We’re going to explain how to use AirPlay so that you can continue to watch YouTube on your Apple TV.
What Happened to YouTube on Older Apple TV Models?
As of March 2021, older third-gen Apple TV models no longer natively support the YouTube app. These are the Apple TV boxes that were first introduced in 2012 that have silver remotes, while the newer models have a black touch remote.
If you’ve tried to launch the YouTube app on your older Apple TV recently, you may have come across a message informing you that the platform is no longer supported. The error message then points you towards AirPlay as a method to continue watching YouTube videos on your third-generation Apple TV, by sharing the screen of your Apple device onto your TV screen.
Third-generation Apple TVs do not run on tvOS (a modified version of iOS that allows Apple TVs to support some of the apps that an iPhone can) and no longer have an App Store, so it’s no surprise that YouTube has pulled the plug on these models, since it cannot push updates on the app.
The move by YouTube was inevitable—the video sharing app is the last of several to pull support from third-generation boxes. In 2020, HBO pulled its HBO Now app from older Apple TVs, the second- and third-generation Apple TV boxes.
How Does This Change Impact You?
So, how does this affect you?
If you own a newer Apple TV, like the Apple TV HD (fourth-generation) and Apple TV 4K (fifth-generation), you have nothing to worry about. These both support the YouTube app because the models have a built-in App Store and run on tvOS.
If you own a third-generation Apple TV, however, you are forced to consider another method to use the YouTube app. By not having tvOS and the App Store on its older TVs, Apple clearly wants you to upgrade to a newer TV. Thankfully, you won’t have to break the bank just yet.
While there are several options to stream YouTube content outside the Apple ecosystem (see YouTube’s supported devices, cable and satellite providers), but they probably aren’t your best bet. If you own an older Apple TV and just want to play YouTube videos on a bigger screen (because the experience isn’t quite the same on your iPhone or iPad), you’re in luck.
AirPlay is the answer to your new-found dilemma and the most convenient, quick-and-easy, affordable way to stream YouTube videos on your older Apple TV.
How to Use AirPlay to Watch YouTube on an Older Apple TV
Using AirPlay to stream your favorite YouTube videos on your older Apple TV is quite easy. You simply use the Apple TV as a wireless video output. In order to do this, you’ll need to have an Apple device, like an iPhone or iPad.
Connect your Apple device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. Open the YouTube app on your device and find the video that you want to stream on your Apple TV. Tap the video to reveal the overlay, then tap the TV streaming icon. You’ll find it in the top, right-hand corner of your screen. It’s the one that appears as a square with a Wi-Fi icon in the bottom, left-hand corner. Select AirPlay & Bluetooth Devices. Find and select your Apple TV in the list that appears under Speakers & TVs.
That’s it. A hassle-free way to continue to stream YouTube content on your older Apple TV.
You Don’t Need to Upgrade Your Third-Gen Apple TV
Apple gets a bad rap for cornering its customers into upgrading to newer devices. While older Apple TVs no longer natively support the YouTube app, it’s a relief knowing that there’s a quick, convenient, less expensive way to work around this new change, so you won’t have to upgrade your older TV to stream your favorite YouTube videos.
Then again, it might be time to consider upgrading from your old Apple TV model to a newer device.
