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YouTube TV Introduction and Features

#youtube tv#streaming
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Last updated on February 24, 2026

Introduction

Welcome to YouTube TV! As a Marshmallow Streaming customer using an Apple TV, you are getting one of the best live TV experiences available. This guide will walk you through the basics of navigating the app, customizing your channel guide, and mastering the Apple TV remote controls so you can watch TV exactly how you want to.

UI Overview - Home, Library, Live and Search

When you open the YouTube TV app, your main navigation menu sits at the very top of the screen. You can use your Apple TV remote to swipe up and select between these main areas:

  • Home: This is your personalized dashboard. It shows what you were recently watching, recommends live shows based on your habits, and highlights top picks.
  • Library: This is your unlimited cloud DVR. Everything you record lives here, neatly organized by Shows, Movies, Sports, and Events.
  • Live: This is your traditional, familiar TV channel grid guide. It shows what is playing right now and what is coming up next.
  • Search: Represented by a magnifying glass, this allows you to find specific shows, networks, or sports teams.

Recording

YouTube TV features an unlimited cloud DVR, meaning you never have to worry about running out of storage space. To record a show, movie, or sports team, simply select it and click the + (Plus) icon to add it to your Library. YouTube TV will automatically record all future airings and episodes. To stop recording, click the icon again to remove the checkmark.

Fast Forward / Rewind

Skipping through commercials or re-watching a play is incredibly easy with your Apple TV Siri Remote.

  • To skip: Click the Right edge of the circular clickpad ring to jump forward 15 seconds. Click the Left edge to jump back 15 seconds. You can click multiple times in a row to skip further.
  • To scrub: Press the center clickpad to Pause the video, then simply swipe your thumb left or right across the touch-sensitive pad to glide quickly through the timeline. Click the center again to resume playing.

Previous Channel

If you are watching two sporting events or want to quickly flip back to your last channel during a commercial break, YouTube TV has a hidden shortcut! While watching live TV, press and hold the center of the remote's clickpad for about 3 seconds. The app will instantly snap back to the previous channel you were watching. Hold it again to snap right back.

Quick Playback

If you want to see a few of your recently viewed channels without going all the way back to the main Live guide, you can use the quick playback menu.

  1. While watching a show, click the Down directional button on your remote's ring. This brings up the playback timeline.
  2. Click Down a second time to highlight the "Networks" row.
  3. Swipe left or right to see a live thumbnail preview of the last four channels you were watching, and click the center pad to switch to one.

Customize Channel Order

You can completely reorganize your Live channel guide, but you cannot do this directly on the Apple TV. You will need to use a phone, tablet, or computer.

  1. Open a web browser and log into tv.youtube.com (or use the YouTube TV smartphone app).
  2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner.
  3. Navigate to Settings > Live guide.
  4. Here, you can sort your guide alphabetically or by most watched. To create a Custom guide, uncheck channels you don't want to see, and use the drag-and-drop handles to move your favorite networks to the very top.
  5. The next time you open YouTube TV on your Apple TV, your custom guide will automatically sync.

Search

To find something to watch, you can navigate up to the magnifying glass icon in the top menu. However, the fastest way to search is using voice control. Press and hold the Siri/Microphone button on the side of your Apple TV remote and simply say what you are looking for (e.g., "Find college football games" or "Search for The Office").

Adding Profiles

If multiple people in your home use the Apple TV, you should set up individual profiles so everyone keeps their own separate DVR library and watch history.

  1. Open the YouTube TV app and navigate up to your profile picture in the top right corner.
  2. Select your profile, then click Switch account > Add account.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to log in with a new Google account. Whenever you open the app, it will ask "Who's watching?" so you can pick the right profile.

Family Sharing Plan

Your YouTube TV membership allows you to share your subscription with up to 5 other people (6 total) in your household at no extra cost.

  1. Go to tv.youtube.com on a web browser or phone (you cannot do this on the TV).
  2. Click your profile picture and navigate to Settings > Family sharing > Set up.
  3. Enter the email addresses of your family members to send them an invite. Once they accept, they can log into the Apple TV using their own email and password!