How to Record on Sling TV | DVR Setup & Storage Limits

Recording on Sling TV requires a manual tap of the Record button, with 50 hours of free DVR storage included and an unlimited upgrade available for $5 per month.

You settle in to catch a game only to realize you need to step out in ten minutes. The answer isn’t complicated — Sling TV offers a functional cloud DVR, but the process is entirely manual, and the storage limits catch plenty of subscribers off guard. Here is exactly how the recording system works, how to use it, and where the deal-breakers hide.

The DVR You Actually Get With Sling

Sling’s cloud DVR is not an automatic time-shifter. You must tell it to record, and what you can record depends on the channel and your plan. Every Sling subscription — Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or the combined Orange & Blue — includes 50 hours of cloud storage at no extra cost. That is the base tier.

If you want more, the paid upgrade is called DVR Plus (also labeled Unlimited DVR). It costs $5 per month and removes the storage cap entirely. Per Sling’s official help page, the $5 upgrade provides unlimited hours, not a fixed higher number. Your recordings live in the cloud, accessible from any compatible device in the United States.

How To Record a Show on Sling TV

You record a show using the Guide or by pressing the Record icon while watching. There is no prerecorded buffer — if a show already started, the recording begins from the moment you tap, not the beginning of the program.

1. Open the Sling TV app and navigate to the Guide.
2. Browse or search for the show you want to record and select it.
3. Tap the Record icon on the show’s info panel.
4. Choose one of the recording options: Record all episodes (saves every airing, including reruns, without saving duplicates) or Record new episodes (only saves newly released episodes, skipping reruns).
5. A confirmation pop-up appears, and the show is scheduled for recording.

To record while watching a live channel, press down on your remote (or swipe down on a touchscreen), select the Record icon, and choose your episode preference.

DVR Support: The Full Table

The table below lays out the two tiers, their costs, limits, and key caveats about channel compatibility.

How To Upgrade to Unlimited DVR

You can upgrade to DVR Plus from your account settings on the web or inside the app. The change takes effect immediately.

• Online: Log in at sling.com/my-account. Go to Add-ons, then Manage, scroll to the DVR section, select Upgrade on the Unlimited DVR card, and confirm.
• In-app: Open the app, go to the DVR tab, tap the Upgrade banner, select Add, and toggle on Replays.

Accessing and Managing Your Recordings

All your saved content lives under the DVR tab on the home screen, typically on the left-side menu. Selecting Recordings shows everything you have saved. From here you can:

• Modify recording options: Change between new episodes only and all episodes at any time.
• Delete: Remove a single episode or an entire series recording.
• Lock: Prevent a recording from being automatically deleted when you run out of free storage space.

A storage progress bar at the top of the DVR screen shows how much of your 50-hour limit you have used. If you hit that limit, the system may delete older unlocked recordings to make room for new ones.

What You Need: Devices and Connection

Sling’s cloud DVR works on most major streaming platforms but is limited to the United States. You need an internet connection that can handle live video: a minimum of 3 Mbps is recommended, with 25 Mbps preferred for smooth 4K and multi-stream use.

Supported devices include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV (4th generation and later), Chromecast with Google TV, Android TV, iOS and Android mobile devices, and any modern web browser on a PC or Mac. PlayStation 4 and 5 are not supported. For smart TVs, check Sling’s official supported device list at sling.com/supported-devices for specific models.

OTA Recording: A Separate System

If you receive local channels through an antenna, Sling cannot record them through its cloud DVR. You need an AirTV 2 device paired with an external USB hard drive (USB 2.0 or 3.0). The AirTV 2 handles the recording locally, so the same 50-hour cloud limit does not apply to these recordings. This setup is separate and requires additional hardware.

Common DVR Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming it records automatically: Sling’s DVR is manual. If you do not press Record, the show is not saved.
• Attempting to record ESPN on Sling Orange: These channels are blocked from DVR entirely. If that matters, you may need to watch live or consider a different plan.
• Confusing “Record new episodes” with “Record all”: “New episodes” skips reruns. That is helpful if you only want first airings, but you will miss previous seasons.
• Hitting the 50-hour cap: If you run out of space, the system deletes the oldest unlocked recording first. Lock important recordings to save them.

DVR Limits and Honest Trade-offs: Table Two

This second table covers the broader picture: what works and what does not across devices and channel packages.

Record on Sling TV: The Step Sequence

Here is the short version you can follow next time you open the app:

1. Go to the Guide and find your show.
2. Select it and tap the Record icon.
3. Choose Record all or Record new episodes only.
4. Check the DVR tab later to confirm the recording saved.

If you need more than 50 hours, upgrade to DVR Plus for $5 per month. And if you want to record ESPN or live OTA channels, you will need either a plan change, an AirTV 2 device, or a willingness to watch live.