YouTube for Android

YouTube is Google’s official video app for Android phones and tablets. It provides access to standard videos, Shorts, premieres and live streams, covering music, gaming, education, news, entertainment and many other topics.

Videos can be watched without signing in, but a Google Account is required for subscriptions, comments, watch history, personalised recommendations and saved playlists.

Watching and finding videos

The Home feed recommends content based on viewing activity and subscriptions. Users can search by title, creator or topic and filter results by upload date, duration and content type.

Playback controls include video quality, speed, captions, chapters and full-screen mode. Supported videos can also be sent to a compatible smart TV or streaming device, allowing the Android phone to work as a remote control.

Subscriptions and community features

Users can subscribe to channels, like videos, post comments and save content to Watch Later. The Subscriptions section collects recent uploads from selected creators.

Live streams and premieres may include real-time chat. Some creators also offer paid channel memberships with exclusive posts, badges and other benefits. Availability depends on the creator and country.

Creating content on Android

The YouTube app can upload recorded videos, create Shorts and manage basic publishing settings. Eligible channels can also start live streams directly from a mobile device.

Creators should check that they have permission to use any music, images or video clips included in an upload. Copyright restrictions can affect visibility or monetisation.

YouTube Premium features

YouTube Premium removes most advertising and adds background playback, listening with the screen turned off and offline downloads for supported videos. Membership also includes YouTube Music Premium.

Premium plans, offline viewing and individual features are not available in every country or for every type of content.

How to download and install YouTube

To download YouTube for Android, open its Google Play page and tap the install button. YouTube is preinstalled on many Android devices, so the store may display an update option instead.

A stable internet connection is recommended for high-quality playback. Users with limited mobile data can select a lower video quality or restrict high-resolution streaming to Wi-Fi.