YouTube boasts 122 million daily active users globally. Hence, there’s a fair chance you use YouTube for your daily video consumption quota. It’s also fairly likely that you use your iPhone to watch videos.
Sometimes, you may face issues like YouTube app not working on iPhone. It is a common complaint and might be because there’s a software issue, a simple bug, or outdated software. The fixes aren’t complicated.
- First, check if the YouTube server is down. If so, wait till the server is back up and running.
- Second, check your Internet speed and fix it.
- Third, restart your iPhone.
- Fourth, update the YouTube app.
These will quickly solve the YouTube app issue you are facing and ensure you have a smooth video-watching experience.
Let’s look at helpful tips to enhance your experience of using the iOS YouTube application.
Find Recommended Videos By Swiping Up
5+ billion videos are on the YouTube platform, and more are added every minute. Hence, you’ll never run out of videos to watch. In fact, you may get confused about what to skip and what to watch.
This is where the Up Next queue comes in handy. It is seen below the video you are currently viewing. It can be accessed by swiping up from the bottom if you are in landscape mode.
The Up Next queue feature is based on an algorithm that considers what you are viewing currently and your viewing history. The recommendations are according to an analysis of your viewing habits and let you discover more content you might be interested in.
Stop Auto-Play
The Auto-play feature is particularly fair game when you are on a YouTube video binge. The video in the Up Next queue will play automatically. But it can quickly get annoying if you only want to watch one video and leave the app.
Thankfully, the iOS YouTube application has a mechanism to stop auto-play. Go into portrait mode when playing a video and hit the switch next to Auto-Play. Now, videos will not play automatically.
Personalize The Recommendations
The homepage of the YouTube app is a treasure trove for finding and discovering new content to watch. In addition, you’ll find trending videos and recommendations based on your viewing history. However, these are not always accurate.
It is possible to fine-tune YouTube’s algorithm if you are logged into the application with a Google account. For example, tap the three-dot icon next to a video’s title and choose Not Interested. You can also check out additional options to edit the type of videos you wish to watch.
Add Videos To Watch Later
You may like a video while scrolling but don’t have the time to watch it. You don’t need to fear losing the video in the crowd because you can add it to the Watch Later playlist.
This playlist neatly organizes the videos for later viewing. You can access it through the iOS YouTube app.
To add videos to the Watch Later playlist, tap the three-dot icon and choose to Add to Watch Later. Alternatively, if you are currently watching a video, you can tap the plus icon and add it to the playlist.
Turn On Captions To Watch Quietly
You might be standing in line at your band, watching YouTube videos. It may not be possible to turn the volume all the way up, especially if you don’t have your earphones. People around you may complain.
Thankfully, your YouTube video binge needn’t stop because you can turn on subtitles or captions. Then, tap the CC icon in the viewing bar and choose normal language or auto-translate to another.
However, the subtitles and captions may not always be accurate as they are computer-generated.
Turn On Dark Mode
Going on a YouTube video binge means stressing your eyes. Also, significant battery consumption. Of course, you don’t want your iPhone’s juice to run out while you are still hours away from your destination.
That’s where dark mode comes in handy. It is used in most applications today. Even if you enjoy watching videos on full-screen, a bit of dimness will be more friendly to your eyes, especially at night.
Turning on dark mode is a hassle-free process. First, open the YouTube app > tap your profile picture > settings > general > appearance and toggle on dark theme.
Use Picture-In-Picture Mode
Picture-in-picture mode is a handy feature that allows you to play YouTube videos in a resizable, small window while using other apps. The video will continue playing while you finish other tasks on your phone, like replying to a text or drafting an email.
YouTube’s picture-in-picture mode is available to people using iOS 14.
To start this feature, play the video on YouTube and then go back to the home screen. The video will automatically shrink down to a smaller window. You can move the window around and place it in a relevant position on the screen.
If this is not working, you must ensure this mode is enabled in your settings. Go to the Settings app > Apps > notifications > advanced > special access > picture-in-picture > YouTube > toggle Allow picture-in-picture to the on position.
The Bottom Line
These are a few iOS YouTube app hacks to help you get the most out of your video-watching experience. But the list is exhaustive.
If you have some tips and tricks to add, feel free to comment.
