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YouTube App No Longer Available on 3rd-Gen Apple TV, AirPlay Now Required to Watch Videos

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As of today, YouTube has stopped supporting the YouTube app on third-generation Apple TV models, which means the YouTube channel is no longer available as a native option for watching YouTube on this Apple TV model.

youtube-apple-tv.jpg

Now that the app is defunct, third-generation Apple TV users will need to AirPlay YouTube content from a compatible Apple device like an iPhone or iPad to watch YouTube on the big screen.

The app's removal is limited to the third-generation Apple TV models. YouTube stopped supporting the second-generation Apple TV models back in 2015. The fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models are not impacted as they have access to the tvOS App Store and the tvOS YouTube app.


Various app developers have slowly been phasing out support for the third-generation Apple TV. In May 2020, HBO's apps were removed, and last week, the MLB app was pulled.

Those who have a third-generation Apple TV that are thinking of upgrading might want to hold off, as there is a refresh rumored to be coming later this year.

The new Apple TV is expected to feature a faster processor and more storage space, plus there could be a new remote control and U1 chip integration to allow it to better interface with other Apple devices. There could also be a gaming focus, with Apple rumored to be working on hardware that would support console-level games.

Article Link: YouTube App No Longer Available on 3rd-Gen Apple TV, AirPlay Now Required to Watch Videos
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/03/youtube-app-pulled-third-gen-apple-tv/
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I have a 3rd gen Apple TV on a spare tv and this is disappointing as it's to have access and for a guest to use who doesn't have an iOS device. YouTube could've supported it for a couple more years longer at least but this is why external devices for TV are ultimately temporary, even a brand new Apple TV is ultimately doomed to die slowly through a lack of support.
 
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Elastic Love said:
This is terrible news. Shameful they are throwing their customers under the bus with this.
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Hardly its that old a product.

Apple TV (3rd generation) can be updated to Apple TV Software 7.2. 2 (from 2016-12-12). The model has been discontinued; no further updates should be expected. That also means no access to the tvOS App Store and modern apps
Click to expand...
 
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Minxy said:
I have a 3rd gen Apple TV on a spare tv and this is disappointing as it's to have access and for a guest to use who doesn't have an iOS device. YouTube could've supported it for a couple more years longer at least but this is why external devices for TV are ultimately temporary, even a brand new Apple TV is ultimately doomed to die slowly through a lack of support.
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I’d rather have a steaming box like the Apple TV than a smart TV. I’ve had the original Apple TV, 3 and 4. They have all served me very well.
 
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The YouTube tvOS app still can't properly play their movies with ads. On both of my Apple TV HD models, the app never loads the movie after playing the ads. It also has a nasty tendency to stop recognizing movements around the menus via the remote's track pad unless the entire box is rebooted.
 
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jhowarth said:
The YouTube tvOS app still can't properly play their movies with ads. On both of my Apple TV HD models, the app never loads the movie after playing the ads.
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There was a recent ATV Youtube update see if that is installed. You can also install the current 14.5 beta 2 (Public beta) if you want, that has been tweaked for fractional AND integer frame rates finally.
 
Elastic Love said:
This is terrible news. Shameful they are throwing their customers under the bus with this.
Click to expand...
The third gen is over 5 years old, you can't expect them to support it forever.

Apple discontinues iOS updates for phones once they reach a similar age and people praise Apple for supporting phones for so long. But when Google stops supporting a product that old, they're throwing users under the bus.
 
Elastic Love said:
This is terrible news. Shameful they are throwing their customers under the bus with this.
Click to expand...
Hardly. Most smart TV's in the last 5-7 years will have native YouTube apps - use those. People can't use old tech forever and expect it to be fully supported.

Apple TV itself is mostly redundant when it comes to streaming apps as TV's do it much better natively and most support 4K.
 
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Viewing YouTube content on the YouTube app on any device is absolutely the worst way to way watch YouTube stuff. The app has total control of everything - including forcing non payers to watch ads.

Do yourself a favor and watch YouTube through a browser but not safari
 
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YouTube app on my 4K ATV never works. Just opens up to a blank screen and i end up air playing the content from my phone anyway. It's atrocious
 
YouTube on Apple TV HD is buggy as hell. Every few weeks the cursor ceases to function. I have to delete the app and reinstall it to get it working. Anyone have a fix? Awful.
 
Herrpod said:
The Youtube app on the newest Apple TV is already the worst version of that app I've seen on any modern device. I'm surprised there was a worse one on the older Apple TV.
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I think Google is a mess, a lot more so than Apple, there's this anecdote that when DropBox approached Apple or the other way around about an acquisition, Steve Jobs went to their offices and, after disagreeing on this or that, tell them they were not a product, but a feature. Which I think is in itself a fair assesment. However, as Spotify is proving -and an independent DropBox as well- they focus and innovate obsessively on it because their life depends on it.

What Im saying is, Google has too much going on, the wings are coming right off. The Apple TV app, Google Music/YouTube Music, etc just examples of how this can deliver frustration.

This is also the main reason why I think Apple shouldnt invest on the automobile industry, but what do I now, I despise cars and car-centric cities, which I concede are big markets in China and the US.
 
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neutrino23 said:
“Those who have a third-generation Apple TV that are thinking of upgrading might want to hold off, as there is a refresh rumored to be coming later this year.”

Where have I heard that before? I’ve been waiting to upgrade for years.
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Dang, I've been on here practically every day, and I missed this tidbit of news. I just figured Apple was up to some different strategy vs. the current design.

I have theorized a modified Mac Mini that could serve as a computer, router, and Apple TV with swap-out modules to suit user preferences and upgrades.
 
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now i see it said:
Viewing YouTube content on the YouTube app on any device is absolutely the worst way to way watch YouTube stuff. The app has total control of everything - including forcing non payers to watch ads.

Do yourself a favor and watch YouTube through a browser but not safari
Click to expand...
Not that I like ads, but I really don't mind the app on my phone...
OTOH, using YouTube on my 3rd-gen ATV was a complete PITA - mostly due to the interface and the difficulty of just trying to enter search characters. I hardly ever use YouTube on the TV I have that came with the app for the same reason.

Personally I have nothing against this move by YouTube at all.
 
Like this reviewer says, just replace your old Apple TV with the new Chromecast with Google TV. Unlike earlier models, this Chromecast has a voice remote and a full on-screen UI that runs Android TV apps inside a new content aggregation system called Google TV. So while you still have the option of casting to it from other devices, you don't have to.

www.macworld.com

If your Apple TV is losing apps, get ’em back with a $49 Google TV Chromecast

If you're missing YouTube, HBO Max, Disney+ and other streaming services that you lost on your third-gen Apple TV, a $50 Chromecast with Google TV is a much more affordable investment than an Apple TV 4K streaming box.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com

IMO, it's the best streamer you can get for $50. I have an Apple TV 4K and love it but it's an expensive device. Bought my parents the new Chromecast as a Christmas gift and it's pretty nice. It even runs the Apple TV app now. Doesn't have other Apple apps, though, like Apple Music or Arcade. If you need those on your TV, you'll need the Apple TV HD or 4K.
 
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