Official YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 gets a major overhaul too with version 3.0

When it rains, it pours. Today, the official YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 has received a massive makeover, bringing new features and becoming more than just a web-wrapper for the popular video streaming site.

Version 3.0 is now going live in the Store (depending on region) and brings a new UI, High, Medium and Low video quality settings, pinnable channels, ability to download videos for offline play, play under Lockscreen and more. Indeed, it’s just about everything most casual users could want in an official YouTube client.

The full Changelog is as follows:

"Pin any video, playlist, channel, and even search queries to Live Tiles. Live Tiles flip to show YouTube’s most popular videos or your subscriptions’ latest uploads. YouTube for Windows Phone is also integrated with Kid’s Corner, so you can ensure your kids are watching age-appropriate videos."

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

On Windows Phone 7? Have no fear as an upgraded version for that platform is in the works as well, meaning Microsoft has not forgotten about you folks.

Pick up the official YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 here in the Store. Availability will vary as the app gets updated on Microsoft’s servers.

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

385 Comments

So it's no longer just a link to mobile Youtube?

Amazing
lol +1
Thank you, Jesus!
About flippin' time
Afrikaans ? :D
Facebook Beta youtube foursqaure what's next? :D
Instagram. ;P
Forget Instagram.. Mobli is better. You can share photos and videos inatagram like
lets push our luck: instagram and Temple Run 2! :D
FLIPBOARD!!!
YES Flipboard
flipboard & instagram , sweet
dear god please let flipboard arrive.
Vine and instagram
VINE AND INSTAGRAM YEAH!
Tough luck since Vine is not even available on Android.
What is Vine?
n app for Twitter that lets u post 6sec vids
That sounds amazing.
Ok... maybe not.
lol
Vine ,instagram, snapchat &keek
And they're nicely done too!
And Halo Waypoint recived an update too!!
But still not showing my Halo 4 info! Come on 343i!
The halo 4 smartglass app is for halo 4. 343 doesn't own the waypoint app, it does however have a link to your halo 4 stats online
Snapchat!
+1
Snapchat has a place under technical support/ "my device is incompatible" to let them know you want them to support windows phone. If enough users let them know, they might create an app.
Navy Federal Credit Union...?
+1
+10
+1
Wells Fargo!
+1
+2
-1 They are evil.
That's pretty much how banking works lol
while (1)
{
+1
}
there you go.
You just crashed the comments.
+100
Wells Fargo Plz!!!
Just looking through the forums:

Top 3:
1. Instagram
2. Flipboard
3. PinInterest
1. Flipboard
2. Kingdom rush (1 and 2). But i know Ironhide Game Studio not support WP8 and W8. Why guys?
3. Jelly Defense (perfect T.D.)
4.More PERFECT games and the same PRICE with another OS (iOS or adroid).
5. Instagram
6. DEVEPOPERS support Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.
I am probably in the minority, but I would love to see a SiriusXM app. This is only for North America. While I am loving Nokia Music (okay, it can get repetitive in offline mode, but is free and doesn't use data), it just isn't the same as SiriusXM. It kinda sucks to pay for a service and not be able to use it. Worst of all is the fact that I pay extra for the MLB package.
Another vote for SiriusXM. I had been emailing them for months, kept being told to hang on. I stopped, still paying for the internet, but ready to cancel. :(
Because I really don't get why everyone needs instagram so desperately I'd prefer some changes to the actual OS... - VPN support, OS wise! (just dreaming, probably won't come this year :( ) - support of increase/decrease volume with your headphone's buttons (also not this year, if even?) - smaller local apps, like your local rent-a-bike-company etc
BC we don't have it and other platforms do
A decent Steam app (original or not) finally allowing a reliable STEAM FRIEND chat! Anything I tried (and paid for) in the WP store sucks tremendously!! :\
+1 A Steam app would be awesome, TeamSpeak 3 is also very welcome!
Tr2 and instagram is coming i think :D :D
Still just a link to YouTube mobile
Nope, yours isnt updated yet.
Its a full app now, try again in some minutes
That makes sense thanks sir
Nice lookin app
MetroTube is THE YouTube solution for me on Surface and WP. This is nice but I already have a better option.

Glad to see this recent spate of app updates though!
Metrotube is nice but this update suddenly changes everything. I am getting rid of MetroTube right away. The official app is good enough. And fast ;)
+1
Erased Metrotube right away. The official app is really fast and clean. Love it!
As far as I have discovered MS app can't reply to a comment. It can only add main comments on the video. Metrotube allows nested comment replies. So far, I'm sticking with it.
Metrotube makes my battery hot as lava rocks and drains it fast.
I'm with Metrotube since they have always supported Windows Phone and I think its still way better than this official Microsoft Youtube app. What took soooooo looong?
What took MS so long. Answer.... Google.
I use myTube, even after installing this I will still use myTube because it has really nice animations and is really clean. Maybe I will use the "official" YouTube client full time when it evolves a little more, but for now its playing substitute :P
WOW.... thats awesome... Microsoft seems to be back in business!
I won't say that until Xbox Music gets updated...
+1
Yep
Seriously!!
Word!
➕100000000000
Interesting as how Google agreed to let them do it. Seems like a complete U-turn.
Maybe it was a compromise bettween the two companies? Is that why we aren't seeing any more Scoogled ads?
Well Google have open APIs for YouTube which other developers (MetroTube, etc) have been using for a while. So this is just a case of MS finally putting out a decent app using those apis, than any change at Google. Good news either way though.
MetroTube has been skirting the rules with it's YouTube app.
nope, metrotube hacked the APIs
Been great couple weeks!

official tumblr, new Facebook (beta), new foursquare, google finally stopped being a dick (Youtube)....
This app has Nothing to do with Google.. It's all Microsoft baby!
Microsoft has wanted to release this for quite some time but google had to stop being a dick and allow them to.
Have u seen the relentless push from Microsoft to be an asshole to google? I would be a bit sour also
You have the cause and effect backwards.
You realize Microsoft owns patents for things and Google has refused to compensate Microsoft for them? That my friend is called protecting your Intellectual Property. Otherwise, I dare you to make a game for whatever platform and let someone else release the same game with no changes and charge nothing or less than you. Bet the time and money you would lose would make you sue for the IP of your game. Google already tracks your every move on their services. So why not let them do whatever with no consequences and not even allow people to use your services even though they did the work. I bet this deals with the anticompetitive investigation against Google.
Microsoft made an app, but Google didn't allow them to access API and publish app.
+1
+1
Man really wanted to see my store still says no update even try to look at the app it won't let me update only share anybody else
Restart
I'm in the UK and I've just updated, but it's still showing the mobile site -- going to uninstall and try again .
Same here. Im in the UK, just updated to V2.0 and its just going to the mobile site.
This is version 3.0, so you updated to an older version.
Bizarre, I've had another update which has just 'updated' me back to V1.0
Same here. I will have to try later I guess.
Try changing ur region, I'm in Aussie n we usually get things last but I got ver3
I'm in NZ, so probably the same here! I got the update a couple of hours after posting that comment. Very nice. I like how the SD links from the WP Central app are picked up in the new Youtube app, from which I can select high quality.
You could also try grabbing the wpstore url and paste in your phone IE and keep refreshing it will give you the udpate in one or two attempts.
Yes this worked thanks
This is pretty encouraging news, esp for the arrival of the new Lumia flagship in the States. With these app updates, and more surely to follow, it can only be good news for Microsoft and Nokia.
Very surprised Google cares enough to update this considering how little consideration they've given WP in the past. This is really nice to see. Edit: Didn't realize this was done by Microsoft...of course...Google is still the devil.
Who knows, maybe Google+ is next
The App is still being done by Microsoft. Google merely gave them access to do so. I'm not seeing Google do Apps themselves anytime soon.
My mistake. I knew there was no way Google would be nice enough to do this themselves.
Its not Google's update, MS made this and they updated it
which is a little bothersome if you're a glass-half-full kind of person. I'll take it, myself. Shows MS is supporting the platform.
The App is made by Microsoft
its not google its microsoft app
One person telling me is enough. Thanks.
I guess we were all writing before refreshing comments to see that someone already had mentioned it.
i haven't seen all these comments when i wrote mine :\
Just to confirm, its not Google app, its made by Microsoft.
LOL
LOL
Just so you know. Microsoft made the app, not google.
I think google made the app, didn't they? Noone seems to be confirming it though.
I knew this was going to happen. Ha
Google is nota "devil" they simply will not support a small platform like yours.
Agree to disagree.
Why is Google the "devil"
Windows Phone is a happy platform....exciting things happening to us. We thank God WP7 is still being remembered ;-)
And just a reminder for the obligatory WP7 remark, it IS coming to WP7! :)
Yes! Thank you Microsoft!
THANK YOU GOOGLE :)
You have nothing to thank Google for when it comes to developing the app
What he said... Thank Microsoft.
Still not here in uk...
+1
+2
+3 :'(
++++
That is sad, I can confirm that it is up and running Down Under...
More tiles for my start screen
this is great news.
i hated the original one, this one looks amazing.
It's a massive update! :) The one before hardly deserved to be called an application. It looks great, it's fast enough and it agrees with the metro philosophy. Good job, Microsoft! Now if only Google would give Microsoft access to full Google + API... :)
Here is hoping for an official google voice app!
guess this will join the battle with metrotube and my tube now. nice to have choices!
Not in UK yet :(
So when i click a youtube link will it open that app??
Could anyone confirm that ? the new update is not yet live in the UK :( so excited though, good times.
I tested it.....no sadly :'(
i was hoping for the app to open when clicking on a youtube link outside the app...bah! maybe next update!?
UK hasn't got it yet. After dinner maybe ;)
YES :)
Yes finally!! Although Metro tube has served me well up to this point
Wow! The update is really great :) i like metrotube but i hate their vid recommendations. It's good to have a lot of choices
Here's the amazing part: the search feature doesn't work!
Did for me when I tried.
Apparently, I have to press enter.

If I press the magnification glass, it doesn't do anything.
You're right the magnifying glass doesn't for search only when you hit enter.
tried downloading but still the old version..
Soooo once again no love for Canada.....
Mine got updated
Same for me here in canada with Bell. Still also can't get the new netfilx released a while ago in version 3.0. Still can only download version 2.3. I hope it won't do the same for this youtube app.
AWESOME
Feels so weird to say goodbye to Metrotube but will have to support official apps so that Google knows how many WP users they were actually screwing about all these years!
This is by MS, not google.
Not downloading for me. I'll try again later.
Thx for the article but FUCK google. I stopped using their shit long ago and its a relief.
Very adult lol why don't you use YouTube?
Because google is the modern day form of the devil!
1. This app is by Microsoft, not Google.
2. If you stopped "using their shit long ago" then why do you care enough to post on here?
Just because MS made it doesn't mean its ok with me. I despise google for their practices and think too many blindly go along with it. I voice my opinion because I care, just like the many who posted in support of it. I'm glad my post had an impact on you.