Ready to unlock a world of videos on your iPad? Whether you're looking to catch up on your favorite creators, learn a new skill, or simply be entertained, having the YouTube app on your iPad is the easiest way to do it. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of downloading YouTube on your iPad, from initial checks to troubleshooting common issues. Let's dive in!
The Ultimate Guide: How to Download YouTube on Your iPad
Having the YouTube app on your iPad gives you a much richer and more streamlined viewing experience compared to using it through a web browser. You'll get features like personalized recommendations, easy access to your subscriptions, a dedicated Shorts tab, and even the ability to download videos for offline viewing (with a Premium subscription).
Step 1: Engage with Your iPad – Are You Ready?
Before we begin, let's make sure your iPad is all set for the download!
- Do you have an internet connection? This is crucial! Whether it's Wi-Fi or cellular data, your iPad needs to be connected to the internet to access the App Store and download the YouTube app.
- Is your iPad running a recent iOS/iPadOS version? The YouTube app generally requires iOS 14 or later. If your iPad is older and running a much older operating system, you might encounter compatibility issues. Don't worry, we'll address this in the troubleshooting section if needed.
- Do you have an Apple ID? To download any app from the App Store, you need an Apple ID. If you don't have one, you'll be prompted to create one during the process. It's free and easy!
- Do you have enough storage? The YouTube app isn't excessively large, but it's always good to ensure you have sufficient free space on your iPad.
If you answered "yes" to these questions, you're in great shape! Let's move on to the actual download.
Step 2: Navigating to the App Store
The App Store is your one-stop shop for all applications on your iPad.
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Locate the App Store Icon: On your iPad's Home Screen, look for an icon that looks like a light blue square with a white "A" formed by three overlapping circles. It's usually found on the dock at the bottom of the screen or on one of your main app pages.
- Pro Tip: If you can't find it, swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen to open Spotlight Search, then type "App Store" and tap on the icon that appears.
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Open the App Store: Tap on the App Store icon to launch the application.
Step 3: Searching for the YouTube App
Once inside the App Store, you'll need to find the specific app you want.
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Tap the Search Tab: At the bottom of the App Store screen, you'll see a navigation bar. Tap on the "Search" icon (it looks like a magnifying glass). This will open the search bar at the top of the screen.
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Type "YouTube": In the search bar that appears, type "YouTube" and then tap the "Search" button on your keyboard.
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Identify the Official App: You'll see a list of search results. Look for the official YouTube app, which is typically listed as "YouTube" by "Google LLC" and has the familiar red play button logo. There might be other apps with "YouTube" in their name, but make sure to select the official one for the best experience.
Step 4: Initiating the Download
Now for the exciting part – getting the app on your iPad!
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Tap "Get": Next to the YouTube app listing, you'll see a button that says "Get." Tap this button. If you've downloaded the app before on this Apple ID, you might see a cloud icon with a downward arrow instead. Tapping that will also initiate the download.
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Authentication (if prompted): Depending on your iPad's security settings, you might be asked to authenticate your download. This could involve:
- Using Face ID (looking at your iPad).
- Using Touch ID (placing your finger on the Home button).
- Entering your Apple ID password.
- Follow the on-screen prompts carefully to complete the authentication.
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Watch the Download Progress: Once authenticated, the "Get" button will change to a progress circle. You'll see a small circle filling up as the app downloads. This process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on your internet speed.
Step 5: Launching and Signing In
Congratulations! The YouTube app is now on your iPad.
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Tap "Open": Once the download is complete, the progress circle will change to an "Open" button. Tap this button to launch the YouTube app directly.
- Alternatively, you can go back to your iPad's Home Screen, and you'll find the YouTube app icon there. Tap the icon to open it.
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Sign In (Optional but Recommended): When you first open the app, you'll likely be greeted with a welcome screen and an option to sign in. While you can browse YouTube without signing in, signing in with your Google account (which is the same as your YouTube account) will:
- Allow you to access your subscriptions.
- Keep track of your watch history.
- Provide personalized video recommendations.
- Enable commenting, liking, and other interactive features.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in. If you don't have a Google account, you can create one during this process.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, things don't go exactly as planned. Here are some solutions for common problems you might encounter:
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"Cannot connect to App Store" or "Unable to Download App":
- Check your internet connection: Make sure your Wi-Fi is on and working, or your cellular data is enabled. Try opening a website in Safari to confirm.
- Restart your iPad: A simple restart can often resolve minor software glitches. Press and hold the power button until the "Slide to Power Off"
slider appears, then drag it. After a minute, press and hold the power button again to turn your iPad back on. - Check Apple System Status: Occasionally, Apple's App Store servers might be experiencing issues. You can check their system status page online.
- Update your iPadOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there's an update available, install it. Older iPadOS versions might not support the latest YouTube app.
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App stuck on "Waiting" or "Loading":
- Tap the app icon: Sometimes simply tapping the grayed-out app icon on your Home Screen will resume the download.
- Pause and Resume Download: On your Home Screen, long-press the app icon that's stuck. A menu will appear. Look for options like "Pause Download" or "Resume Download" (the wording might vary slightly). Tap "Pause" and then "Resume."
- Delete and Re-download: If it's truly stuck, long-press the app icon until all icons jiggle. Tap the "X" on the YouTube app icon to delete it. Then, go back to the App Store and try downloading it again from scratch.
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"This app requires iOS 14 or later" (or similar version):
- This means your iPad's operating system is too old to run the current version of the YouTube app.
- Check for Software Updates: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If your iPad can be updated to iOS 14 or later, do so.
- Older iPad Models: If your iPad is an older model that cannot be updated to the required iOS version, you may not be able to download the official YouTube app. In this case, you might still be able to access YouTube through Safari by going to
youtube.com. It won't be the app experience, but it will allow you to watch videos.
Leveraging Your YouTube Experience
Once you have the app, explore its features!
- Home Tab: Your personalized feed of recommended videos.
- Shorts Tab: Discover short, vertical videos for quick entertainment.
- Subscriptions Tab: See the latest videos from channels you follow.
- Library Tab: Access your watch history, playlists, and downloads (if you have YouTube Premium).
- Casting: Connect to a compatible smart TV or streaming device to watch YouTube on a larger screen.
- YouTube Premium: Consider subscribing for ad-free viewing, background playback, and offline downloads.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about YouTube on iPad:
How to update the YouTube app on my iPad?
Open the App Store, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, and scroll down to see pending updates. If YouTube is listed, tap "Update" next to it.
How to delete the YouTube app from my iPad?
Long-press the YouTube app icon on your Home Screen until all icons jiggle. Tap the "X" that appears on the top-left corner of the YouTube icon, then confirm by tapping "Delete App."
How to watch YouTube videos offline on my iPad?
To watch videos offline, you need a YouTube Premium subscription. Once subscribed, open the YouTube app, navigate to the video you want to download, and tap the "Download" icon below the video player. Downloaded videos can be found in the "Library" tab under "Downloads."
How to enable picture-in-picture (PiP) for YouTube on iPad?
Picture-in-picture is a native iPadOS feature. When watching a video in the YouTube app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or tap the PiP icon if available) to minimize the video into a floating window. You can then use other apps while the video continues to play. Note: Background playback and PiP for YouTube often require a Premium subscription.
How to clear YouTube's cache and data on iPad?
Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Find "YouTube" in the list, tap on it, then tap "Offload App" (this clears cache but keeps documents) or "Delete App" (this removes everything). After offloading, you can reinstall the app.
How to sign out of YouTube on my iPad?
In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, then tap your account name. From the pop-up, tap "Manage accounts on this device" and then "Remove from this device" next to your account.
How to use YouTube Kids on my iPad?
Download the separate "YouTube Kids" app from the App Store. It's designed specifically for children with age-appropriate content and parental controls.
How to fix YouTube app crashing on my iPad?
Try restarting your iPad. If the issue persists, delete and reinstall the YouTube app. Ensure your iPad's operating system and the YouTube app are both updated to their latest versions.
How to enable or disable notifications from YouTube on my iPad?
Go to Settings > Notifications. Scroll down and tap on "YouTube." From here, you can toggle various notification styles and alerts on or off.
How to restrict content on YouTube for my iPad?
Within the YouTube app, you can turn on "Restricted Mode" by tapping your profile picture > Settings > General > Restricted Mode. For more comprehensive parental controls, consider using the YouTube Kids app or iPad's Screen Time settings.
