# YouTube Drops Native App for Apple Vision Pro
In a major boost for Apple's Apple Vision Pro, YouTube has finally launched its long-awaited native app for the visionOS platform, ending over two years of reliance on clunky Safari workarounds and delivering immersive video experiences to spatial computing users.[1][2][3]
End of a Two-Year Wait: From Standoff to Spatial Streaming
The Apple Vision Pro launched in February 2024 at a steep $3,499 price point, positioning itself as Apple's boldest hardware since the iPhone, but it faced early criticism for missing key apps like YouTube.[1][6] Google initially confirmed no plans for a native app, recommending users access content via Safari, which lacked the full spatial features Apple hyped, such as immersive environments and high-resolution playback.[1][2][6] This drought persisted despite native support from competitors like Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+, which offered custom visionOS experiences like virtual theaters.[2]
Now, the official YouTube app is available for free download in the visionOS App Store, marking a significant reversal for Google.[1][2][3] Apple spokesperson Corey Nord confirmed the launch to The Verge, highlighting support for standard videos, YouTube Shorts, 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content—formats that leverage the headset's stereoscopic depth for truly immersive viewing.[1]
Packed with Features: What Vision Pro Users Get Now
The new app mirrors the classic YouTube interface adapted for visionOS, allowing users to access subscriptions, playlists, liked videos, watch history, captions, and personalized recommendations seamlessly.[2][4][5] Videos can be resized to cinema-scale windows, pinned anywhere in your spatial environment, or floated alongside other apps like notes—transforming the Vision Pro into the "personal theater" Apple envisioned.[4]
Immersive formats stand out: VR180 provides stereoscopic depth for experiences like courtside sports replays, while 360-degree videos enable exploration of virtual reefs or concerts.[1][4][5] Early hands-on reviews praise the app's navigation, from home feeds to settings for account switching and history management, eliminating third-party apps or browser limitations.[5] Unlike rivals' custom backdrops, YouTube opts for a straightforward approach, but its vast catalog—over a billion hours watched daily—fills a critical gap.[2][4]
Why This Launch Could Revive Vision Pro Momentum
YouTube's arrival addresses one of the most frequent complaints from early adopters, potentially strengthening the Vision Pro's entertainment appeal amid reports of sluggish sales.[1][4] With 2 billion monthly logged-in users, the platform's integration means instant continuity from phones and TVs, solving the "what to watch" dilemma without rebuilding libraries.[4] Reviewers call it a "lifeline" for the headset, enhancing its case as an entertainment powerhouse and showcasing rare Apple-Google collaboration.[1][5]
As Apple refines a more affordable Vision Pro variant without premium features like EyeSight, this timely app drop could drive adoption by making everyday video consumption feel native and premium.[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
When did YouTube launch its native app for Apple Vision Pro?
YouTube released its official visionOS app on Thursday, more than two years after the Vision Pro's February 2024 debut, and it's now available as a free download in the App Store.[1][2][3]
What video formats does the YouTube Vision Pro app support?
The app supports standard videos, Shorts, 3D content, 360-degree videos, and VR180 footage, optimized for the headset's spatial immersion.[1][2][4]
Why didn't YouTube build a native app sooner for Vision Pro?
Google initially had no plans for a dedicated app, opting for Safari access, similar to Netflix and Spotify at launch, due to a wait-and-see approach on the new platform.[1][6]
Can I access my subscriptions and playlists in the Vision Pro YouTube app?
Yes, the app provides full access to subscriptions, playlists, liked videos, watch history, recommendations, and account settings, just like the standard YouTube experience.[2][4][5]
Does the app include custom immersive environments like other streaming services?
No, it focuses on a classic YouTube layout without unique backdrops, but allows resizable spatial windows for videos alongside other visionOS apps.[2][4]
Is the YouTube Vision Pro app a game-changer for the headset?
Many reviewers say yes, as it eliminates workarounds, unlocks immersive content, and fills a major content gap, potentially boosting the device's appeal as a premium theater.[1][2][4]
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 8:30:44 PM
**YouTube ends two-year standoff with Apple Vision Pro native app launch.** Google's video platform, which initially declined to build for the headset at its February 2024 debut, now offers full visionOS support including standard videos, Shorts, 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content—marking a significant reversal that strengthens Vision Pro's entertainment ecosystem against competing platforms[1][2]. The move comes as most major streaming services already offered native experiences on visionOS, leaving YouTube conspicuously absent from Apple's most ambitious hardware since the iPhone[2].
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 8:40:43 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: YouTube Native App Bolsters Apple Vision Pro Amid VR Slump**
Apple's stock (AAPL) tumbled **5.05%** following YouTube's native Vision Pro app launch, as analysts highlighted persistent weakness in VR headset demand despite the addition of the platform's top video service[7]. GuruFocus reported the app enhances multimedia features for the $3,499 device, but the broader virtual reality market continues facing significant challenges with sliding sales[6]. TechRadar called it potentially "the best reason to finally buy one," yet investor sentiment remains cautious amid Vision Pro's rocky two-year trajectory[2].
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 8:50:43 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: YouTube's Native Vision Pro App Launch Resonates Globally**
YouTube's long-awaited native app for Apple Vision Pro, supporting 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 videos for its **over 2 billion logged-in monthly users**, is poised to boost the headset's appeal worldwide by delivering seamless access to **more than a billion hours of daily video content** previously hampered by Safari workarounds[1][3]. International tech outlets like TechRadar hail it as a game-changer that strengthens Vision Pro's entertainment ecosystem alongside Disney+ and HBO Max, potentially revitalizing sales in markets beyond the US where the $3,499 device has struggled[2]. Apple spokesperson Corey Nord confirmed the full featur
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:00:47 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: YouTube's Native Vision Pro App Fails to Lift Apple Stock Amid Slumping VR Demand**
Apple's shares (AAPL) dropped **5.05%** following the launch of YouTube's native visionOS app, as investors dismissed the long-awaited addition as insufficient to revive demand for the $3,499 Vision Pro headset, which has seen scaled-back production and persistently sliding VR market interest[7]. Analysts note the app ends a two-year app drought but arrives too late for a platform criticized for lacking major content like YouTube since its 2024 debut[1][2][7]. Market sentiment reflects broader concerns, with no immediate rebound in after-hours trading despite the free app's support for 8K,
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:10:43 PM
**Breaking: YouTube Launches Native visionOS App for Apple Vision Pro, Ending Two-Year Drought.** The free app, now live in the App Store, supports standard videos, Shorts, 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content with full sign-in for subscriptions, playlists, and history, as confirmed by Apple spokesperson Corey Nord to The Verge[1][2][3]. This reversal comes amid Vision Pro's challenges, including scaled-back production and sliding VR demand for the $3,499 headset launched in February 2024[1][5].
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:20:43 PM
**BREAKING: YouTube Launches Native visionOS App for Apple Vision Pro, Ending Two-Year Wait**
YouTube's free native app, now live in the App Store, supports standard videos, Shorts, 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content with full sign-in for subscriptions, playlists, and history, as confirmed by Apple spokesperson Corey Nord: "The app supports everything from standard videos and Shorts to immersive 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content."[1][2] This reversal comes over two years after the $3,499 Vision Pro's February 2024 launch, when YouTube opted for Safari access amid scaled-back production reports.[1][6] Early hands-on tests praise the "lean back"
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:30:45 PM
**YouTube ends two-year standoff with native Apple Vision Pro app launch**
Google has officially released a native YouTube app for visionOS, reversing its initial position that it "wasn't planning" to develop for the platform and finally filling a major gap in Apple's app ecosystem more than two years after the $3,499 Vision Pro debuted in February 2024[1]. The app supports standard videos, Shorts, and immersive formats including 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content, available free on the App Store with full signed-in features like subscriptions and watch history[2]. This move represents a significant competitive shift, as YouTube was conspicuously absent when
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:40:42 PM
**BREAKING: YouTube Launches Native Vision Pro App After Two-Year Delay**
Industry analysts view YouTube's native visionOS app launch—supporting 3D, 360-degree, VR180 videos, 8K playback on M5 models, and features like subscriptions and Shorts—as a critical boost for Apple's $3,499 headset, which launched in February 2024 without major apps.[1][2][3] Bloomberg's Chris Welch notes the prior Safari-only access "left users without the ability to download videos for offline viewing," underscoring Vision Pro's "niche status" amid a lackluster app ecosystem, while Netflix holds out.[3] TechBuzz calls it "YouTube just handed Apple a lifeline," reversing Googl
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 9:50:42 PM
**YouTube has launched its first native app for Apple Vision Pro**, ending a two-year absence from the headset's app ecosystem more than two years after the device debuted in February 2024[1][2]. The free visionOS app, now available in the App Store, supports standard videos, Shorts, and immersive formats including 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content, with newer M5-equipped Vision Pro models gaining exclusive access to 8K playback[3][4]. The move marks a significant reversal for Google, which initially stated it had "no plans" to develop for the platform, addressing a critical gap that previously forced users to rely on Safari or thir
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 10:00:45 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: YouTube Native App Launches for Apple Vision Pro**
YouTube's new visionOS app, launched Thursday after two years without native support, delivers immersive playback for **3D, 360-degree, and VR180 videos**—using stereoscopic depth for true spatial experiences—plus standard videos, Shorts, subscriptions, playlists, and watch history in a "lean back" theater environment, with **8K resolution exclusive to M5-equipped Vision Pro models**[1][2][3]. Technically, it eliminates Safari's limitations like no offline downloads or full immersion, enabling signed-in access to YouTube's vast library that previously relied on clunky web wrappers or removed third-party apps like Juno[2][3][6]
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 10:10:43 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: YouTube Launches Native App for Apple Vision Pro**
YouTube's native visionOS app launch ends a two-year absence on Apple's $3,499 Vision Pro headset—launched February 2024 with only ~45,000 new units shipped in Q4 2025—potentially boosting global adoption by unlocking immersive 3D, 360-degree, VR180, and 8K playback (M5 models) for its billions of international users, moving beyond clunky Safari workarounds that Google once endorsed.[1][3][6] Tech outlets worldwide hail it as a "lifeline" for Vision Pro's niche market amid scaled-back production, though Netflix remains a holdout; Apple spokesperson Corey Nord confirmed full feature
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 10:20:41 PM
**Breaking: YouTube Launches Native visionOS App for Apple Vision Pro, Ending Two-Year Drought.** The free app, now live in the visionOS App Store for M2 and M5-powered models, supports standard videos, Shorts, subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and immersive 3D, 360-degree, and VR180 content in a theater-like virtual environment—with 8K playback exclusive to M5 chips[2][3][4][6]. Apple spokesperson Corey Nord confirmed the full feature set to The Verge, calling it a reversal from YouTube's initial 2024 refusal amid the $3,499 headset's sliding VR demand, though Netflix remains absent[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 10:30:45 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: YouTube's Native Vision Pro App Reshapes Spatial Video Playback**
YouTube's new visionOS app delivers native support for **3D, 360-degree, and VR180 videos** via a dedicated **Spatial tab**, with **8K playback** exclusive to M5-powered Apple Vision Pro models—enabling cinema-scale immersion on resizable virtual screens controlled by pinch gestures and window resizing[1][2][3]. Technically, the app features a ground-up **redesigned UI system** isolating core elements like comments and play buttons for flexible layouts, allowing videos to "fill the place the user is in—be the space itself," per YouTube engineer Polley, while boosting creator tools for spatial Shorts and
🔄 Updated: 2/12/2026, 10:40:46 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: YouTube's Native Vision Pro App Sparks Mixed Market Signals Amid Apple Slump**
Alphabet shares dipped 1.2% in after-hours trading following the YouTube app launch for Apple Vision Pro, as investors questioned the move's impact on a niche headset with stagnant adoption[1][4]. Apple's stock, already under pressure, fell another 0.8% to $218.45, reflecting ongoing Vision Pro woes including just 45,000 units shipped in Q4 2025 and halted production due to weak demand, per Financial Times reports[4]. Analysts note the app fills a key gap but underscores Vision Pro's "niche status," with no immediate sales rebound expected[1].