Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

This YouTube Apple Watch app is just as ridiculous as you’d expect

The Apple Watch has allowed users to do everything from calling their family and friends to keeping tabs on their health. But its media streaming abilities have been restricted to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. That’s about to change, as now you’ll be able to watch your favorite YouTube videos on your wrist thanks to a new app called WatchTube.

Created by Hugo Mason, WatchTube gives access to every YouTube video through the app, and you can hear the videos either through the Apple Watch’s built-in speaker or with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. However, the app cannot be linked to your YouTube account in any way as it’s a third-party app that just happens to carry the word “Tube” in its name. That said, you’ll still be able to search and subscribe to your favorite content creators.

Cristina Alexander/Digital Trends Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you open up WatchTube, you’ll see a list of videos currently trending on YouTube, like the lyric video for Beyoncé’s new single “BREAK MY SOUL” and the new music video for Chris Brown’s “WE (Warm Embrace).” As you search for your favorite videos, the app’s algorithm will personalize your feed based on your interests much like YouTube would if you didn’t have an account in the first place. Even so, your data will be stored locally in your Apple Watch to protect your privacy.

You will also have the option to watch videos with captions regardless of whether you’re turning up the volume or muting it, and even change the size of the captions. Although, you might want to use captions without audio to save the watch’s battery.

The ridiculousness of WatchTube knows no bounds. Because the Apple Watch wasn’t designed for video content to begin with — the screen is too small for it, after all — the app may not work as well for some people as it does for others, even though it’s been on the App Store for a couple of weeks. At the time of this writing, I haven’t been able to watch any videos on my Apple Watch even though the thumbnails loaded just fine. There are certainly some quirks to work out, but if you’ve ever dreamed of having YouTube on your wrist, WatchTube will let you do that.

Editors' Recommendations

Cristina Alexander
Cristina Alexander has been writing since 2014, from opining about pop culture on her personal blog in college to reporting…
I’d love to buy an Apple Watch, but there’s something stopping me
The Nike Globe watch face on the Apple Watch Series 9.

Nike Globe watch face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There's something quite wonderful about smartwatches. As an Android aficionado, I have no shortage of great smartwatches to choose from. Watches from big names like Samsung and Google are in on the act with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Google Pixel Watch 2. I can also dip into fitness brands like Fitbit, Garmin, and even Polar. Heck, there are even options from traditional watch brands like Fossil and Casio.

Read more
YouTube rolling out some three-dozen new features this fall
The Digital Trends YouTube channel as seen on an iPhone and on a TV in the background.

The tweaks keep coming to the world's largest video provide. Today YouTube is taking the wraps off some three-dozen (more or less) new features. It's a cross-platform announcement, with the goods hitting phones and tablets, as well as televisions and wherever else you do your YouTube viewing.

Here's what you have to look forward to:

Read more
You can already use the Apple Watch Series 9’s best new feature
An Apple Watch Ultra showing off the AssistiveTouch Hand Gestures screen.

Apple’s Wonderlust event gave us plenty of shiny new hardware, from the iPhone 15 lineup to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Oh, and don’t forget the USB-C AirPods Pro 2!

During the event, Apple also showed off a cool new gesture that’s coming to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2: Double Tap. Though Apple made it seem like a completely new thing, it’s actually been around since the Apple Watch Series 4 as an accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch.

Read more