If you still have an iPhone or iPad from the mid-2010s, you may now find that YouTube is no longer installed on your device.
MacRumors reports that iOS users are seeing a new update to the YouTube app, which also means that support for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 has been discontinued.
iPhones, iPads, and iPods that just lost YouTube app support
Apple devices that cannot be updated to iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 no longer receive official support from the new YouTube app. These include:
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone SE (1st Gen)
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 4
- iPod touch (7th Gen)
Even the latest model, the iPod touch (7th gen), was introduced as recently as 2019.
Older iOS versions losing support from YouTube isn’t a new occurrence. About a year ago, version 19.21.2 of YouTube stopped supporting iOS 14.
People using these devices would no longer be able to use YouTube’s official app for watching videos, subscribing, or using premium services.
How to keep watching YouTube on iOS 15 devices
It is still possible to use YouTube on iOS 15 devices.
- Open Safari or any web browser on your device.
- Go to: m.youtube.com.
- Sign in with your Google account (optional).
- Watch videos like you usually would.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Still works on unsupported devices | Slower performance |
| No app download needed | Less intuitive interface |
| Limited offline or background play features |
Mobile applications are losing compatibility with older units, but Apple is excited about iOS 26 might be released at WWDC 2025 and will support current iOS 18 devices.
So far, updates like iOS 14 will still be available for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max.
