How to Get YouTube on Nintendo Switch 2: What Nintendo Says

That's the short version, and it isn't the answer most Switch 2 owners want. There's a wrinkle too: Nintendo's US store listing for the app shows a file size for Switch 2 alongside the original Switch. So before you give up, check the listing on your own console. Here's everything Nintendo and YouTube publish about it, read in October 2026.

What Nintendo says about YouTube on Switch 2

Source	What it says
Nintendo Support: Using YouTube on Nintendo Switch	The Switch YouTube app is not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Support, same page	The app in the Nintendo eShop is only available in select countries
Nintendo US store listing	Lists the app at 162 MB for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, price shown as 0.00
YouTube Help: Watch YouTube on the Nintendo Switch	Covers the original Switch app: sign-in, controls, search and parental controls

Those two Nintendo pages don't line up perfectly, which is why people get confused. The support note is the plain statement on compatibility, so I'd treat that as the official position until Nintendo changes it, and check the eShop on your own Switch 2 for the current state.

How to check on your Switch 2

1. Open the Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu.
2. Search for YouTube.
3. Open the listing and look at the compatibility or supported systems information.
4. If it offers a download for your console, install it and sign in with your Google Account.

How to get YouTube on the original Nintendo Switch

1. Open the Nintendo eShop.
2. Search for YouTube.
3. Download the app. The US store lists it at no charge.
4. Open YouTube from the HOME Menu.
5. Choose a Nintendo Account when the app asks. Nintendo says any Nintendo Account on the console can use the YouTube app once it's signed in.
6. Select Sign in and use your Google Account. If you have more than one, pick the one linked to your YouTube channel.

If you sign in with an account that has no channel, YouTube warns that you won't be able to use features that need one, so choose carefully.

Using YouTube on a Switch: the controls

• Move around with the left stick or the directional buttons on any connected controller. Swiping isn't supported.
• Press X on the main menu to search, Y to add a space and B to delete a character.
• In handheld mode, the touch screen works with the search keyboard.
• Select More Actions while a video plays to subscribe, rate or report it.
• The Switch's screenshot button doesn't work in the YouTube app.

Why YouTube might be locked: parental controls

This catches out a lot of families. Nintendo says the YouTube app is locked at the Pre-Teen and Child restriction levels in Parental Controls, and unlocked at Teen and Not Restricted. If you want controls on but YouTube allowed, Nintendo's route is Custom Settings, then Restricted Software.

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Select Parental Controls, then Parental Controls Settings.
3. Choose to use your smart device or set it on the console.
4. Pick a restriction level, or use Custom Settings to allow YouTube on its own.

If it's a child using it, a supervised YouTube setup is worth a look too. My guide to a YouTube supervised account explains how it works.

Clearing history on the Switch

Go to Settings in the app and choose Clear watch history or Clear search history. Both Nintendo and YouTube point out that this clears your account's history on every device, not only the Switch. Here's how to clear YouTube search history on other devices.

Pair your phone as a remote

You can use your phone as a remote for the Switch app. Nintendo says you can pair through m.youtube.com, the YouTube app for Android or the YouTube app for iPhone. It's much quicker than typing searches with a controller.

Films and shows you've bought, and 360 videos

Two features people don't expect on a games console. Purchased films and shows sit in the Library tab of the Switch YouTube app, though Nintendo says you can't buy content on the console itself. And 360-degree videos work: you pan around using both the left and right sticks on the attached controller.

Other ways to watch while you wait

• Your phone or tablet, with the YouTube app or m.youtube.com.
• A smart TV or streaming stick with the YouTube app.
• A laptop in the browser, if you'd rather watch on a bigger screen than a phone.

None of these need anything from Nintendo, and your watch history and subscriptions follow your Google Account across all of them.

My take

If you've got a Switch 2, look at the eShop listing on the console itself before you buy anything else to watch YouTube on. Nintendo's support page says no; its store listing hints the picture may be changing. Until the two agree, a phone, tablet or smart TV is the dependable way to watch.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get YouTube on Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo's support page says the Nintendo Switch YouTube app is not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2, as of October 2026. Check the eShop listing on your console for the latest.

Is YouTube free on Nintendo Switch?

Nintendo's US store lists the YouTube app at no charge. You download it from the Nintendo eShop.

Why can't I find YouTube in the Nintendo eShop?

Nintendo says the YouTube app is only available in select countries.

Why is YouTube locked on my Switch?

Parental Controls lock the YouTube app at the Pre-Teen and Child levels. Use Custom Settings and Restricted Software to allow it.

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online for YouTube?

Nintendo's support page for the app doesn't list Nintendo Switch Online as a requirement. You sign in with your Google Account.

Can I watch videos I bought on YouTube on my Switch?

Yes. Nintendo says purchased content shows in the Library tab of the Switch YouTube app, but you can't buy content on the console.

Can I use my phone as a remote for YouTube on Switch?

Yes. Nintendo says you can pair through m.youtube.com, the YouTube app for Android or the YouTube app for iPhone.