YouTube TV has many selling points, including a wide range of channels and a competitive price, but its unlimited digital video recorder (DVR) feature elevates it above most other live TV streaming services.
This feature allows you to record any program you want, including shows, movies, live sports, and other events, and then view the recordings on any device. If you’re ready to get started with your YouTube DVR, here’s how to record on YouTube TV, the benefits and features, and a handful of limitations as well.
How does YouTube TV DVR work?
If you can’t find the DVR on the YouTube TV interface, don’t worry. You won’t actually find anything called a DVR regardless of whether you’re using the website or an app, because YouTube TV doesn’t call its DVR feature a DVR. You have a library in place, and you essentially record a show with your DVR choosing to add that show to your library.
When you add a show to your library, the DVR feature will automatically record it when it airs. If you choose a TV show, it will automatically record that show every time it airs, including both first airings and reruns. Shows recorded in this way are accessed by browsing the My Library section of the YouTube TV app or website.
When YouTube TV first launched, the service forced you to watch the on-demand version of any show or movie you tried to record instead of your recorded version. This prevented ads from fast-forwarding in those cases. This practice is over, and now you can fast-forward through all the content on your DVR.
YouTube TV DVR Features
Although it’s not called DVR, YouTube TV has one of the most extensive DVR feature sets you’ll ever see. There are very few limitations and a ton of benefits. Here are some of the key features of YouTube TV DVR:
- Live to record: You can watch any program live even if you have added it to your library. You can also press pause at any time while watching a show live to automatically add it to your library and start recording.
- Fast-forward live TV: If you’re watching a live show and pause it, you can fast-forward during commercials to catch up.
- Record while watching another program: You can watch one program live while recording another to watch later.
- Limitations on Simultaneous Recordings: There are no limitations on the number of shows you can record at one time or the total number of shows you can record. Add as many programs to your library as you like.
- DVR storage limits: Unlike many live TV streaming services, YouTube TV has no DVR storage limits. You can add as many shows as you want to your library without worrying about storage space or a limited number of recording hours.
- Cloud DVR: Your recorded shows are stored in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere.
How to record shows with YouTube DVR
To record shows with your YouTube DVR, you have to add them to your library. The following instructions show how to do this using the YouTube website, but the process is basically the same as using the YouTube app:
- Navigate to tv. YouTube.Com, or open the YouTube app on your phone or streaming device.
- Click or tap the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the screen. How to record shows with YouTube DVR
- Type the name of the program you’re looking for into the search box at the top of the screen, or use the discovery tools on this page to find something that interests you.
- If you’ve found a show you’re interested in on the previous page, click or tap on it. If you’ve done a search, click or tap the program you’re looking for in the search results.
- Click or tap the + icon on the program details page. On the mobile app, you can also tap the bell icon to get notified every time the show airs if you want to watch it live. This icon is not available on the website or streaming device apps.
- The + icon will change to a checkmark, indicating that the program has been added to your DVR.
How to record live video on Youtube
Do you want to try running your own live TV? On Youtube, you can not only view recordings but actually broadcast videos live.
There is a fairly unknown feature on Youtube which means that the service has been supporting streaming for some time. In the past, it was only possible to upload recorded videos on Youtube, but nowadays it is possible to engage your viewers even more with live broadcast “TV”.
However, this feature is disabled by default. If you want to use it, it must be activated, which entails certain requirements: Your account must be verified and it must be in a good position, as it is called in Youtube language, which means that you have not abused it.
You can check the current status of your account on the Settings page. If you have not previously verified your account, you will be prompted to do so when enabling the live streaming feature.
You also need a fast and stable internet connection to be able to play high-quality video. So far, you can only stream from your computer, but support for iOS and Android is promised in the future.
We show you how to activate the function. Then you get to experiment with the actual broadcast.
1. Open
Log in to your Youtube account. Click on your account image at the top right and then on the gear icon, which leads to the settings. Then click Show more features.
2. Check
At the top, you can now see the status of your account and can check if your position is good. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll find Live Streaming. Click Activate.
3. Verify
If your account has not already been verified, you must do so now. The easiest way is to go via text message. Enter your mobile number and click Send. You will receive an SMS with a verification code.
4. Start
Enter your code and click Submit. Your account is now verified and it’s just running. The easiest way is to select Studio under your account image, click on Live Streaming on the left, and then on Stream now BETA.
How to watch shows with YouTube TV DVR
Once you’ve added a show to your DVR, you can watch it anytime by browsing the Library section of the YouTube TV app or website. Your shows are saved for nine months, and they’re stored in the cloud, so you’ll be able to watch them on any device within that time.
Here’s what shows look like with YouTube TV DVR :
- Navigate to tv. YouTube.Com, or open the YouTube app on your phone or streaming device.
- Click or tap LIBRARY.
- Click or tap the show you want to watch.
- Tap the episode you want to watch if it’s visible in the default tab or tap Episodes.
- Locate the episode you want to watch, and select it.
- If an episode has been recorded more than once, or there are video-on-demand (VOD) versions, you’ll be presented with a list of options. Click the play button next to the version you want to watch.
- Then the recorded program will be played.
How to delete DVR recordings from YouTube TV
Actually, YouTube TV DVR does not give you the option to delete the recordings. However, there’s no limit to the number of shows you can record, so there’s no reason to delete anything. Nine months after recording a show, it will automatically be removed from the system, so make sure to watch your recordings before that happens.
How to remove shows from your YouTube TV library
While you can’t delete YouTube TV DVR recordings, you can delete shows from your library. This can help reduce clutter, so you may want to remove things you’ve already seen and things you no longer care about from time to time.
Here’s how to remove a show from your YouTube TV library:
- Locate a show you want to remove from your library.
- Click the checkmark icon.
- The checkmark will turn into a + icon, and the program will be removed from your library.
- If you want to re-record the show in the future, just go back and click or tap the + icon again.