If your YouTube icon is missing from sight on your Apple iPhone or iPad, here are a few things to check.
Note:Â Since iOS6, YouTube is no longer included as a default app on iOS devices. You will now need to download it from the App Store.
Fix 1 – Check Everywhere
Ensure the icon didn’t end up on another screen. Swipe back and forth between the different parts of the Home screen and make sure it’s not hidden or in a folder.
Fix 2 – Check App Restrictions
- Open “Settings“.
- In iOS12 choose”Screen Time” > “Content Privacy & Restrictions” > “Content Privacy“. In iOS 11 and lower, choose “General” > “Restrictions“.
- Select “Apps“.
- Make sure “Allow All Apps” is checked.
Fix 3 –Â YouTube Restriction is Enabled (iOS5 and lower)
Someone or something may have disabled YouTube. Enable it again with these steps:
- Open “Settings“.
- Tap “General“.
- Tap “Restrictions“.
- Make sure “YouTube” is set to “On“.
Fix 4 -Reset Home Screen
- Open “Settings“.
- Select “General“.
- Choose “Reset“.
- Select “Reset Home Screen Layout“.
Fix 5 –Â Restore
If none of the above works. It’s time to try a Restore.
- Connect your device to your computer and launch iTunes.
- Select your device under “Devices“.
- Select “Summary” > “Restore“.
Shams says
YouTube is not set on my phone, when I try to set it reserved a massage under name of please change your country ? But my country is fine
Anna says
I own a iPhone 10, suggestion no. 4 worked for me. Thanks!
CAMILLE COSTELLI says
Hi,
i have an iphone 4s and somehow every google i do to get youtube icon on my iphone icon page it isn’t there in setting at all. where could it be?
Jazzy Cassa says
My mother has my iPad connected to her phone, with a restrictions passcode so this did not work.
Christine says
Can someone help me, please? I want the Restrictions enabled on my son’s ipod, but when I put the Restrictions on, it removes the YouTube icon entirely from his home page. I am ok with him having access to YouTube, but not the 17+ content. Its seems to be all or nothing, or am I missing something? Do I need to turn Restrictions off every time he wants to watch YouTube? Thanks!
Idk says
4 worked for me!!!
Hark Johnny says
HUGE help in getting YouTube on a iPod that had age restrictions set.
Marty says
Thank you, it took doing everything right up to the restore fix you advised.
I got my I Tunes back complete with the 600 saved videos I thought I had lost.
Very much appreciate your advice.
Kim says
Thank you!!! So much!! Worked like a charm!!
Allan says
Fix #4 worked for mine. Thank you!
Frans Bouman says
Used this to recover my MSNBC icon. Great help!
Ciaran says
What if it isn’t even in restriction like at all its just not there
Raj says
Thank you so much, I went through several forums but could not find a solution for my missing icons including youtube. After visiting your site Removed the restrictions and voila!! Got everything back.
Shelli says
Thank you!!!! Fix #2 did it! I had looked lots of places on the web to get help finding my lost icon and you were the only one with the answer! (Apple help page was useless)
Claytton says
I had never connected the dots: since I set some restrictions youtube icon had vanished. It is working now. Thanks!
Kristin says
Thank you, thank you! The YouTube app on my iPad disappeared and has been stuck in a state of “pending update”. I tried everything. This is the only tech help page I found that mentioned the restrictions. Changing the restrictions setting worked! Thank you so much!
Christine says
Thank you so much! My Google & YouTube app had been missing for weeks ever since I updated my iPad. I was just about to do the Restore as my last resort…until I found this helpful bit of info. It was indeed the restrictions setting! Hooray!!!! Thank you!!!!