What I do is I tap on the three dots at the top of the post and select “open in Safari” and that typically switches it to the YouTube app about 90% of the time. It might load the YouTube site page instead sometimes but you should get the “open banner” at the top of the YouTube page and if you tap that then that will switch the video over to the YouTube app as well. Answer from zunkfunk on reddit.com
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Linkly
linklyhq.com › support › youtube-open-links-directly
How to Make YouTube Links Open in the App — Linkly
For those building applications, there are more robust methods for creating deep links that offer more control. On iOS 9 and newer, most standard https://www.youtube.com links will automatically open in the YouTube app if it's installed.
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Wikihow
wikihow.com › computers and electronics › video › video hosting and sharing websites › youtube › youtube videos › sharing youtube videos › how to open youtube links in app on android: 5 simple steps
How to Open YouTube Links in App on Android: 5 Simple Steps
December 21, 2023 - Open Settings. It’s the gear icon in the app drawer. Alternatively, tap the gear icon in the Quick Settings panel (access it by swiping down from the top of your screen). ... Tap Apps. Depending on your phone or tablet's manufacturer, this might say "Apps & notifications" instead. Scroll down to see this menu option next to a 2x2, 3x3, or 4x4 grid icon. ... Tap YouTube.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252988997
How to open a link in YouTube app instead… - Apple Community
Any video will be fine. From there, press and hold on the YouTube.com link and choose 'Open in YouTube'. After that, go back to Safari and test a different link. The link should automatically route to the YouTube app from this point on.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How To Open YouTube Video In App From ShortCut - Android - YouTube
Have you tried to make a shortcut for a YouTube video (or something else) and it's either impossible or not working right? I had a problem doing this and fou...
Published   April 14, 2022
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/iphone › youtube app won’t open links directly to video
r/iphone on Reddit: YouTube app won’t open links directly to video
November 18, 2025 -

Edit: This looks to be fixed for me as of the latest YouTube app update on 11/17. So far so good!

Using an iPhone 16 pro max on the latest iOS. Somehow the YouTube app has broken within the past few weeks. Now when I try to open any link on the phone outside of the app (like in messenger or in safari) it’ll open the app but it won’t go to the video. Instead it just goes to the Home Screen.

I’ve cleared my safari browser files, reinstalled the YouTube app, restarted the phone etc. I’m not sure what else to try but it sucks. Anyone have any suggestions that don’t involve factory resetting my phone?

Find elsewhere
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LG USA
lg.com › us › mobile-phones › VS986 › Userguide › 272.html
To open the YouTube app
Tap the Home Button > the Apps icon > YouTube . Search for and tap a video to watch it.
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App Store
apps.apple.com › us › app › youtube › id544007664
YouTube App - App Store
Create your own winter wonderlands with Photo to video on YouTube Shorts, now with open prompting · … · Terms & embargoes apply. No refunds. Commercial use excluded. 4.7 · out of 5 · 45M Ratings · 06/01/2024 · Luiso barbero · Tendrá mis 5 estrellas cuando lo arreglen.
Rating: 4.7 ​ - ​ 45.2M votes
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MiniTool
youtubedownload.minitool.com › home › news › how to fix youtube links not opening in app on android &iphone
Fix YouTube Links Not Opening in App on Android and iPhone
November 28, 2024 - This can be done by going to the Settings app, tapping on Apps, and finding Samsung Internet on the list. Then go to the App info page, tap on Samsung Internet settings, tap Useful features, and enable the toggle next to Open links in other apps. VLC Not Playing YouTube Videos?
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GitHub
github.com › FreeTubeApp › FreeTube
GitHub - FreeTubeApp/FreeTube: An Open Source YouTube app for privacy
RedirectTube, doesn’t automatically open YouTube links in FreeTube. Instead, it adds buttons to the toolbar and context menu, which you can click to open videos in FreeTube manually.
Starred by 19.6K users
Forked by 1.3K users
Languages   Vue 46.3% | JavaScript 42.8% | CSS 8.5% | SCSS 2.3% | EJS 0.1%
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254919168
How do I get YouTube links to open in the… - Apple Community
So to open a YouTube link I receive from, for example, a text, I tap the link, tap "Open App" in the browser, tap "Open the app" in the first popup, tap "Don't Allow" in the third popup (the App Store), and then finally tap "Allow" in the second popup (YouTube app).
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/youtube › youtube app is playing the first reccomended video when i open the app.
Youtube app is playing the first reccomended video when I open the app. : r/youtube
August 3, 2024 - This is the fix: Go to apps in settings, find YouTube, and click on it. There should be a "clear data" option on that page. Click the three dots in the top right, uninstall updates, go back to the Play Store, and update it again. It should be fixed. ... Thank you, just started happening to ...
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Wikihow
wikihow.com › computers and electronics › video › video hosting and sharing websites › youtube › youtube accounts › how to play youtube videos: 10 steps (with pictures) - wikihow
How to Play YouTube Videos: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
March 10, 2025 - To play a video on YouTube, go to youtube.com in your we browser → Enter a video name/subject → Click → Click a video to begin playback. Similar steps can be taken to view using the mobile app. Open your web browser.
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Android Central
forums.androidcentral.com › home › samsung android phones › more samsung phones › samsung galaxy s5
How do I get a Chrome to open up the YouTube app when I click on a YouTube link? | Android Central Forum
September 23, 2015 - That's interesting...YouTube opens for me when I click on YouTube links. I was going to say look at your Default Apps and clear them - but sounds like that was done... ... Does this happen for all sites? Or maybe one in particular? A test - search for one of your favorite youtube videos in chrome - and click on the preview...where does it play?
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/narwhalapp › feature request: "open in youtube app" option for youtube links
r/narwhalapp on Reddit: Feature Request: "Open in YouTube App" option for YouTube links
September 27, 2023 -

Summary:

  • For YouTube.com links offer an easy way to open the video in the YouTube app via native deep links.

Context:

  • For some YouTube videos I want to open them in the YouTube app, because ot gives me benefits like being able to keep listening in the background or with with the screen off, using picture-in-picture, subscribing to the creators channel, or interacting with the comments using the native app.

  • I have cookies off for links I open in narwhal because I don't trust most sites, but that means I'm always signed out of youtube when I do "open in browser" so getting to the app requires two clicks

  • I like using the built in player most of the time, and wouldn't want to open YouTube for every video, just for some (like 1hr long interviews, live streams, etc)

  • while you can't implement handlers for every domain, YouTube is a bit of an 800lb gorilla. A significant amount of content on reddit is links to YT, and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Also as a large company their deep-links API is probably relatively stable and unlikely to represent a serious incremental cost in maintenance.

Possible implementations:

  • A button on the video player UI like the mute/unmute button

  • an option in the menu similar to "Open in Browser"