YouTube App Updated With Fullscreen Playback for Vertical Videos - MacRumors
Skip to Content

YouTube App Updated With Fullscreen Playback for Vertical Videos

by

youtubeWhile a fully redesigned YouTube app with Google's Material Design, an emphasis on subscriptions and creation tools is coming soon to iOS, YouTube has, in the interim, issued a minor update to its current app with fullscreen playback for vertical videos.

Vertical videos are videos that are shot in portrait mode on smartphones. Previously, viewing a vertical video in the YouTube app added two black bars to the sides of the video, shrinking the actual image and making it difficult to view. Now, vertical videos play in full screen the same way they were filmed, allowing users to have a better experience on mobile devices.

YouTube is a universal app available for free on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: YouTube

Top Rated Comments

A
arianf
144 months ago
Omg YouTube!! Don't encourage them! Just as I thought the tides were shifting in favor of horizontal...
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
CarlJ
144 months ago
A required Public Service Announcement on Vertical Video Syndrome ('http://youtu.be/Bt9zSfinwFA'):

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DJTaurus Avatar
DJTaurus
144 months ago
Is it so difficult for them to add audio continues play outside the app.......?.... the most requested feature.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
AnsonX10
144 months ago
Don't encourage vertical video Google! Accommodating bad video practices is not a good practice in general. It's prejudice against people that like to use their phones sideways! Soon we'll have to buy 9:16 aspect ratio TVs to view 9:16 broadcast TV. lol
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
Westside guy
144 months ago
I'm not sure this counts as "progress"...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JesterJJZ Avatar
JesterJJZ
144 months ago
Smartphones should've never allowed it to begin with.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 This Year

Apple Skipping iPhone 18 Launch This Year

Wednesday August 12, 2026 6:59 am PDT by
Apple supplier Pegatron today indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 model will not be released until next year, according to a new report. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Pegatron held an earnings call for the second quarter of 2026 today. On the call, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said Pegatron indicated that one of its customers will be changing its...
Read Full Article • 69 comments
iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Tuesday August 11, 2026 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a recent report, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition, the...
Read Full Article