YouTube Drops Support for Older iPhones and iPads
YouTube has quietly ended support for several older iPhone and iPad models with its latest iOS and iPadOS app update (version 20.22.1).
Although the update's release notes mention only “bug fixes, performance improvements, and more cat videos”, there's a significant change under the hood: the app now requires iOS or iPadOS 16 to run.
As a result, the following devices are no longer supported:
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE (1st gen)
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 4
Users with these models will no longer receive updates or support for the YouTube app. While many of these devices are aging, they’re still widely used, especially iPads that serve as dedicated YouTube players for kids or casual users.
If your device is affected, consider an upgrade or stick with an older version of the app, knowing that future support and features will be limited.