The new Apple TV has a YouTube problem
A software update and a reboot should get YouTube working on your new Apple TV 4K.
A software update and a reboot should get YouTube working on your new Apple TV 4K.
by
Stevie Bonifield
Nov 13, 2026, 4:55 PM UTC
Photo: Hunter McRae for The Verge
Stevie Bonifield
is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.
People who received the brand new Apple TV 4k today saw some strange error messages as soon as they opened the YouTube app. As the first units arrived, the app was initially only showing a black screen with a QR code and an error message saying “YouTube is not yet available on this device.” In some cases the app was functional, but had a transparent red bar stuck at the bottom of the screen saying, “YouTube app is approved for device testing only and not for production use.”
Installing the new tvOS 27.2 update and rebooting wasn’t enough to resolve the issueforThe Verge’s Tom Warren, he also had to uninstall and reinstall the app.
The Verge’s John Higgins said in hisreview of the new Apple TV 4Kthat it’s “one of the best streaming devices available,” but expensive compared to other streaming boxes.
Follow topics and authorsfrom this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
- Stevie Bonifield
Most Popular
Most Popular
- Microsoft Outlook is still down
- The Jensen Huang scandal is hardly over
- Apple’s HomeView is my new favorite smart display — but not my daughter’s
- Microsoft’s massive Outlook outage continues
- The pricey new Apple TV 4K is still the best streamer around
This is the title for the native ad
More inTech
What’s really at stake in the Jensen Huang sagaMeta discussed attacking Jonathan Haidt — now even his haters are annoyedClaude’s Duet agent is a little neurotic and surprisingly helpfulApple should have made the MacBook logo RGBLet’s talk about Jensen Huang’s many affairs!Donald Trump really wants Tim Cook to run NvidiaWhat’s really at stake in the Jensen Huang sagaDavid Pierce
Two hours ago
Meta discussed attacking Jonathan Haidt — now even his haters are annoyedLauren Feiner
Two hours ago
Claude’s Duet agent is a little neurotic and surprisingly helpfulAllison Johnson
Two hours ago
Apple should have made the MacBook logo RGBAntonio G. Di Benedetto
1:00 PM UTC
Let’s talk about Jensen Huang’s many affairs!Elizabeth Lopatto
12:00 PM UTC
Donald Trump really wants Tim Cook to run NvidiaJay Peters
12:46 AM UTC
Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
Top Stories
Nov 12
Apple’s HomeView is my new favorite smart display — but not my daughter’sTwo hours ago
Meta discussed attacking Jonathan Haidt — now even his haters are annoyedTwo hours ago
Claude’s Duet agent is a little neurotic and surprisingly helpful12:00 PM UTC
Let’s talk about Jensen Huang’s many affairs!39 minutes ago
Microsoft’s massive Outlook outage continues
