Watch YouTube videos on Amazon devices - all information
Related Videos: Youtube TV App Officially Available on Amazon Firestick and Fire TV Devices (May 2024).
If you want to watch videos from YouTube on your Amazon devices like the Fire TV, this has not been a problem so far. However, the longstanding dispute between YouTube and Amazon has escalated, which has far-reaching consequences for customers. We'll show you exactly what they are.
Update 2019: YouTube app is back on the Fire TV Stick
- After YouTube announced the imminent end of using the app on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Amazon quickly took care of a solution. Alternative browser apps such as Firefox and Silk made a detour within a few days and prevented the super meltdown for Amazon.
- Ultimately, the browser apps did nothing more than the YouTube app. They simply opened the YouTube.com/TV website, which was optimized for television.
- In the meantime, the situation between Google and Amazon seems to have calmed down again. The old YouTube app is now available again on the Fire TV.
Update 2018: Watch YouTube videos with Firefox and Silk on Amazon devices
Firefox and Silk browsers have been available on the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick since December 20. You can use this to bypass the future blocking of the YouTube app.
- Simply switch to the "Search" category on the Fire TV (Stick) and enter "Firefox" or "Silk" there. You will then be offered both browsers for download. After installation, you can start the app.
- In Firefox, YouTube is stored directly on the homepage. If you select YouTube, the website will be loaded as in the YouTube app. Use Silk, use YouTube like on a PC.
- If you have Firefox or Silk installed, you can also simply start the old YouTube app. YouTube will then start automatically in the installed browser.
YouTube app no longer available on Amazon devices
The largest and most popular companies of the time include Amazon and Google.
- One of the most famous Google daughters is YouTube. For years, Amazon and Google have fought a bitter battle for customers that has peaked.
- Amazon Echo Show customers no longer have access to the YouTube app.
- Google's current decision is significantly more serious: Since January 1, 2018, the millions of Fire TV and Fire TV Stick users have also been unable to access the YouTube app.
Dispute between Amazon and YouTube: what happened?
With this step, the long-standing dispute between the two large corporations will have serious consequences for customers for the first time. There are many reasons for the YouTube lock.
- Both companies are in direct competition with each other and want to retain as many customers as possible in their own ecosystem. Google has the Play Store, Amazon its own App Store. Google has the Chromecast, Amazon has the Fire TV. Google has Google Home, Amazon has the echo.
- You can order almost anything from Amazon. However, if you want to buy a Google Chromecast or Google Home, you won't find it here. The products of Google subsidiary Nest were also thrown out of the Amazon range a few weeks ago. This will not have been due to the lack of sales.
- The dispute between Google and Amazon does not only refer to the respective products of the manufacturers. Amazon also denies technical support for Google products. So far, you can only start a transfer to the Google Chromecast via the Amazon Music app. Support has been missing in the Amazon Prime Video app for years.
- However, this is only the result of a long back and forth. In the early days of Amazon Prime Video, the app was not allowed to appear in the Google Play Store and was only available via detours. As a result, Amazon and Google have alternated between perpetrators and victims over the years.
Stream YouTube video on Fire TV: is that still possible?
If you start the YouTube app on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, you will receive the following message since the end of 2017: "As of January 1st, 2018, YouTube will no longer be available on this device. But you have many other options, your favorite -YouTubers and videos to watch. "
- Unfortunately, the two companies were unable to reach an agreement in time by January 1, and the future remains uncertain. However, one thing is certain: Both Google and Amazon are not doing themselves any favors with the disputes. In the end, the customer remains the big loser.
- However, there are now many detours to continue using YouTube on Fire TV. The most convenient way is to use Firefox or Silk as described in the first paragraph. With Kodi, you can bring numerous apps like YouTube and other useful functions to your Fire TV. Here's how to install Kodi on the Fire TV.
- Alternatively, you can switch to the Google Chromecast sooner or later. You then start YouTube videos in the YouTube app on your smartphone or on your home PC and then transfer them to the TV via Chromecast. Only streaming Amazon Prime Video via Chromecast is associated with some hurdles. Otherwise you will get a good replacement.
In the next article we will show you other alternatives to the Fire TV Stick.