How YouTube TV DVR Works
YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage with every subscription. There’s no cap on how many shows you can record, and recordings are stored for 9 months. You don’t need to schedule recordings around storage limits or delete old shows to make room for new ones.
Recording on YouTube TV works differently than a traditional DVR. Instead of recording specific time slots, you add shows, movies, sports teams, or events to your library. YouTube TV then automatically records every airing of that content, including reruns, new episodes, and live broadcasts.
Record a Show or Movie
- Find the show or movie you want to record. Use search, browse the live guide, or look through the Home tab.
- Click or tap on the title to open its details page.
- Click the “+” button (Add to Library). It changes to a checkmark.
- YouTube TV records every future airing of that show automatically.
That’s it. One click and the show is recorded going forward. For series, YouTube TV records every new episode and every rerun on all channels that carry the show. For movies, it records the next time the movie airs on any channel in your lineup.
Record Live TV
- Open the Live tab to see what’s currently airing.
- Click or tap on the program you want to record.
- Click the “+” button to add it to your library.
- YouTube TV starts recording immediately from the current point and adds future airings to your library.
If you start recording a live show that’s already in progress, YouTube TV captures from when you added it, not from the beginning. To get the full recording, add the show to your library before it starts. If the same show airs again later, YouTube TV records the complete version automatically.
Record Sports
YouTube TV handles sports differently than regular shows. Instead of adding individual games, you add your favorite teams or leagues.
- Search for your team (like “Lakers” or “Manchester United”) or league (like “NFL” or “Premier League”).
- Tap the team or league in the search results.
- Click the “+” button to add it to your library.
- YouTube TV records every game involving that team, including pre-game and post-game coverage when available.
Adding an entire league records every game across all teams. Adding a specific team records only their games. For major events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, or Olympics, search for the event name and add it – YouTube TV records all related coverage.
Find and Watch Your Recordings
- Go to the Library tab (the folder icon).
- Your recorded shows, movies, sports, and events appear organized by category.
- Click a show to see all recorded episodes.
- New (unwatched) recordings have a blue dot next to them.
Recordings are available as soon as the broadcast ends. For shows that aired while you were away, they’re waiting in your library when you get back. You can watch recordings on any device – phone, tablet, computer, smart TV, or streaming device.
Record Settings and Options
Record new episodes only: By default, YouTube TV records all airings (new episodes and reruns). You can’t change this behavior globally, but since storage is unlimited, reruns don’t cause any practical issues. The Library tab distinguishes new episodes from reruns.
Series vs. single recording: Adding a series records everything going forward. There’s no option to record just one episode. If you only want a specific episode, add the show, wait for that episode to record, then remove the show from your library. Past recordings stay available for 9 months even after you remove a show.
Recording quality: YouTube TV records at the same quality as the live broadcast, typically 720p or 1080p depending on the network. 4K recordings are available for 4K Plus add-on subscribers on channels that broadcast in 4K.
DVR Playback Features
Skip commercials: Most DVR recordings let you fast-forward through commercials freely. Some recordings from certain networks (particularly recent on-demand content that replaces the DVR version) may have unskippable ads. If you see “Recorded” next to the episode, you can skip ads. If it says “Released” or shows an on-demand label, ads may be locked.
Start from beginning: If you tune into a live show that you’ve added to your library, you can rewind to the beginning of the recording even while it’s still airing live.
Pause and rewind live TV: Any channel you’re watching live can be paused and rewound, whether it’s in your library or not. You get a rolling buffer of the current program.
Manage Your Library
To remove a show from your library, open the show’s details page and click the checkmark (which was the “+” button when you added it). The checkmark reverts to a “+” sign, and YouTube TV stops recording new airings. Existing recordings of that show remain available for 9 months from the original air date.
Your library can hold unlimited shows, but it can get cluttered. There’s no folder system or tagging, so the main way to keep things organized is to remove shows you no longer watch.
DVR Comparison With Other Services
| Service | DVR Storage | Recording Duration | Skip Ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | Unlimited | 9 months | Yes (most recordings) |
| Hulu + Live TV | Unlimited | 9 months | Yes |
| Sling TV | 50 hours (200 with Plus) | Indefinite | Yes |
| FuboTV | 1,000 hours | 9 months | Yes |
| DirecTV Stream | Unlimited | 9 months | Yes |
Can I download YouTube TV recordings to watch offline?
No. YouTube TV recordings are cloud-based only. You can’t download them to your device for offline viewing. You need an internet connection to watch any recording. This applies to all content, including your DVR recordings and on-demand shows.
Do recordings count against my data cap?
Recording doesn’t use your internet data because YouTube TV records on their servers, not your device. Watching the recording uses data, just like streaming any video. A typical hour of 1080p streaming uses about 3 to 5 GB of data.
Why does my recording have ads I can’t skip?
Some networks replace DVR recordings with their on-demand versions after a few days. The on-demand version may include unskippable ads. If you watch the recording within the first day or two of airing, you usually get the DVR version with skippable ads. This behavior varies by network and isn’t something YouTube TV controls.
Sources
Google – YouTube TV DVR | Google – YouTube TV Features
