As of next month, YouTube will no longer be natively available for streaming on the third generation Apple TV, first launched in 2012. 9to5Mac reports that a message is being displayed to users advising them of the future change. The fourth generation Apple TV HD and the fifth generation Apple TV 4K, the two streaming boxes that Apple currently sells, were not affected.
Here is the full message being shown to users (via 9to5Mac):
As of early March, the YouTube app will no longer be available on Apple TV (3rd generation). You can still watch YouTube on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, iPhone or iPad. With AirPlay, you can also stream YouTube from your iOS device directly to any Apple TV (3rd generation or later).
While soon it will no longer be possible to run YouTube natively on Apple TV’s third generation, owners will still be able to stream the service from an iPhone or iPad using AirPlay. We have a guide on how to do this here.
Other streaming services are also gradually decreasing support for older Apple TV models. Last year, HBO removed its HBO Now app from the second and third generation Apple TV boxes, after initially delaying the move due to the pandemic. These applications will also not be the last. While their newest devices run tvOS and feature a built-in App Store, apps built into Apple’s old TV boxes relied on streaming services working directly with Apple to provide support.
If you own an old Apple TV and just can’t live without the YouTube app, it may be time to replace your streaming device. Currently, our main options for work are Roku Streaming Stick Plus and Roku Premiere, both cheaper than Apple’s current line of streaming devices.