Factsheet
YouTube-Links are opening the YouTube-App, but gets stuck at the YouTube-Homescreen
FreeTube: An Open Source YouTube Client
YouTube app won’t open links directly to video
Videos
Whenever I receive a link for a YouTube-Video (via WhatsApp, Signal, SMS,...) and I try opening it in the YouTube-App by tapping on it, it opens the app, but I just get directed to the homescreen of YouTube, instead of getting forwarded to the video I'm trying to open.
To fix this issue I tried several things:
reinstalling the YouTube-App
clearing cache for Safari and Chrome
rebooting the device
factory resetting the data privacy settings
trying opening the video from different sources
trying different links
verifying, that it is an issue specific to the YouTube-App by trying to reproduce the issue with Spotify or Instagram
updating all apps and the OS
I'm running out of possible things to do to fix this issue and hope someone has had similar issues and found a fix or at least a workaround. Both the official Apple support and Google support could not help me. Does anybody have any other idea?
iPhone 16 Pro Max iOS 26.1 Youtube 20.45.3 Safari up to date, can't find the version
Recently I was looking for a YouTube client for my Mac.
My requirements were:
Privacy focused (Google is evil)
PiP support
Built-in AdBlock & SponsorBlock
Open source
Ideally free, but I was willing to pay for a great app.
I came across FreeTube, and since installing, it's been close to perfect. I haven't used YouTube's website on my Mac outside of a few rare occasions. The extra bonuses that came with it made it all the better.
You can import your subscriptions or start a list of your own within the app, without an account.
It tracks your watch history so you know what videos you watched and can pick back up where you left off.
HDR is supported, even in PiP.
It's free!
Invidious is an option to stream instead of going straight to YouTube's servers.
Lots and LOTS of customization options, from privacy to appearance.
You can also use it on Windows and Linux, if you are so inclined.
Download videos in a variety of file formats, resolutions, and audio/video only.
Much more but I want to keep this short and sweet.
If you are looking for a local YouTube client, look no further.
You can find FreeTube's GitHub repo here.
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?