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YouTube is a downloadable application that could be used to watch videos on the Wii via the YouTube Wii channel, and also had versions available on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, though is currently only officially available on the Nintendo Switch.

Wii iteration

It was the YouTube TV viewer application designed to be controlled with a Wii Remote, and it could be used to watch YouTube videos on your TV. This Wii Channel was created to replace YouTube XL which was a website that could be accessed from the Internet Channel, but that service was discontinued on June 9, 2013. The actual YouTube Wii channel was discontinued in June 30, 2017, because Google was phasing out Flash-based YouTube applications at that time which the Wii iteration was still based on.

Striim Network planned on supporting this channel in the future, but development on that was halted indefinitely when Striim Network was merged with WiiLink.

Wii players can still watch YouTube on the Wii using a modified version of the Homebrew app called WiiMC (Wii Media Center). This feature broke in early 2024, but patches have since been released to fix it.

Nintendo 3DS iteration

This iteration of YouTube was made available on November 29, 2013. It was essentially a more powerful version of the 3DS Internet Browser. This iteration of YouTube was extremely popular for a time due to an exploit that allowed custom firmware to be installed on a 3DS. This application was discontinued in 2019. 3DS players who wish to watch YouTube on a 3DS must use a 3DS Homebrew application called ThirdTube (the application’s functionality broke in early 2024, it must now be updated with the FourthTube patch via the Universal Updater application).

Wii U iteration

This iteration of YouTube used to allow you to use the Wii U GamePad's built-in keyboard to search for videos, but that feature was removed at an unknown point (likely sometime in 2016). This feature was likely removed due to issues involving YouTube searches. Apart from that feature, this iteration of YouTube was the same as others (though 1080p videos rendered at 60 fps can only display in 720p with a halved framerate, similar to other lower-power devices). There was also a feature where the video selection interface was only on the Wii U GamePad screen and videos would appear on the TV screen when they were selected.

The Wii U version of YouTube was removed from the Wii U eShop on April 27, 2022, and the service itself was discontinued on October 26, 2022 of the same year,[1] though Wii U players who have the Aroma custom firmware installed on their console can patch the application via a homebrew patching tool called GiveMiiYouTube to get it working again.

Nintendo Switch iteration

This iteration of YouTube is very similar to the Wii U version. Unlike other versions of YouTube on TV, it uses the Switch's built-in keyboard, which allows viewers to type much faster than the keyboard in other iterations of the YouTube TV viewer application (though this faster typing feature is only available in handheld mode). Despite being backward compatible with most Nintendo Switch software, YouTube does not work on the Switch 2. The day after the system’s launch, Google confirmed that a version would eventually be released for the system; however, it remains unavailable as of May 2026.[2] On May 5, 2026, an exploit in Super Animal Royale was discovered, allowing players to access YouTube via in-game video links.[3] On May 7, the exploit was removed.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240417204725/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/58618/~/discontinuation-of-youtube-service-for-wii-u
  2. ↑ TeamYouTube on X: "We're working with Nintendo to make YouTube available on the Switch 2 soon. For a list of devices YouTube is available on, head over here: https://goo.gle/3HuvcWI"
  3. ↑ Destructoid on X: "YouTube is now on Nintendo Switch 2…. well, kinda #Nintendo #nintendoswitch2"
  4. ↑ The Weird Super Animal Royale YouTube Trick on Switch 2 May Already Be Over - Anton Retro, May 7, 2026
  5. ↑ Nintendo Everything on X: "The method to watch YouTube on Nintendo Switch 2 has been removed"

External links

Wii Channels
Preinstalled channels Disc Channel • Mii Channel • Photo Channel • Wii Shop Channel • Forecast Channel • News Channel • Wii + Internet
Additional channels Wii Fit Channel • Wii Fit Plus Channel • Mario Kart Channel • Wii Speak Channel • Jam with the Band Live Channel • Rabbids Channel • Homebrew Channel
Downloadable channels Internet Channel • Everybody Votes Channel • Check Mii Out Channel • Nintendo Channel • Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Save Data Update Channel • Wii U Transfer Tool • YouTube
Japan exclusive channels Television Friend Channel • Digicam Print Channel • Wii My Room • Food Delivery Channel • Photo Channel 1.0 Restore Program • Today and Tomorrow Channel • Everybody's Theater Channel • Wii Fit Body Check Channel • USB Flash Optimization Channel • Terebi no Tomo Channel
North America exclusive channels Hulu Plus • Amazon Instant Video • Netflix • Crunchyroll
Europe exclusive channels BBC iPlayer • Kirby TV Channel • Today and Tomorrow Channel • Watchever • LOVEFiLM
Development channels Diskcheck v1.01 • Wii Menu Uninstaller
Wii U channels Wii Menu Manual • Wii U Menu • Wii System Transfer