How to Reorder Channels on YouTube TV: Your Ultimate Guide

Want to curate your YouTube TV channel lineup to reflect your viewing habits? You’re not alone. While YouTube TV doesn’t offer the drag-and-drop functionality of traditional cable, it does allow you to customize your Live Guide by hiding channels you don’t watch. This effectively reorders your visible channels, bringing your favorites to the top. This article dives deep into how to do this, along with answers to frequently asked questions to make the process seamless.

The Secret Sauce: Hiding Channels and Creating Your Preferred Order

YouTube TV doesn’t offer a true reordering feature in the traditional sense. Instead, you selectively hide channels you rarely or never watch. This has the effect of bringing your more frequently viewed channels to the forefront of your Live Guide. It’s not a perfect solution, but it provides a decent level of customization.

Here’s how it works, step by step, on different devices:

On Your Computer (Web Browser):

1. Sign In: Log into your YouTube TV account on your computer.
2. Go to Settings: Click on your profile picture (usually in the upper right corner) and select “Settings.”
3. Live Guide: In the Settings menu, find and click on “Live Guide.”
4. Customize Your List: You’ll see a list of all available channels. Channels that are checked are visible in your Live Guide. Uncheck the boxes next to the channels you want to hide.
5. Save Changes: The changes are usually saved automatically. Simply close the Settings window.

On Your Mobile Device (Android or iOS App):

1. Open the App: Launch the YouTube TV app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture, usually located in the upper right corner.
3. Settings: Navigate to “Settings.”
4. Live Guide: Select “Live Guide.”
5. Hide Channels: Similar to the web version, uncheck the boxes next to the channels you wish to remove from your guide.
6. Auto-Save: Your changes are saved automatically. Just go back to the Live tab.

On Your Streaming Device (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs):

The process is very similar across most streaming devices, although the exact wording might vary slightly.

1. Access Settings: Navigate to your profile picture within the YouTube TV app and select “Settings.”
2. Live Guide: Find and select the “Live Guide” option.
3. Channel Selection: You will see a list of channels. Select (or unselect) channels to add or remove them from your live guide. Usually, it will be represented by a checkmark next to each channel.
4. Automatic Saving: The changes are typically saved automatically. Return to the Live tab to view the changes.

By carefully curating your Live Guide, you effectively bring your most-watched channels to the top, making browsing faster and more convenient. Keep in mind that this only hides channels; it doesn’t delete them from your YouTube TV subscription. You can always easily unhide them later.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why Can’t I Directly Drag and Drop Channels to Reorder Them?

This is a common request among YouTube TV users. Currently, YouTube TV doesn’t offer a true drag-and-drop channel reordering feature like traditional cable providers. The existing method of hiding channels is the only built-in way to customize the order of your guide. Google, the parent company of YouTube TV, has not provided a clear reason for this limitation, but it is frequently requested by users in online forums.

2. Will Hiding Channels Affect My Recording Preferences?

No, hiding a channel from your Live Guide does not affect your recording preferences. If you’ve set up recordings for a show on a hidden channel, those recordings will still occur as scheduled. The channel is simply hidden from view in the Live Guide.

3. Can I Create Custom Channel Groups or Favorites Lists?

Unfortunately, YouTube TV does not currently support custom channel groups or favorites lists. The hide/unhide feature is the only available method for personalization. Many users have requested these features, so it’s possible they may be added in future updates.

4. Is There a Limit to the Number of Channels I Can Hide?

No, there’s no limit to the number of channels you can hide from your Live Guide. You can hide as many or as few channels as you like, tailoring the guide to your specific preferences.

5. If I Hide a Channel on One Device, Will It Be Hidden on All My Devices?

Yes, the changes you make to your Live Guide sync across all devices logged into your YouTube TV account. If you hide a channel on your computer, it will also be hidden on your phone, streaming devices, and smart TVs.

6. Can I Restore the Default Channel Order Easily?

Yes, you can easily restore the default channel order by going back into the “Live Guide” settings and checking the boxes next to all the channels you previously hid. This will make all channels visible again in the original order.

7. Does Hiding Channels Reduce the Amount of Data YouTube TV Uses?

No, hiding channels does not affect the amount of data that YouTube TV uses. Data usage is primarily determined by the video quality you select and the amount of content you stream.

8. Will New Channels Automatically Appear in My Live Guide Even if I Have Hidden Others?

Yes, new channels added to YouTube TV will automatically appear in your Live Guide, even if you have previously hidden other channels. You will need to manually hide the new channel if you don’t want it to be visible.

9. Can I Hide Channels Within the YouTube TV App on My Smart TV?

Yes, you can hide channels within the YouTube TV app on most smart TVs and streaming devices. The process is generally the same as described earlier, although the exact menu layout might vary slightly depending on the device.

10. Are There Any Third-Party Apps or Extensions That Allow Me to Reorder Channels on YouTube TV?

While there might be browser extensions or unofficial apps claiming to offer channel reordering, it is generally recommended to avoid using unofficial third-party tools with your YouTube TV account. These tools may pose security risks or violate YouTube TV’s terms of service. Stick to the official methods provided within the YouTube TV app and website.

11. How Often Does YouTube TV Update Its Channel Lineup?

The frequency of channel lineup updates varies. YouTube TV occasionally adds or removes channels based on negotiations with content providers. Keep an eye on official announcements from YouTube TV for information about channel changes.

12. Will YouTube TV Ever Implement a True Channel Reordering Feature?

While there’s no guarantee, many YouTube TV users have requested a true channel reordering feature, and Google is known to listen to user feedback. It’s possible that this feature may be implemented in a future update, but there is no official timeline. Stay updated on the latest YouTube TV news and announcements for any potential changes.