Official YouTube app for Windows Phone 7 and 8 is back and now available

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Earlier this year, Microsoft surprise its users by releasing its own YouTube app, complete with login and advanced management features of the popular streaming service. At the time, it was thought that Microsoft had come to an agreement with Google over the app, but as it turns out that was not the case. After some back and forth between the companies, Microsoft had agreed to pull the app as they work on a new, compliant version with Google.

Today, version 3.2.0.0 of YouTube is now live on the Store for Windows Phone 7.x and Windows Phone 8 devices.

The new app looks a lot like the app that was pulled and even includes an upload feature for posting videos directly to the service. That should reassure customers who believe the app would be stripped of functionality (one feature that seems to be missing is downloading of videos).

According to the app description, the features include:

  • Pin any video, playlist, channel, and search queries to Live Tiles
  • Manage your YouTube profile with your unique My YouTube page
  • Manage your playlists, uploads, and video lists
  • Find channels, videos, and playlists with the quick access search bar
  • Share videos to your social networks, e-mail, and text messages
  • Let your kids watch safe videos in Kid’s Corner and keep their own profile

The app is now available for older devices too, which is a great win for legacy users who have felt left out lately from Microsoft’s releases.

You can download the now official (and legal) YouTube app for Windows Phone here in the Store.

Update: See our video tour of the app in this follow up article

QR: YouTube

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

231 Comments
  • Yes!!! Its back like cooked crack.
  • I think I will stick with supporting the developer who made MetroTube.
  • I think I will stick with supporting cooked crack
  • Mike Rowesoft supports cooked crack!
  • Same here, I'm sticking with LazyWorm Apps and Metrotube will always be my main YouTube client.
  • Try mytube, so much better than metrotube.
  • Alright I will give it a whirl
  • I have been using MyTube for the past few weeks and actually prefer it to MetroTube.
  • MyTube is way better then metrotube!
  • Same here as MetroTube has better WP UI Designing & the Video Download feature too + Official app features
  • Metrotube is Awesome ... :) I know Youtube/Google will steals the features from this app as they always do :/
  • Yes sir lol just making my lumia 925 better , is the app that i probably use the most .
  • I like this app better, but I use MetroTube on my laptop.
  • Lol. OMG!!
  • Great! The article says that it's missing download functionality.. I mean how hard is it to open the youtube video and add "dlv" in front of it so that it becomes www.dlvyoutube.com ?  
  • HA! I never upgraded! but this looks good
  • Same here! I don't let my youtube version with download feature go!
  • Still have the #1 on my store tile :p
  • I couldn't stand it anymore lol
  • haha me too. Having to install updates individually to avoid updating YouTube has been a pain, but worth it!
  • Lol, me too.
  • Well then. Lets see how this pans out. The account menu looks quite weird without the downloads button :(
  • No quick video review?
  • Eck, you're gonna make me work for this today, eh? Lemme see. Update: Video tour
  • @Daniel Lol
  • Please! :)
  • On my side, I am working on spreading the news to some whiners, aka tech bloggers not familier with WP! :D And thank you.
  • It's Tuesday, Daniel. Don't be a bitch.
  • Daniel, can you let us know if this app serves up ads?
    Thanks!
  • I had the same question, but yess there are ads ... 
     
    Greetzz.
  • Gonna watch some hilarious cat videos straight away lol !!!!!
  • Ahaaa, me to! /afk
  • Here's 20 minutes crazy cats.
    Epic Funny Cats 20 Minutes
    http://youtu.be/Kdgt1ZHkvnM
  • You must be British!
  • Just downloaded it. Only because I'm tired of seeing the 1 on the icon.
  • Oh no, and now you can't download :/
  • From my one try at the download back then, I couldn't watch the downloaded videos on the subway without a network connection. Killed one of the major points of downloading for me. I have enough data allowance for me not to worry about streaming, since I barely stream video or music to begin with
  • Downloads worked for me in airplane mode on a plane, so maybe it was just a fluke?
  • I'm about to do the same thing. Microsoft went through a lot of crap with Scroogle to get this released. I'm still a fan of Metrotube though.
  • That's true. Microsoft deserves props for this. I will use this app just to show that the effort was worth it. Plus, I still bought MetroTube twice. :). And I can mix and match.
  • Metrotube was the first app I bought on Windows Phone. It was, is and will be my main YouTube app. :)
  • Initial impressions are very positive
  • Everyone can now go flash that Amber firmware without fear of losing YouTube!
  • Still can't believe some people wouldn't flash their phones cos of that!! There must have been videos of hot chicks flashing on it !!!
  • ^_^ Great, just in time as I'm receiving my phone soon...
  • I received mine a couple of hours ago so a great present.
  • "This Microsoft developed YouTube App and its creators are not associated with or sponsored by YouTube, LLC or Google,Inc." Curious, no? Anyway, I kept the old version so all I had to do was update.
  • Microsoft does have a history of updating apps before updating their descriptions, so it could just be left over.
  • It looks nice
  • With this new updated version, will this replace my metrotube app?
  • Yup, I already deleted metrotube once I saw the title of this article haven't even read it yet. Hehe.
  • MetroTube still much better!
    The OLD YouTube (by Microsoft) version 3.0.5015.1 is MUCH BETTER also,
    I will skip this DOWNGRADE... Cheers,
  • What made the old version better? According to the article, the only thing that changed is the download button.
  • and ads :)
  • Depends. This official one is nice but MetroTube has some advantages. Try both. I personally am keeping both Apps.
  • I did. Unless downloading videos is important to you, I see no need for metrotube (wish I hadn't paid for it).
  • Still has metrotube on my phone. Other than preloading/downloading, what are advantages of metrotube? Can't edit my videos/profile/etc. I upload highlight reels of black ops 2 from my Xbox and have to go through browser to edit titles/descriptions/etc.
  • RAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRR!!!!!!
  • Unpinning MyTube and replacing it with this... Still hate you google!
  • Did the same exact thing.
  • Ad's though right?
  • To be honest, ads don't bug me nearly so much as the inability to download videos.  After all, ads are how content providers make money off their product without having to charge for it.
  • Welp, metrotube still has preloaded. Personally I never used the feature, and metrotube ran kinda flow for me./
  • This is exciting. Hurrying to test it out. :)
  • The '1' can go.... FINALLY.... phew ... and also I can tap 'Update All'
  • Never thought I would be saying this thank you scroogle
  • About what? This is all Microsoft's work, thank them.
  • App is publish by Microsoft not Google.
    UF anything, still hate Google for not having download and for imposing ads.
  • Why no Windows Mobile 6 version???
  • Haha good one
  • because WM is dead llike windows 98.
  • Windows 98 ain't dead. Got two PCs at work with it!
  • /sarcasm
  • Hopefully we see more calaboration from these two.  But...
  • They only collaborated in what features the app could/couldn't have.
    Microsoft did the development themselves.
  • I still have the original. Does this one have ads?
  • Yes.
  • Thanks. I'll stick with the original.
  • I am so glad. My lumia 800, got it. Daniel Rubino, any news about facebook(the new one) for legacy devices?
  • Finally, but mytube might never stop being my main source for youtube anyway
  • Dan, is this any way better than the old version that was pulled? I know download is gone, something else? if its worse, I can live with the "1" update perpetually :)
  • Wow, without any fanfare. Just updated the app, now comes the test. Google + Microsoft = Love n Happiness, No?
  • No.
  • http://www.fedupusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Grumpy-Cat-NO.jpg
  • Ads have been added
  • Crap! Guess I'll live with the 1 on my store tile.
  • If this is "next weeks" I'm afraid of what "early 2014" could mean.
  • The correct version should be 3.2.0.0
  • Sweet. I had to swap devices and lost this.
  • Aaannnnddd.... Google blinks.
  • Love it. All that's left to do is for there to be a setting for YouTube links to open into the app.
  • Links do open in this app.
  • Seems like its not available for everyone, because it tells me I can't download it, L720 - jordan,
    Update: nvm, got it :)
  • Same with me...not available on L720 - India. I am not sure if it requires 1GB or is it location based!!
  • It should be available now. My brother and I just downloaded it.
  • I can't give up d download option so no thanx I'm not updating!!
  • Awesome! Glad to have the app back, looks pretty nice.
  • I paid for a version of metro tube and love it, but this app seems so much faster. Now I am torn.
  • I paid too, wish I hadn't. Deleted metrotube long ago.
  • I know how you feel.  I'm gonna keep both and if there is something I know I want to save for offline viewing I'll just use MetroTube
  • can anyone check if its also available on Windows 8? 
  • Can't download here :/
    Lumia 620, Amber, US.
  • One thing about the old app is I found is somewhat laggy. I'm not willing to update it to the new one unless that has been smoothed out, id like to be able to upload to YouTube from my phone. :) If I want to download ill use metrotube.
  • No lag for me.
  • Finally i have had update for youtube stuck in my market place for the past few months after they pulled it
  • Looks great on my 1020! Me happy!!!!
  • Oh yeah using a 920.
  • Does this have ads like the Bing weather/news/etc? That is why I trashed those apps.
  • Because of a tiny ad at the bottom?
    Sounds more like you just didn't want/need the apps.
  • I do not support apps that have ads, regardless of how small. I would replace Amazing Weather HD with Weather because of the beautiful UI if not for the ads.
  • I guess if I paid for a weather app, I'd be hesitant to leave it too.
  • Weird, I haven't seen any ads on Bing weather.
  • Scroll all the way to the bottom of map & forecast pages. Tiny WP ads, hardly intrusive.
  • I'll prob stick with the older one without the ads, for now.
  • I can't download it. Is this available only to a certain region? I'm from the Philippines.
  • Change your region to US, probably you already tried that
  • People need to understand if they search it on marketplace will problaby not find it. Try using QR code, worked to me.
  • What is the big deal about downloading video? I don't get it
    I mean why is Google making such a big deal, I can see why people would like the feature.
  • Yes!!!!!!!!
  • Thanks for the 7.8 update my focus s loves it but still love metrotube
  • Is there no HD option? Or am I just blind.
  • Please don't remove it again :)
  • Email Google.
  • Anyone else find it interesting that this is the first app that will let you upload videos *already in your camera roll*. As I understood it, no app had access to videos in the camera roll - that's why the only video upload you get in WP apps is for videos you've taken in the app itself.
    Is that right, or am I crazy? If I'm not crazy, then this is the first time WP has been truly able to upload vids to YouTube. Awesome!
  • I've uploaded videos to Facebook from my camera roll before. I can't, however, upload videos not in my camera roll (video on phone not recorded with phone).
  • Ah, ok. I stand corrected (I don't use Facebook). Thanks!
  • How about Nokia Video Upload?
  • Well, the first time us "pre-amber/GDR2 users" have been able to upload straight to YouTube anyway..
  • ...AND you can share videos directly from the Photos app through the 'Share' app bar menu option. Very nice!
  • You're right! This is the first time we've actually been able to upload directly to YouTube from our phones/camera rolls.. something I sorely missed from the iPhone. Things are getting better over here on the dark side! ;-)
  • Wish they had kept the black background on the app's tile.
  • At long last its back :D
  • +920 I updated from the "old" version because the article says the new version includes upload feature. First video I try to upload is 308 MB and app says its too large to upload :(
    update: Yes I'm on WiFi.
  • Are you on WiFi?
  • Awesome! I got my Lumia 928 after the first app went down, but its good to have the upload feature! And for downloading videos I have the File Downloader app :)
  • I literally just pee'd a lil, LITERALLY! not figuratively!
  • That's because you probably read this on the toilet. Like I am.
  • so why we can not send videos with whatsapp
  • It supports Live video streaming now. I think its a complete app now :-)
  • It does? That's awesome!
  • I really hope they rid the store of all those YouTube apps. Search the store for YouTube , its like, what the fck?!
  • Im mad i cant upload most vids "too big" but im on wifi -_-
  • Great Youtube app, hope Google is ok with it
  • Seems sluggish, often can't connect to network.
  • Sure that's not your connection? Seems fast enough on my phone (only watched 3 videos though so far).
  • Watch a video and scroll through the comments, you'll see it lag. Oh well. :(
  • While watching video I scrolled, commented, and replied... No lag for me.
  • I'm not seeing any lag either, and I'm running a 7.x device.
  • Still not available here in singapore
  • I use PRIMETUBE and can't complain at all (stopped using METROTUBE a while back when it was having problems). I'll download this but I'm keeping PRIMETUBE because its the same as my tablet and I like that.
  • I have a bigger problem youtube just doesn't show up on my region, JUST great Microsoft Just great. 
  • Please wait... That app not available in all countries yet. It took some time
  • ;'(
  • Does it still add crazy amounts of space to other storage? That's the only problem I had with the original. Best YouTube app though.
  • Ads.. Hate those thing...
  • Wohoo! Great news.. Miss that app. They removed the option which let me download the video, which gives a point to MetroTube in the comparison.
    Still love this one.
  • Still keeping MyTube: 1. I can browse other videos while playing and 2. If I just wanna hear the videos and browse the web I can.
  • Wtf google... How about metrotube?! It also have downloading feature...
  • Shhhh! Quiet!!
  • +1020
  • Don't uninstall you Nokia Uploader yet, the new MS YouTube app has far stricter file size limitations.
    Use the Nokia app to upload a large video, then use the MS You Tube app to set it's category, title, etc.
  • So when is this app going to be ported to win8
  • why use an app on a desktop OS when you could just go to the website??
     
    Now all i need is the facebook app to be backported to WP7 and ill be set till my next phone :D
  • I use both metro and MS Official YouTube app
  • Good to see the WP7 support.
  • haha im still rocking v3.0. No ads and offline downloads. Still working solid as ever.
  • Oh this great, support for windows phone 7 at the same time with wp8.
  • any point in me updating? I never updated the controversial one with DL feature. it works great.
  • If you want continued support & upgrades, yes.
    If downloading videos is important to you, no.
  • is it not available for the devixe with 512mb RAM?
  • Works fine on my L521.
  • Search for YouTube in the marketplace and download the one by Microsoft Corporation (for wp7)
  • Thank God...finally for WP 7.8. Now facebook is next :-)
  • Metrotube for me too. Thanks google, but no thanks.
  • No thanks im keeping this app. No ads plus download !
  • METRO TUBE FTW...
    ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL YOU TUBE APP IS A GOOD THING FOR WP IN GENERAL..
  • i can't download it. i'm using lumia 820 amber, US region. what region is it available? thanks!
  • Still have the old app...
  • don't tell me they stop the downloads, again.. :(
  • Well, when this app available on Indonesia?
  • Search YouTube or Facebook on the marketplace SOOO MANY third party apps
  • I tought that Microsoft forbidded the 3th party Facebook apps? Or am i wrong? :o 
     
    Greetzz.
  • I started downloading this app from the store but suddenly error code 8000ffff showed up and the app is no longer available, nor is it visible in store.
  • try to search it first at the store then download it. direct download initially from the qr code doesn't work earlier.
  • type youtube on search field. then find youtube with microsoft corporation as publisher. :)
  • Why I can't install it on my lumia 800, it said that it also provide for wp 7.x :(
  • Same problem here too
  • I tried installing it on my mothers Lumia 900, everything worked well, downloading, installing ... Greetzz from Belgium.
  • I can't get to download the app on my WP7, anyone facing similar issue ?
  • It says not available for my phone. :(
    AT&T HTC Titan wp 7.8
  • Not going to update, pesky ads
  • Every ad I've seen was skippable after 5 seconds.
  • Oh yeah. I held on to the version that was pulled. Updating now.
  • I'm glad this official YouTube app is now available, although I will still hang on to MyTube in the meantime.
  • Can I still set region to worldwide?
  • damn, i've searched in Store, the result is unofficial Youtube app.
     
    MSFT! You should delete unofficial youtube :(
     
    #sorryenglish
  • This App is not availabe for your device. Tap Here for more info.
     
     
    wat the ? #lumia 920-Indonesia (region set to US)
  • had the same problem but now it is solved. try to search it first at the store then download it. direct download initially from the qr code doesn't work earlier.
  • now i can download.
     
    but a new problem strikes again : blank screen while trying to watch video.
     
    heeeelppp.
     
    (note : before MSFT pull out utube apps in store (with download feature) still cant watch videos, blank screen.
    #sorry english
  • The app seems not available in India. Although I'm happy using MetroTube
  • Try now. I just installed it.
  • I'd rather spend $0.99 and give google the middle finger
  • Nah... I didn't care much for the first app from MS, and I don't care much for this one.  I'll stick to MyTube for the time being.  I'll even give the man my money to have it full time.  It's just that much better to me.  Also yay for no ads.  
     
    Seriously... Mytube or Metrotube.  Pick one, and be happy. 
  • Love it!! :)
  • I'm not gonna downgrade. I prefer download feature, and no ads :P
  • Great stuff. Please can we have a Windows 8 port please as the apps for tablets are pretty poor. An official port would be ideal, especially after all the claims from MS last year that porting from WP8 to W8 should be fast and simple.
  • It's good to have options but i prefer metrotube !
  • Enable Live Tiles setting still doesn't have any influence on the live tile. Meaning it is always live. At least in my 920. :/
  • Now get official Instagram and Pinterest apps and give the haters nothing to talk about.
  • It still eats up Other that it doesn't release. App itself needs a clear cache-temp files. My other mytube app doesn't do that but after half hour with this last night 500MB of other filled up... Sigh...
  • Says app is not compatible with my 620 on gdr2 ?
  • "one feature that seems to be missing is downloading of videos".... in Android app, I can't either download them... which is the issue?
  • I can live with no downloads but ads on vids no thanks. I get enough of that on my desktop and all I do there is skip the ads anyways.
  • Cool thing is back again.
  • Not available in india??
  • It seemed great at first then the video I was watching froze. Now I can't even get the website to work. Either Verizon or youtube is experiencing issues.
    It appears to be verizon. I'm having trouble with everything now.
  • I'm sure I'll catch hate for this but, I'm gonna steer clear of this BECAUSE they worked with google.
     
    :-/
  • Well done Microsoft and Google.  This shows that there's hope for the Google Plus app. ;-)
  • Useless because of file size limit. What is MS actually thinking we are going to upload? 320X240? This app is ridiculous!
  • ok now its not working! WTF!  I was actually enjoying it!
  • "The Youtube service isn't available"......
  • I don't know if it is only an issue with the old app (I never updated from the version that allow downloads), but not a single video is working. I would be quite annoyed if they are blocking the old version of the app from streaming.
  • Yep its broken as of right now, was working this morning.  Getting a message when launching that says: "Something happened but were not sure what"
  • Me too :(
    I get that error message trying to do anything in the app... Seems its broken.
  • Erro APP Youtube.
    https://twitter.com/emehcomp/status/367806910679900160/photo/1
  • Got happy about the new app but after update and re install all that i've got is that it only says "Something happened but were not sure what".
     
     
  • ohh, great now youtube video streaming will be easier, till now i have to use third party apps which were very annoying with their ads and all bad features... #hdness
  • who needs youtube. That's why there's netflix and hulu for quality programming. If I wanted sh*tty videos, i'd watch cable. Quote me on that do-no-evil Google. lol. 
  • hm.. well.. something happend.......
    http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/9513930807_f35a04852b_b.jpg
  • Daniel, it has been blocked again.
  • but i install the new youtube app and its the same problem . it has benn blocked again ?