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How to watch YouTube on Apple Watch
The official YouTube app doesn't run on Apple Watch. A third-party player can: TubeWrist searches and streams YouTube videos on the watch itself, over Wi-Fi or cellular, with your iPhone left at home.
Is there a YouTube app for Apple Watch?
Not from Google. As of October 2026, the official YouTube app on the App Store supports iPhone and iPad, but no Apple Watch models. To watch on your wrist, you need a third-party app built for watchOS.
TubeWrist is one. It is an unofficial client, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by YouTube or Google LLC. It plays publicly available videos directly on the watch. It is not a remote control for your phone.
1. Install TubeWrist
Download TubeWrist from the App Store. It needs watchOS 10 or later. If the app doesn't show up on your watch after installing, open the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll to TubeWrist, and tap Install.
2. Connect headphones for sound
This is the step most people miss. watchOS does not route video sound to the Apple Watch's built-in speaker, and no app can change that. Pair AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones with the watch and sound plays, even if you connect them mid-video. Without headphones, TubeWrist still plays the picture, silently.
3. Search and play
Open TubeWrist on your watch, tap search, and enter what you're looking for. Tap a result and it plays on the watch. You can also browse channel pages, live streams, and comments.
Tips for a better experience
- Turn your wrist for a bigger picture. Enable Landscape Video in Settings for a picture about 27% larger.
- Listen like a podcast. Audio-only mode drops the picture, saves data and battery, and keeps playing with your wrist down.
- Leave the phone behind. On Wi-Fi or a cellular watch, TubeWrist works without your iPhone nearby.
- If a video asks you to prove you're not a robot, go to Settings ▸ Account ▸ Sign in with Google. It's optional, and the sign-in token stays on your watch.
Why is the quality capped at 480p?
On purpose. The largest Apple Watch display is about 416×502 points, so 720p or 1080p would be pixels the screen can't show. They'd only cost battery and cellular data.
What does it cost?
TubeWrist is a $1.99 download with every feature unlocked for three days. After that, TubeWrist Pro keeps the app running: $1.99 a week, $3.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $24.99 once. In Australia it's A$2.99 to download, then A$2.99 a week, A$5.99 a month, A$29.99 a year, or A$39.99 once. Elsewhere, your App Store shows the local price. Pro pays for the app itself, not for any YouTube content or service.
