How to Record on YouTube TV: Your Ultimate Guide

So, you’re looking to record your favorite shows on YouTube TV? Fantastic! Unlike the archaic VCR days, it’s not about fiddling with tapes and timers. With YouTube TV, “taping” is entirely digital, using a cloud DVR with some pretty impressive features. Here’s the skinny: YouTube TV allows you to record unlimited content for up to 9 months. To “tape” a program, simply add it to your Library. YouTube TV automatically records all airings of that program, including new episodes, reruns, and even sporting events. Let’s dive deeper!

Adding Programs to Your YouTube TV Library: The Key to “Taping”

Think of your YouTube TV Library as your personal, unlimited cloud DVR. This is where all your “taped” content lives. Adding shows, movies, and sports teams to your library is the key to recording on YouTube TV.

How to Add a TV Show or Movie:

1. Navigate: Open the YouTube TV app on your device (phone, tablet, smart TV, or computer) or visit the YouTube TV website.
2. Search or Browse: Use the search bar to find the specific show or movie you want to record. Alternatively, browse through the “Live,” “Home,” or “Library” tabs to discover new content.
3. Select: Click or tap on the show or movie’s title or thumbnail.
4. Add to Library: On the show or movie’s details page, you’ll see a plus (+) icon next to the title. Click or tap this icon to add the show or movie to your Library. That’s it! You’ve effectively “taped” it.

How to Add a Sports Team:

1. Search or Browse: Similar to adding shows, use the search bar to find your favorite sports team. You can also browse the “Sports” section under the “Live” tab.
2. Select: Click or tap on the team’s name.
3. Add to Library: You’ll see an “Add to Library” option (often with a “+” icon). Click or tap it. Now, all games featuring that team will be automatically recorded.

Understanding Recording Behavior

Once a show, movie, or sports team is in your Library, YouTube TV automatically records future airings. It’s important to understand how this works:

• New Episodes: New episodes of TV shows are automatically recorded.
• Reruns: YouTube TV usually records reruns as well. If you only want new episodes, you’ll need to delve into the settings (covered in the FAQs).
• Live Events: Live events like sports games are also automatically recorded, so you can catch them even if you miss them live.
• Automatic Deletion: Recordings are automatically deleted after 9 months to make space for new content. Don’t worry, you’ll get a warning before they disappear.

Managing Your Recordings: Playback and Organization

Your YouTube TV Library isn’t just a place to store recordings; it’s also where you manage and play them back.

Playing Back Your Recordings:

1. Navigate to Your Library: Open the YouTube TV app or website and go to the “Library” tab.
2. Browse Your Content: Your Library is organized by Shows, Movies, and Sports. You can also see a list of “New in your Library” items.
3. Select Your Recording: Click or tap on the show, movie, or game you want to watch.
4. Choose an Episode or Game: If you selected a show with multiple episodes, you’ll see a list of available episodes. Select the one you want to watch.
5. Enjoy! The recording will start playing. You can pause, rewind, fast forward, and adjust the playback speed as needed.

Organizing Your Library:

While YouTube TV automatically organizes your content, you can further manage it by:

• Removing Shows or Movies: If you no longer want to record a particular show or movie, simply go to its details page and click or tap the checkmark icon (which replaces the plus icon when something is in your Library). This will remove it from your Library and stop future recordings.
• Creating Watchlists: While not a direct organization feature, you can create watchlists on regular YouTube and then access them through YouTube TV. This helps curate content across platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Recording on YouTube TV

Here are some frequently asked questions about “taping” on YouTube TV, designed to address common concerns and provide helpful tips.

1. How much can I record on YouTube TV?

Unlimited! That’s right, YouTube TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage. You can record as many shows, movies, and sports events as you want, without worrying about running out of space. However, individual recordings are automatically deleted after 9 months.

2. How long do recordings last on YouTube TV?

Recordings are automatically deleted after 9 months. YouTube TV does this to manage storage and ensure the service remains efficient. You’ll receive a notification before recordings are deleted.

3. Can I download recordings to watch offline?

Unfortunately, no. YouTube TV does not allow you to download recordings for offline viewing. You need an internet connection to stream content from your Library.

4. Can I record content while traveling?

It depends. Your local channel lineup changes based on your location. You can usually record content from your home location, but you might not be able to record local channels from the area you’re traveling in. Restrictions also apply for some sports programming.

5. Can I skip commercials on recorded shows?

Yes! One of the biggest advantages of YouTube TV’s cloud DVR is the ability to fast forward through commercials in most recorded shows. However, this functionality may be limited or unavailable on certain live events and on-demand content.

6. How do I stop recording a show on YouTube TV?

Simply remove the show from your Library. Go to the show’s details page and click or tap the checkmark icon (the one that replaced the plus icon). This will stop future recordings of that show.

7. Can I watch recordings on multiple devices?

Absolutely! You can watch your recorded content on any device where you can access YouTube TV, including smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices.

8. What happens if a show gets removed from YouTube TV?

If a show is removed from YouTube TV, you will no longer be able to record new episodes, and existing recordings may become unavailable, depending on the terms of the content license.

9. How can I record only new episodes of a TV show?

YouTube TV doesn’t have a dedicated “new episodes only” setting, but there’s a workaround. Add the show to your Library and then manually delete older episodes from your library after watching them. This will ensure that only new, unwatched episodes remain in your Library.

10. Can I record live events that have already started?

Yes, you can typically add a live event to your Library even after it has started, and YouTube TV will record the rest of the event from that point onward. However, you won’t be able to record the portion of the event that occurred before you added it to your Library.

11. Does YouTube TV offer parental controls for recordings?

Yes! YouTube TV offers parental controls, including content filtering and the ability to create separate profiles for family members. These controls can be used to restrict access to certain content in the Library.

12. How can I find the recordings that are about to expire?

YouTube TV will usually display a notification when recordings are nearing their expiration date (9 months). You can also manually browse your Library to see the age of your recordings and identify those that are close to being deleted. While there’s no specific “expiring soon” filter, paying attention to the “Recorded Date” on each item helps.

By understanding how the YouTube TV Library works and taking advantage of its features, you can effortlessly record and enjoy your favorite TV shows, movies, and sports events. Happy watching!