The YouTube app for the original Switch took over a year and a half to arrive, but while that app isn’t compatible with the Switch 2, we may not have to wait nearly as long on a version for Nintendo’s new handheld.
The YouTube app isn’t available on the Switch 2’s store, and for people who transferred it from an older Switch, opening it results in a notice saying the software is unable to start. But according to a post by the official TeamYouTube account on X, help is on the way. “We’re working with Nintendo to make YouTube available on the Switch 2 soon,” the company says.
No further details were shared, including whether YouTube is updating its app to work with both Switch generations or building a Switch 2-specific version. The original Nintendo Switch YouTube app wasn’t released until November 8th, 2018, well after the Switch’s launch date on March 3rd, 2017.
The Switch 2 was released on June 5th and features a larger improved screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, and a more powerful custom processor by Nvidia. Nintendo has previously confirmed that other streaming apps available for the original Switch are not compatible with the Switch 2, including Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Japan’s Niconico and Abema — and so far, there’s no word on whether they’re issuing updates too.
