The third-generation Apple TV media-streaming box will stop supporting the YouTube app beginning next month, leaving AirPlay as the only option for watching YouTube content.
9to5Mac has shared a new message from Apple that owners of the third-generation Apple TV have reported seeing before viewing videos from YouTube. “Starting early March, the YouTube app will no longer be available on Apple TV (3rd generation),” reads the advisory.
How to Watch YouTube on Older Apple TVs
As a result of the upcoming change, people who still use older Apple TVs will need to switch to casting YouTube videos to their box with AirPlay. “You can still watch YouTube on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, iPhone, or iPad,” the message acknowledges.
However, using the AirPlay feature to stream YouTube content from an iOS device to an Apple TV is more cumbersome than simply firing up the preinstalled YouTube app. AirPlay is Apple’s media-casting technology built into the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
YouTube Confirms the Change
A YouTube spokesperson has confirmed the move in a statement to Gizmodo.
We’re always working to ensure our users have the best experience on YouTube, and from time to time we need to make changes to our supported devices list. Starting in early March, the YouTube app will no longer be available on Apple TV third-generation devices.
This won’t affect owners of the current Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. That’s because those units support third-party development. Thanks to the built-in App Store, owners of the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K can download third-party apps, including YouTube.
By contrast, the older Apple TVs rely on preinstalled software from Apple (this includes the YouTube app). As such, those models are unable to download and use third-party apps as they don’t support the App Store. The third-generation Apple TV made its debut in 2012. The Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models saw their respective launches in 2015 and 2017.