YouTube iOS App Drops Support for iPhone 6 Series, Original SE and Older iPads

Highlights

• YouTube’s latest update (version 20.22.1) now requires iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.
• This means support is dropped for iPhone 6 series, original iPhone SE, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 and iPod touch 7.
• Owners of these older devices won’t get new YouTube updates but can still use the app for now.
• Users can also access YouTube via web browsers, but the experience won’t be as smooth as the app.

Caption – YouTube update iOS and iPadOS apps, dropping support for old devices. (Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash)

YouTube just rolled out a new update version 20.22.1 for its iOS and iPadOS app. However, it’s quietly ended support for several older iPhones and iPads in the update process. This happened since the app has bumped the minimum OS requirement to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. This change comes just ahead of Apple’s WWDC event and here’s what it means for your device.

Which Devices Are No Longer Supported?

If your device can’t run iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, it won’t be able to get the latest YouTube app update. That includes the following –

• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE (1st Gen)
• iPad Air 2
• iPad mini 4

All these devices stop at iOS/iPadOS 15, which is now no longer enough for the latest version of YouTube.

Also left out is the iPod touch 7, Apple’s last iPod, which launched in 2019 and was discontinued in 2022. It can’t run iOS 16, so it too misses out.

What Happens If You Own One of These?

If you’re using one of these older devices, you won’t get the new YouTube update. But the current app will still work, at least for now.

You’ll still be able to watch videos, but new features and updates won’t come your way and eventually, older versions of the app will stop working altogether. You can still use YouTube in a web browser as a fallback, although it won’t offer the same smooth experience as the app.

While Apple’s older devices are known for their longevity, even these are starting to show their age. For context, the most recent iPhone affected by this change was launched nine years ago and was discontinued six years ago.

For the full list of devices that support iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, you can check out Apple’s official support page.

FAQs

Q1. Which devices no longer support the latest YouTube update?

Answer. The update requires iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, meaning older devices stuck on iOS/iPadOS 15 can’t get the new YouTube app version. This includes iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE (1st Gen), iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPod touch 7 and Apple’s last iPod.

Q2. Can I still use YouTube on my older device?

Answer. Yes, you can still use the existing YouTube app, but you won’t receive new features or updates. Over time, older app versions may stop working altogether.

Q3. How can I watch YouTube if my device isn’t supported?

Answer. You can still access YouTube through a web browser on your device. However, the experience won’t be as smooth as using the app.