If you’ve seen the error ‘We couldn’t play this recording because there is no on-demand option’ on DirecTV’, it might be confusing.
And if you’ve already downloaded the same content to your DVR, it’s even more confusing.
After the first one, you’ll see a message saying ‘It is still available on your home DVR’.
So what does all this mean? Can you access these shows or not?
Honestly, it’s a little convoluted, but this article should help you understand why this error appears.
Why Am I Getting DirecTV Error; ‘We Couldn’t Play This Recording Because There Is No On-Demand Option’
Short Answer: You’re seeing this message on DirecTV because the content you’re trying to watch is not downloaded to the app, it’s no longer available, there isn’t an on-demand option, or due to technical issues.
DirecTV allows you to watch content on the set-top box they provide as well as through their streaming app.
However, for shows on cable TV, the only way to watch them whenever you want is to record them on your DVR.
You can schedule a recording in advance or record it while you’re watching it. You can even record a show while watching something else entirely.
But this doesn’t allow you to access your content from any device.
Now let’s look at the reasons some content can’t be accessed.
Your Content Is Stored On The DVR
If you see the mentioned error message along with ‘It’s still available on your home DVR’, you won’t be able to access it on your phone or other devices.
It’s because the recordings are stored locally on the DVR and can only be accessed by the set-top box.
The Content Is No Longer Available
Sometimes content gets removed from DirecTV.
It’s because their licensing might have run out and they haven’t renewed it.
If this is the case, unless you already have a DVR recording of the show, you won’t be able to access it.
The only way to watch removed content is to check an alternate streaming service, or hope that DirecTV renews its license.
There’s No On-Demand Option For The Content You Want To Watch
Not all cable TV shows and movies have an on-demand option.
If you tried streaming the content you watched on cable TV and it played on the app, it’s because the content is available on-demand.
However, if you see the error message mentioned above, it’s because the show is only on cable TV.
So with that in mind, let’s get into fixing the issue.
Fix: DirecTV On Demand Not Available
If the show isn’t available on-demand or if it was removed from DirecTV’s stream app, there’s nothing you can do.
But, if you’re sure the content you’re searching for is still available on DirecTV, then these methods will help.
Method 1- Download Or Stream Content On Your DirecTV Stream App
A big misconception many DirecTV users have is that DVR recordings can be played on the app.
However, this isn’t true.
DVR recordings can only be played on your DirecTV set-top box.
So, if you’re using the DirecTV app on a phone or laptop, you’ll need to either stream the content or download it.
Essentially, if you want your content available for offline viewing on devices other than your set-top box, you’ll need to download them to each device.
Even if the app allowed you to access DVR recordings, it would still need a network connection to stream the content to your device.
So, the only way around this is to download the content to all the devices you want and keep them for offline viewing.
It’s important to note that unlike DVR recordings, content downloaded to the app will be automatically deleted if the show or movie is removed from the app.
Method 2- Record It When It’s Rerun
If the show you want to watch isn’t available on-demand and you don’t have DVR recordings either, you can still access the show.
It’s possible if they rerun the show on cable TV.
So, check your cable TV schedule and find out when they rerun the show or movie you want.
The next thing to do is schedule a recording on your DirecTV.
Search for the show in the channel guide and highlight it with your remote.
Press the ‘R’ button on the remote and set your preferences for recording.
If you’re recording live sports, I’d recommend using the extend record feature.
While TV shows and movies will start and end at the scheduled time, it’s not the same with sports.
So, if the game goes on longer than scheduled, you won’t miss anything because your recording stopped at the end of the guide schedule.
You can even backup your recordings to an external hard drive to watch at any time on USB-enabled devices.
It’s also an excellent way to make sure you always have the shows you want even if they’re permanently removed.
Method 3- Wait For Technical Issues To Be Fixed
You might see the error message during a service outage, or if there are any issues with the app.
Service outages can happen when DirecTV is performing maintenance or repairs on their servers.
But if the app is bugging out, then it might need an update.
Visit the App Store or Play Store and update the DirecTV Stream App to the latest version and then try streaming content.
If it still doesn’t work, or if there aren’t any updates available, it might be a backend issue which is generally fixed within a few hours.
So the best thing to do is wait it out or use an alternate app for the time being.
See Also:
Final Words
If you can’t access your DVR recordings on the app, now you know why.
While DirecTV can make it possible to view your DVR content from the DirecTV app, as mentioned earlier in the article, you’d still have to stream it to your device.
So, unless DirecTV comes up with some way to access the files over a secure private network, this is the only way to watch content ‘On-Demand’.
As a seasoned DIY tinkerer, Arvind found the simplest way to help anyone troubleshoot or set up tech without feeling overwhelmed by it. He’s an advocate for smart home technology and in his free time makes music. He’s also an avid gamer, mostly obsessed with single-player titles.
