MyTube! Companion extension lets you open YouTube links in the app

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

Now you can ditch your browser for the myTube app with any YouTube link.

In the absence of an official YouTube app for Windows 10, myTube has become king for those looking for a native experience. The only rub is that you can't set the app to directly open when you click a YouTube link around the web. However, a new browser extension from a third-party developer is offering up a solution to that minor annoyance (via Neowin).

Called simply myTube! Companion, the extension lets you quickly redirect any YouTube link you open in your browser to the myTube app. The extension was created by a developer by the name of Arlo Godfrey, and it's available for all major browsers, including Edge, Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. Once installed, the extension will ask you any time you open a YouTube link whether you'd like to watch the video in myTube, and it will then open it in the app.

MyTube Companion is open source, and developers can dive into the code on GitHub. If you just want to give it a shot for yourself, however, you can snag it on the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab), Chrome Web Store, and the Firefox Add-ons page (opens in new tab) now. For opera users, you can install the Chrome version of the extension for your browser.

It's a small addition, but the extension will likely be a welcome workaround for heavy MyTube users. For more, you can check out the developer's work at their website.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

21 Comments
  • MyTube is easily the number one reason I'm still on Windows Phone.
  • +1
  • ^
  • Well the thing is - it's useless for me on PC. I need this extension on my Lumia, because that's where I use myTube. On the desktop, the website is probably the best YouTube experience you can have.
  • Not true. The website is a horrible laggy mess. I'm very glad for this extension. It makes YouTube so much more usable on desktop
  • It is probably due to an atypical browser being used.
  • Firefox is not atypical and it has the same YouTube "loading" issue due to Google's implementation and design. And if you count Edge that's 2 out of 3 of the major desktop browsers actually making Chrome atypical. Words - they matter. FTFY (as usual).
  • Until you look at useage share. Edge and Firefox combined is only ~15%.
  • Actually for me MS Edge is way faster for YouTube than Opera, cannot use Chrome because it keeps crashing or freezing. Firefox so-so but better than Opera as well.
  • YouTube was made to run best on Chrome browser because Google devs don't use Open Web Apis but use their made up stuff.
  • @Ma Rio That could have been easily fixed with a add button under apps for websites... perhaps they added it in the creators update... i don't know as none of my Lumias can get the creators update officially and there is no indepth review of the creators update.
    I also use Mytube exclusively on desktop and metrotube sparingly however on a touch screen device, I prefer metrotube.
  • Apps for websites can't be used with myTube because the developer doesn't own youtube.com
  • I'm suggesting an "open with" functionality via the apps for websites.
    Similar to app defaults.
  • What would make this extension even better if we had an option to automatically load youtube links in mytube (disabled by default so you have to opt-in otherwise Google will throw a hissy fit).
  • I'll add it to the todo list!
  • Awesome! Looking forward to seeing how this extension evolves over time :).
  • Sorry guys, mobile isn't possible... I wish it was
  • If only Edge mobile could get extension WP could've been alive for years. But alas...
  • Hey look, my extension made the news! Awesome 😄
  • Congrats!!
  • Exactly what was missing for me to use MyTube!
    A quick suggestion (don't know if it's possible) but it'd be great that the opened browser tab close automatically (as soon as possible to prevent video starting to play etc)