YouTube Playables are free-to-open games you play inside YouTube itself, with no download or install. Find them on the Playables shelf on the Home page or under Explore, then Playables. If you can't see them, your country, app version or device probably isn't supported yet.
Most people stumble on Playables by accident: a row of game tiles turns up between videos and suddenly you're three levels into a puzzle game you never meant to start. That's the whole idea. YouTube wants you to stay in the app for a quick game rather than leave for another one.
What Playables are
YouTube describes Playables as games you can play directly on YouTube on all devices. There's nothing to install and no separate account to create. You tap a game card and the game opens inside the YouTube app or the YouTube website. On some devices you can even keep a video or music playing in the miniplayer while you play.
YouTube says it keeps adding new titles, so the shelf you see today won't stay the same for long. Games you save show up again in your You tab, which is the easiest way to get back to one you liked.
How to find YouTube Playables
- Open the YouTube app or youtube.com and look for the Playables shelf on your Home page.
- If it isn't there, open the Explore menu and choose Playables to go to the Playables page.
- You can also search for a game by name, or check the You tab if you saved a game to play later.
- Tap any game card to start playing. To share a game, tap the three-dot More menu on the card and choose Share.
Which devices support Playables
This is where most of the 'I can't find it' problems come from. YouTube lists these minimums:
| Device | What you need |
|---|---|
| Android phone or tablet | YouTube app version 20.46 or higher. Android S and above, or Android O, P, Q and R on 64 bit or high memory 32 bit devices |
| iPhone or iPad | YouTube app version 20.44 or higher, on iOS 14 or above |
| Computer or mobile browser | Chrome, Safari or Firefox |
You'll also need Wi-Fi or mobile data, because the games load from YouTube. If you're on an older, low-memory Android phone, the memory rule is the likely reason Playables never show up.
Where Playables are available
Playables only work in the countries YouTube lists. The list is long and includes the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil and Mexico, plus many European countries. If you're travelling, or using a VPN, you may see the shelf appear or disappear depending on which country YouTube thinks you're in.
What happens to your game progress
Your progress saves automatically and follows you to any supported device where you're signed in to the same YouTube account. Two details catch people out:
- Progress and best scores live in YouTube History, under Interactions. There's only one save file per game, and if you delete it you lose that game's progress on every device.
- Your all-time best score is stored separately. Deleting a score doesn't delete your progress, and deleting progress doesn't wipe your best score.
If a game doesn't appear in your history at all, YouTube says that game simply doesn't store progress there. And if you've turned YouTube History off, the games you play won't be saved in it either. YouTube also says your game progress isn't used for recommendations, though your Playables history can shape which games you're shown.
How to hide Playables
If the game shelf is clutter you don't want, you can push it down. Tap the three-dot menu on the Playables shelf, or on a single game, and choose Not interested. YouTube will show you fewer of them. There's no master switch to remove the feature completely, so expect to repeat this now and then. If your feed has become a mess of things you don't care about, my guide to fixing a blank or broken YouTube Home page covers the other feed settings.
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Playables not loading? Try these fixes
- Update the YouTube app from your app store. Older versions simply don't show the shelf.
- Check you're signed in. Progress and saved games only work on a signed-in account.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data. A game that hangs on its loading screen is usually a connection problem.
- Try the website in Chrome, Safari or Firefox. If the game works there, the problem is your app or phone rather than your account.
- Restart your phone if the game freezes. Games use more memory than videos, and a phone that's been running for days may struggle.
If none of that helps and you're in a supported country on a supported device, send a report through the Help and feedback option in the YouTube app so YouTube can see what's happening on your device.
Playables for creators and game makers
Eligible creators can play Playables while live streaming vertically from a phone, which turns a game into a live show. Game studios that want their titles on YouTube can register interest through a form YouTube links from its help page. For most viewers, though, it's simply a free games shelf you didn't know you had.
My verdict
Playables are handy for a five-minute break without installing another app, and there's nothing to set up. If you can't find them, update the YouTube app first, then check your device and country against the lists above. If they're cluttering your Home page, use Not interested and move on. For more on getting YouTube to behave on your phone, see why YouTube stops working.
Frequently asked questions
What are Playables on YouTube?
Games you can play directly inside YouTube on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing extra to install.
Why can't I see Playables on YouTube?
Your country may not be on YouTube's list, your app may be older than the minimum version, or your device may not meet the memory requirement.
Is my YouTube game progress saved?
Yes. It saves automatically to YouTube History under Interactions and syncs across devices where you're signed in.
How do I get rid of Playables on YouTube?
Use Not interested on the Playables shelf or on a game. YouTube will show you fewer of them.
