YouTube
Google LLC
Screenshots
About YouTube
Opening YouTube brings up the main feed immediately, populated with video suggestions tailored to your history. Below the viewer, navigation icons jump between Subscriptions for recent uploads from channels you follow, an Explore tab featuring trending content across gaming, music, fashion, and news, and a Library tab storing saved watchlists and past views.
Interacting with channels goes beyond simply playing videos. You can leave comments, view creator posts and stories, catch live streams, and participate in premieres. Paid channel memberships allow viewers to support specific creators directly for monthly fees, which grants custom loyalty badges in comment sections alongside exclusive perks defined by the creator.
Mobile publishing is integrated into the client itself. Tap the creation button to record footage, upload videos directly from storage, or start a live stream using your device camera and microphone. The app also requests permissions for location, contacts, device identities, and external media storage to handle account management, video uploads, and social sharing.
This base application is not for everyone. If you expect ad-free viewing, background audio playback when the screen is locked, or offline video saving, those functions remain strictly locked behind a paid YouTube Premium subscription. Families looking for restricted video catalogs should also look toward the YouTube Kids app or supervised parent accounts rather than this default platform.
- Content DiscoveryBrowse personalized recommendations on Home and browse trending topics in music, gaming, and news under Explore.
- Mobile PublishingUpload stored video files or start live streaming broadcasts using your mobile device camera and microphone.
- Community ToolsInteract through creator posts, stories, premieres, and live chat using channel badges.
- Account LibraryKeep track of viewing history, liked clips, and saved playlists in a single organized tab.
Permissions
- Identityfind accounts on the device
- Identityadd or remove accounts
- Contactsfind accounts on the device
- Contactsread your contacts
- Locationapproximate location (network-based)
- Locationprecise location (GPS and network-based)
- Phoneread phone status and identity
- Photos/Media/Filesread the contents of your USB storage
- Photos/Media/Filesmodify or delete the contents of your USB storage
- Storageread the contents of your USB storage
- Storagemodify or delete the contents of your USB storage
- Cameratake pictures and videos
- Microphonerecord audio
- Wi-Fi connection informationview Wi-Fi connections
- Device ID & call informationread phone status and identity
- Otherview network connections
- Othermeasure app storage space
- Otherfull network access
- Otherchange your audio settings
- Othercontrol Near Field Communication
- Otherrun at startup
- Otherdraw over other apps
- Otheruse accounts on the device
- Othercontrol vibration
- Otherprevent device from sleeping
- Otherread Google service configuration
What's new
For new features, look for in-product education & notifications sharing the feature and how to use it!
Common questions
How do I play videos in the background or watch offline?
Offline downloads and background playback while using other apps or with a locked screen are not supported in the free app. You must subscribe to YouTube Premium to access those features along with ad-free viewing.
Can I upload videos and go live from my phone?
Yes, the app allows you to upload existing media directly from storage or broadcast live directly from your device using its built-in camera and microphone.
Is YouTube safe for young children?
The standard YouTube app contains general content, but parents can set up supervised experiences on youtube.com/myfamily or download the separate YouTube Kids app for family-friendly viewing options.
What permissions does the YouTube app ask for?
It requests permissions for camera, microphone, storage access, location data, contacts, account identity management, phone status, and Wi-Fi connection details.