How to Delete Recordings on YouTube TV: The Complete 2025 Guide to Clearing Your DVR

If you’re wondering how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, you’re not alone. Many subscribers love YouTube TV’s unlimited DVR feature but get frustrated when they can’t easily manage their recordings. Luckily, learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV is straightforward once you know the correct method. All it takes is a few clicks to remove shows and stop unwanted recordings from piling up in your library.

If you’re facing general streaming issues while trying to manage your DVR, check out the latest guide on why YouTube TV is not working or learn more about current YouTube TV outages.

YouTube TV automatically records all episodes of a show when you add it to your library. However, there’s no way to delete single episodes. Instead, knowing how to delete recordings on YouTube TV helps you remove entire shows, events, or sports teams from your account. This guide will walk you through the entire process step by step.

By the end of this article, you’ll know:

• How to delete recordings on YouTube TV quickly and easily
  
  
• How to remove YouTube TV recordings for better organization
  
  
• How to clear DVR on YouTube TV to streamline your library
  
  
• How to stop recording shows on YouTube TV when you no longer need them
  
  

Let’s get started and declutter your streaming experience.

If you’re facing consistent playback issues, learning why is YouTube TV buffering can help you troubleshoot slow streaming.

Can You Delete Recordings on YouTube TV?

One of the most common questions new users ask is, “Can I delete recordings on YouTube TV?” The short answer is yes—but not in the traditional way you might expect. Understanding how to delete recordings on YouTube TV requires knowing how YouTube TV’s cloud DVR works.

When you add a show, movie, or sports team to your library, YouTube TV records every upcoming episode automatically. This is convenient for binge-watchers but can quickly fill your library with shows you no longer watch.

If you’re managing different YouTube TV membership plans or considering whether YouTube Premium is included with YouTube TV, keeping your DVR clean is part of maximizing your subscription.

Unfortunately, you cannot remove individual episodes from your YouTube TV library. The platform does not offer an option to delete just one episode. Instead, when you learn how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, you’ll be removing the entire series from your library.

When you remove YouTube TV recordings, here’s what happens:

• All previously recorded episodes of that show or event are deleted from your library.
  
  
• Future episodes will not be recorded unless you re-add the show to your library.
  
  
• You will effectively stop recording the show on YouTube TV, which helps prevent unwanted clutter.
  
  

This system may seem unusual, but once you know how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, managing your account becomes much easier.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Delete Recordings on YouTube TV

Learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV is easier than you might think. Follow these simple steps to remove shows and stop future recordings from cluttering your DVR.

Step 1: Open the YouTube TV App

Start by opening the YouTube TV app on your preferred device. You can do this on:

• Your Smart TV
  
  
• Your mobile device (Android or iPhone)
  
  
• A web browser on your computer
  
  

Step 2: Go to Your Library

Next, click on the Library tab. This is where all your recorded shows, movies, and live events are stored. If you want to know how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, this is the section you’ll visit most often.

Step 3: Find the Show or Program You Want to Remove

Scroll through your library and locate the specific show, sports team, movie, or event that you no longer want to record. Learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV starts with finding the correct program.

Step 4: Tap the Three Dots (⋮) Next to the Title

Click the three-dot menu located next to the title of the show or program. This menu gives you access to additional options, including how to manage recordings.

Step 5: Select “Added to Library” to Remove the Show

Click on “Added to Library.” This will remove the checkmark and delete the recordings on YouTube TV for that program. It will also stop recording the show on YouTube TV in the future.

Remember, when you use how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, it removes all past and future recordings of that program from your account. You can always re-add the show later if you change your mind.

Important Things to Know Before Deleting Recordings

Before you start learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, there are some key points to keep in mind:

• You cannot delete individual episodes. When you remove YouTube TV recordings, you delete the entire series, event, or team.
  
  
• Once deleted, recordings cannot be recovered. Make sure you really want to clear the program before proceeding.
  
  
• Deleting recordings will not free up physical storage. YouTube TV uses cloud DVR, so space is not an issue, but learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV can help you stay organized.
  
  
• Mark shows as “Watched” if you want to track your progress but don’t want to remove the series completely.
  
  
• Stopping a recording means no new episodes will be saved. This is important if you only want to pause recordings temporarily.
  
  

Understanding these facts will help you use how to delete recordings on YouTube TV more effectively.

How to Save YouTube TV Recordings Permanently

While learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV is important, some users also want to save their favorite shows permanently. YouTube TV automatically deletes all recordings after nine months due to storage policies. Unfortunately, there is no built-in way to download content directly from YouTube TV.

If you want to keep shows beyond nine months, consider using screen recording tools. This is a legal gray area, so always use recordings only for personal use.

Popular screen recording tools include:

• Wondershare DemoCreator – Offers HD recording and simple editing options.
  
  
• EaseUS RecExperts – Allows scheduled recording and direct file saving to your device.
  
  

These tools can capture anything you watch on YouTube TV, but make sure you don’t share or distribute recordings, as this could violate copyright laws.

Pro Tips for Managing Your YouTube TV DVR

Knowing how to delete recordings on YouTube TV is just one part of managing your account. Here are some expert tips to get the most out of your YouTube TV experience:

• Create custom channel lists to remove channels you never watch.
  
  
• Use multiple user profiles so each family member has their own DVR and recommendations.
  
  
• Adjust playback quality and captions for a smoother streaming experience.
  
  
• Turn on parental controls to restrict content for younger viewers.
  
  
• Explore add-ons and premium content like HBO Max, Showtime, and YouTube Originals.
  
  
• Set up notifications so you’re alerted when your favorite shows are about to start.
  
  
• Regularly review your library to remove shows you no longer need, keeping things organized.
  
  
• Learn how to stop recording shows on YouTube TV early to prevent unnecessary clutter.
  
  

These tips combined with how to delete recordings on YouTube TV will help you maintain a clean and user-friendly library.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to delete recordings on YouTube TV is essential for managing your digital library. Whether you’re trying to remove YouTube TV recordings, clear DVR on YouTube TV, or simply stop recording a show on YouTube TV, the process is easy once you understand how the system works.

Take control of your streaming experience today by organizing your library regularly. Use these tips and steps to keep your YouTube TV account clean, efficient, and tailored to your preferences.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I delete recordings on YouTube TV?

To learn how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, go to your library, find the show you want to remove, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Added to Library” to toggle it off. This will delete all recordings of that show and stop future recordings automatically.

Q2. Can I remove individual episodes from YouTube TV?

No. You cannot delete individual episodes from YouTube TV. If you’re wondering how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, you’ll need to remove the entire series, movie, or sports team from your library.

Q3. Where is the delete option in the YouTube TV library?

The “delete” option in the YouTube TV library is found by tapping the three-dot menu next to the show and selecting “Added to Library” to remove the checkmark. This is how to delete recordings on YouTube TV.

Q4. How do I stop recording a show on YouTube TV but keep the recordings I already have?

Currently, there is no option to keep past recordings while stopping future recordings. When you use how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, it deletes both past and future recordings.

Q5. Why does YouTube TV delete recordings after 9 months?

YouTube TV stores recordings for up to nine months due to licensing agreements. Even if you don’t delete them, they will eventually expire. That’s why knowing how to delete recordings on YouTube TV can help you manage your library more proactively.

Q6. Will deleting a show from my library free up space on my device?

No. YouTube TV uses cloud DVR, so recordings don’t take up space on your device. However, knowing how to delete recordings on YouTube TV helps keep your library neat and easier to navigate.

Q7. Can I save recordings from YouTube TV to my computer?

There is no official download option. Some users use screen recording software like Wondershare DemoCreator or EaseUS RecExperts to save content for personal use. However, always follow copyright laws when doing so.

Q8. What happens if I accidentally delete a show from my library?

If you accidentally delete a show while learning how to delete recordings on YouTube TV, all past recordings will be removed, and future recordings will stop. Unfortunately, there is no way to recover deleted content unless you record the show again in the future.