube TV boasts unlimited storage, deleting recordings does remove them from your account, making your library cleaner and easier to navigate.

8. I’m Sharing YouTube TV with My Family. Does Deleting a Recording Affect Everyone?

Yes, YouTube TV libraries are shared within a family group. If you delete a recording, it will be removed from everyone’s library in that group. So, be mindful of other users’ viewing habits before deleting anything. Communication is key to avoid household streaming wars!

9. Can I Delete a Movie I Rented on YouTube TV?

You can’t “delete” a movie you rented in the traditional sense, as it’s not stored in your library like a DVR recording. Rental movies have a specific viewing period. Once that period expires (usually 48 hours after you start watching), the movie automatically disappears from your rentals.

10. What Does “Manage Recording” Mean on YouTube TV?

The “Manage Recording” option allows you to customize how YouTube TV records a specific show. You can choose to record:

• New Episodes Only: This is the default setting.
• New and Rerun Episodes: This will record both new episodes and any reruns that air on the channels YouTube TV carries.
• Stop Recording: Removes the series from your library.

11. Why Is YouTube TV Recording Shows I Don’t Watch?

This typically happens if someone in your family group has added a show to their library. Since libraries are shared, the show will be recorded even if you personally don’t watch it. Check with other users in your family group to see if they’ve added the show.

Another possibility is that you accidentally added the show to your library. Double-check your library settings to ensure you’re only recording the shows you intend to watch.

12. Can I Filter My Library to See Only Movies or Only TV Shows?

Unfortunately, YouTube TV doesn’t offer a direct filtering option to separate movies and TV shows in your library. You have to scroll through the entire list to find what you’re looking for. However, you can utilize the search function to quickly locate a specific movie or show. This is an area where user feedback could potentially improve the platform in future updates.

In conclusion, managing recordings on YouTube TV is relatively straightforward once you understand the platform’s series-based recording system. While the inability to delete individual episodes might be a minor inconvenience for some, the unlimited DVR storage and ease of use generally outweigh this limitation. Happy streaming!