YouTube's iOS App Just Dropped Support for These iPhone Models - MacRumors
Skip to Content

YouTube's iOS App Just Dropped Support for These iPhone Models

YouTube has updated its iOS app to version 20.22.1, which now requires iOS 16 or later to install and run. The change means several older iPhone models are no longer officially compatible with the app.

General YouTube Feature Redux
The affected devices are those that cannot upgrade beyond iOS 15 – namely, the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the first-generation iPhone SE. If you have an iPod touch 7, that will no longer run the app either.

Likewise, the YouTube app for iPad now requires iPadOS 16 or later, which means the app has discontinued support for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4.

Users with these older devices can still access YouTube through their web browser by visiting m.youtube.com, but the experience won't match the native app's functionality.

Tag: YouTube

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...

Top Rated Comments

Dr McKay Avatar
11 months ago

but the experience won't match the native app's functionality.
That hardly seems like a downside at this point.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
So I guess supporting iOS 15 was a bug



Attachment Image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
Web is perfectly fine and it works without ads.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleTO Avatar
11 months ago

Users with these older devices can still access YouTube through their web browser by visiting m.youtube.com, but the experience won't match the native app's functionality.
Realistically, the last supported version of the app will probably still work for a long time… maybe years. There are many old devices with archaic versions of YouTube that still work.

Article is a bit misleading. The older devices are still officially compatible with the final version of the app supported. Unless, YouTube is purposely blocking it from launching, but I don’t believe this is the case.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
11 months ago
its like my old iPhone 6S knew and decided to nuke itself



Attachment Image
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
11 months ago
The YouTube app is fairly abysmal. Of course, the YouTube web site is abysmal too.

Google management's dislike of UI designers is glaring, and Gemini ain't ever going to fix that.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)