# Watch from beginning while recording

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129>\
**Category:** Feature Suggestions\
**Tags:** livetv-dvr\
**Created:** [September 28, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129 "2017-09-28T17:20:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![thomasthechan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/thomasthechan/32/90771_2.png) [@thomasthechan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasthechan)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/1 "2017-09-28T17:20:42Z")

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The specific use case where this would be beneficial is live sports. I start recording a game and want to watch while 30-60 minutes into the recording. Currently, I can watch what is live - but to be able to watch from beginning would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Bob\_H\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@Bob\_H\_1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Bob_H_1)\
**Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/2 "2017-10-11T16:20:13Z")

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YES … please provide ability to watch a recording, while it is in process. When tuning a program that is process of recording a prompt such as “Do you want to play from beginning” should be presented to the user so that it doesn’t launch to the live stream thus defeating my enjoyment of watching a sports event from the very beginning (not knowing the score).

Also include some way for the EPG to update (by itself) so that if a sports event runs over scheduled time, that the recording length will be adjusted.

That way PLEX will have a full featured DVR function vs. the incomplete offering that now exists.

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**Author:** ![jamusic42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@jamusic42](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jamusic42)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/3 "2017-10-16T13:53:12Z")

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This is really a must have feature that I have used on free products. There really isnt any excuse not to have this capability.

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**Author:** ![labashosky2010](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/labashosky2010/32/91534_2.png) [@labashosky2010](https://forums.plex.tv/u/labashosky2010)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/4 "2017-10-19T21:10:19Z")

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I’m befuddled that this option isn’t available.

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**Author:** ![DavidK2213](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/davidk2213/32/100402_2.png) [@DavidK2213](https://forums.plex.tv/u/DavidK2213)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/5 "2017-10-21T00:13:24Z")

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Also looking for this option. Trying to move off mythtv and not having this feature is holding me back.

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**Author:** ![gtrogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@gtrogue](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gtrogue)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/6 "2017-10-26T03:58:50Z")

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TiVo had this feature 18 years ago. It is a fundamental feature for any DVR.

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**Author:** ![thomasthechan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/thomasthechan/32/90771_2.png) [@thomasthechan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/thomasthechan)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/7 "2017-10-26T16:31:39Z")

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Hear Hear!

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**Author:** ![LakeManDan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@LakeManDan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/LakeManDan)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/8 "2017-10-30T03:07:46Z")

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Please Plex add this feature!!!

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**Author:** ![jfgilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58956e/32.png) [@jfgilliam](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jfgilliam)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/9 "2017-10-31T19:40:43Z")

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Not sure how to vote, +1

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**Author:** ![geoland1st](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/geoland1st/32/18395_2.png) [@geoland1st](https://forums.plex.tv/u/geoland1st)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/10 "2017-11-09T21:13:30Z")

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To vote, hit the like button of the original post.

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**Author:** ![AmazingRando24](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/amazingrando24/32/351517_2.png) [@AmazingRando24](https://forums.plex.tv/u/AmazingRando24)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/11 "2017-11-09T21:16:44Z")

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This post is in the feature requests section. To vote for it, simply “like” the original post. 😄

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**Author:** ![kinoCharlino](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kinocharlino/32/4861_2.png) [@kinoCharlino](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kinoCharlino)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/12 "2017-11-09T21:29:40Z")

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This functionality is coming as part of “full time shifting.” 🙂

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**Author:** ![Billionaire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@Billionaire](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Billionaire)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/13 "2017-11-18T06:23:23Z")

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> @kinoCharlino said:  
> This functionality is coming as part of “full time shifting.” 🙂

Awesome, cannot wait! It’s a much needed feature. Is there a “coming soon” section of features that we can expect to see in the near future?

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**Author:** ![kinoCharlino](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kinocharlino/32/4861_2.png) [@kinoCharlino](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kinoCharlino)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/14 "2017-11-20T18:20:53Z")

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> @TheBillionaire said:
> 
> > @kinoCharlino said:  
> > This functionality is coming as part of “full time shifting.” 🙂
> 
> Awesome, cannot wait! It’s a much needed feature. Is there a “coming soon” section of features that we can expect to see in the near future?

We don’t have anything like that. Generally we don’t discuss unannounced features, but full time shifting is something we’ve commented about since questions about functionality came up when we first launched time shifting.

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**Author:** ![Jones1024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@Jones1024](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Jones1024)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/15 "2017-11-21T09:02:34Z")

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Yes. Full time shift and Channel List.

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**Author:** ![bogglor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@bogglor](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bogglor)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/16 "2017-12-03T04:33:34Z")

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That’s good news that this feature will be coming soon. Right now, the live TV support is inferior to stuff like Channels DVR and even Google Live Channels. I expect it’s because you’re doing live transcoding while a recording is in process and therefore it’s not yet possible to enter / seek within an actively growing/recording file or something? Once you guys get grid guide and ability to watch recordings in progress, that will be huge.

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**Author:** ![kinoCharlino](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kinocharlino/32/4861_2.png) [@kinoCharlino](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kinoCharlino)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/17 "2017-12-04T18:52:54Z")

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> @bogglor said:  
> I expect it’s because you’re doing live transcoding while a recording is in process and therefore it’s not yet possible to enter / seek within an actively growing/recording file or something?

It’s not impossible, just more complex.

> Once you guys get grid guide and ability to watch recordings in progress, that will be huge.

I agree! It’s planned, just not sure when it will hit.

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**Author:** ![WRXFanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/58956e/32.png) [@WRXFanatic](https://forums.plex.tv/u/WRXFanatic)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/18 "2018-01-25T20:18:40Z")

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**Background/Issue:** Coming from Windows Media Center with 10+ years of recording TV experience and a couple years as a Plex Pass subscriber (recording since initial beta release) I find it frustrating that to watch an in-progress recording requires that I find it in the Program Guide for supported clients. Furthermore, for longer recordings like sports events when something happens during the live view of the in-progress recording (Plex error or someone accidentally escapes out of the live view) there is no way to resume from the point you watched up until, only back from the beginning or live. This requires having to suffer through skipping to the point you were at.

**Proposed Feature Enhancements:**

1. Display in-progress TV recordings in the TV library like any other content but give them an icon overlay to indicate they are an in-progress recording. This would allow the show to be accessed via the library instead of solely through the program guide. Since the show will end up there anyway when it’s done, I don’t see the need to hold it hostage until it’s complete if the client allows for in-progress access to the content.
2. In addition to the current limitation of “Watch from beginning” or “Watch Live” for in-progress recordings, allow a third option “Resume from XX:XX:XX” like you would be able to for standard library items. This would allow you to resume an in-progress show from another room or handle accidental escapes from the content with less frustration.

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**Author:** ![bdg903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@bdg903](https://forums.plex.tv/u/bdg903)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/19 "2018-03-16T14:35:42Z")

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I will second this. Its hard to explain to the rest of the family that you have to pull up the live tv program guide to watch a recording that hasn’t finished yet.  
It also solves the problem I have with post-padding. As soon as the show is over live, it comes off the program guide, however it doesn’t show up in the library until the post-padding recording is over. So If I have 5 min of post-padding (like I do on all my shows), then for that 5 min, there isn’t any way to actually watch that show!

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**Author:** ![TelecomGuy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/telecomguy/32/20319_2.png) [@TelecomGuy](https://forums.plex.tv/u/TelecomGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129/20 "2018-03-21T02:05:00Z")

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Here here. WMC handled this function superbly. Also, would love to see background play/small lower thumbnail play if I’m watching something live/recorded and i just want to go to another menu (eg, add a new scheduled recording).

[Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/watch-from-beginning-while-recording/208129.md?page=2)
