Google has finally released the official YouTube app for Apple Vision Pro, more than two years after the headgear debuted. This standalone software brings the full YouTube experience to visionOS, allowing you to watch videos in a truly immersive and expansive way from within the device’s spatial area.
The app offers you access to the platform’s entire video catalog, and everything works as it should: regular videos play smoothly, YouTube Shorts play as expected, and all of the fancy stuff, such as 180-degree, 360-degree, and 3D videos, works as planned. A separate Spatial tab makes it easier to access these specialized clips. When such videos are available, the latest Vision Pro versions equipped with the M5 processor can play them at up to 8K resolution, however high-definition uploads are still unusual.
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Videos appear as if they are projected on a giant screen in front of you, floating within the visionOS environment you have chosen. The surrounds fade out or mix in, creating a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere whether you’re sitting in a virtual movie or leaving your actual room on display. The controls are straightforward, with all of the expected features such as subscriptions, playlists, and viewing history included. You can just sign in to your account and continue where you left off on any device.
Before this official app, users had to use the Safari browser, which worked but didn’t feel like it was designed for the headset. There were some sketchy third-party solutions that appeared for a while before being removed due to policy issues, so many people will be relieved to see a true native software that actually makes use of all of the headset’s features.
If you have a YouTube Premium subscription, you will also have access to offline downloads, which will come in handy when you are on the go or away from a strong connection. Don’t worry, the app is free to download from the visionOS App Store and is compatible with both the M2-based original Vision Pro and the newer M5 version.
This app took two years to reach the launchpad, and many users will have felt left out throughout that time. Google had indicated they were working on it a long time ago, but the wait has continued… at least until now. This software is an important component of Vision Pro’s entertainment offerings. With it, you may just settle in for a long session of casual viewing or go deeply into the immersive content.
