YouTube TV Users Face ‘Restricted’ Recording Playback Issue
On December 8, 2025, numerous YouTube TV subscribers began encountering a significant issue: their recorded content became inaccessible across various platforms, including mobile devices, smart TVs, and the YouTube TV website. Users attempting to play back their recordings were met with messages indicating that the content provider had restricted access to the material.
This problem has affected a substantial number of users, though not the entire subscriber base. In response, Google acknowledged the issue on its support forums, stating:
> Hi YouTube TV Users,
> We know some of you are running into issues accessing your recorded programs and our teams are working on it!
> If you’re experiencing this, you might see a “Restricted recording” or “go back” message when trying to start a recorded show.
> We’ll provide updates here as soon as we have them. Thanks so much for your patience!
This isn’t the first time YouTube TV users have faced challenges with recorded content. In January 2025, Roku users reported that fast-forwarding through DVR recordings caused playback to freeze, necessitating a full app restart to resume viewing. Additionally, in April 2025, the YouTube TV app mysteriously disappeared from many Roku devices, requiring users to check for Roku OS updates to restore functionality.
These recurring issues highlight the complexities of maintaining a seamless streaming experience across diverse platforms and devices. As YouTube TV continues to expand its offerings and user base, addressing such technical glitches promptly remains crucial to maintaining subscriber satisfaction.
For users currently affected by the restricted recording playback issue, staying updated through official YouTube TV support channels is recommended. Google has committed to providing timely updates as they work towards a resolution.
