YouTube is a video streaming application published by Google for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The app was first released for Xbox 360 consoles on December 13, 2011 and utilized an interface similar to the Metro Xbox 360 Dashboard.[1] The YouTube app for Xbox One launched alongside the console on November 22, 2013 with its own unique interface.[2] In 2014, both apps were redesigned to match Google's Material Design.[3]
Up until June 2014, an Xbox Live Gold membership was required to use the YouTube app on Xbox 360 and Xbox One.[4]
The app has been criticised for its excessive and often unskippable ads that are much longer in duration than those on mobile and computer devices.[5][6]
Features
YouTube video interface.
The app allows the user to watch YouTube videos on their console. This includes standard videos, livestreams, and YouTube Shorts. The app also offers a collection of free movies with ads. Users also have access to paid movies and television shows. However, purchases of these items cannot be completed through the console app itself.
YouTube app sign in screen.
By signing into a YouTube account on the app, users can like videos, subscribe to channels, view and create playlists of different videos. Multiple accounts can be used within the app. With a YouTube Premium account, users can watch videos without ads.
Signing into the same YouTube account on both the Xbox app and mobile YouTube app allows the user to control content played on the Xbox with their mobile device.[7]
Video quality
The YouTube app performs differently based on the Xbox console that is being used, despite all platforms currently using the same version. The table below displays the video outputs supported by the YouTube app on each Xbox console.[8]
| Console | 720p | 1080p | 1440p | 4K | HDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Xbox One | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Xbox One S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox One X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox Series S | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox Series X | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Kinect functionality
Kinect voice commands and gestures on the old Xbox One version of the YouTube app.
The app includes Kinect functionality on both Xbox 360 and Xbox One, allowing users to use gestures and voice commands to control the app. The Google Support article for the YouTube app on Xbox One states that this functionality is still supported, however it is not clear if this is still correct or outdated information.[8]
Achievements
Up until late 2016, the Xbox One YouTube app included 10 achievements worth 0
. These achievements are no longer obtainable.
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Icon | Name | Description | Gamerscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Please sir, may I have some more? | Subscribe to a channel | 0
|
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Push the button | Like a video | 0
|
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Video Teleporter | Pair a mobile device or computer with the YouTube app | 0
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Do you come here often? | Sign in to your YouTube account | 0
|
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Look Mom, I'm on TV! | Upload a video from your Xbox One | 0
|
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DJ YouTube | Watch 10 hours of music | 0
|
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ROFLMAO | Watch 5 hours of comedy videos | 0
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UUDDLRLRBA | Watch 5 hours of gaming videos | 0
|
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Quantum Entanglement | Watch 5 hours of video from a paired device | 0
|
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Hipster Kitty | Watch 3 hours of videos with less than 200 views | 0
|
Gallery
References
- ↑ Downin, Jonathan (December 14, 2011). "Xbox Live plugs into YouTube, more". Gamespot. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Xbox Wire Staff (November 20, 2013). "Announcing YouTube App Coming to Xbox One at Launch". Xbox Wire. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Honig, Zach (August 14, 2014). "YouTube refreshes television app for set-top boxes, game consoles and smart TVs". Engadget. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Phillips, Tom (May 13, 2014). "Microsoft to remove Xbox Live Gold paywall for streaming apps". Eurogamer. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Hale, James (September 26, 2024). "Feel like you’re seeing more unskippable ads when you watch YouTube on a TV? You are. Here’s why.". Tubefilter. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Donaldson, Craig (March 11, 2026). "YouTube Ads just got harder to skip - again". Pocket Lint. Retrieved on March 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Watch YouTube on your smart TV by linking to your devices". Google Support (2026). Archived from the original on May 7, 2026. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Watch YouTube on the Xbox One". Google Support (2026). Archived from the original on May 7, 2026. Retrieved on May 7, 2026.
| Xbox 360 apps | |
| Pre-installed | Avatar Editor • Avatar Marketplace • Groove Music • Microsoft Movies & TV • Picture Viewer • System Music Player • System Video Player • Windows Media Center |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | ABC iview • APL!VE • Atari: Game Over • AwesomenessTV • Break • CNET • Channel 9 • Crunchyroll • Dailymotion • Fusion • GameSpot TV • Lucas Oil Racing TV • Made to Measure • Motor Trend onDemand • Netflix • NHL • Quickflix • Revision3 • Smosh • TENplay • Twitch • UFCXpreshon • Viki: Global TV • Viewster • WWE Network • YouTube • Xbox Live Events • YuppTV |
| Gambling | Horse Races Now • Poker Central |
| Game companions | Halo Waypoint |
| Kinect | Kinect Nat Geo TV • Kinect PlayFit |
| News | France 24 |
| Utilities | Internet Explorer • Plex |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S apps | |
| Pre-installed | Events • Friends & Communities • HDR Game Calibration • Microsoft Edge • Microsoft Store • My Games & Apps • OneGuide • Settings • Xbox Accessories • Xbox Assist • Xbox Game Pass |
|---|---|
| Customisation | Theme My Xbox • Xbox Original Avatars • Xbox Avatar Editor |
| Entertainment | Apple TV • Blu-ray Player • Cartoon Network • Crunchyroll • Disney+ • Dolby Access • Netflix • Stan • YouTube |
| Game companions | Forza Hub • Halo Channel |
| Music | Audio CD Player • Deezer Music • Groove Music • SoundCloud • Spotify |
| Social | Mixer • Twitch |
| Tools and utilities | AirServer • Movies & TV • Microsoft Bing • Microsoft Rewards • OneDrive • Microsoft Photos • Upload Studio • Wireless Display • Xbox Insider Hub |