YouTube search not working on Apple TV after tvOS 26 update

November 2025 Update: I’m happy to report that this Search issue has resolved for me, seemingly with the release of tvOS 26.1 with version 4.51.08 YouTube app.

I’m also having this issue since updating to TVos26.

Apple TV model A1625

YouTube App v 4.51.08

Search returns either a blank screen or results that when selected freeze the app; making the YouTube in-app search broken.

Tried uninstalling the app. Did not resolve. Restarting the app and the Apple TV did not resolve.

The only workaround is to search YouTube on my phone app, then go to the History tab in the YouTube app to watch it on the big screen.

I went into Settings in the YouTube app

and cleared Search history. Then restarted the app. Search is now working fine. Could’ve been luck.

Try it.

Yeah, This is most likely a tvOS26 issue. It also happens in my app. I have normal `UIViewController` that contains `UICollectionView`. It is embedded in `UISearchContainerViewController`. My app also freezes after user changes focus to first cell of this CollectionView. Funny fact is that if I do not have items in the collection view - only Header. The app does not freeze after focusing Header and CollectionView cells inside it. I tried to Open this ViewController without embedding it inside `UISearchContainerViewController` and it also works fine. It does not occur on every AppleTV 4k. I have 2 devices and it only occurs on one. It can be reproduced on simulator tvOS26 AppleTV 4k (3rd gen at1080p).

Today, I updated my Xcode and I tested on Apple TV 4k at 1080p and tvOS 26.1. It seems that it works fine, so it should be resolved in tvOS 26.1. ;)

Having the same issue in my two Apple TV devices… when you select a video through search it doesn’t work!

the only workaround right now is to save the video in the “watch later” then go to watch later and select the video from there

Contact Google for issues with their application, services or website.

Ok. For starters, I (at least) have a different model. Mine: A1625 vs yours: A1842.

Thanks for the link. I agree it's probably a Google Issue. I'll note what people are discussing here.

https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/376214148?hl=en&sjid=16567732676385391369-NA

sometimes when a new operating system is released things have changed in a way which require the app developers to update their app for compatability

if it's a global issue with googles app on the appletv platform then it would seem likely google are working on updating the app so it will be as full featured as google wish it to be.

Alright, if you want to compare:

tvOS 26.0

Apple TV model A1842

YouTube app v4.51.08

I tried some more searches, and it proceeded as intended each time. I can’t seem to replicate the mentioned issue. No idea what can be the cause of different outcomes. But do report it to YouTube/​Google, as they are the developer of the app.

I am experiencing something similar. I see the videos , but once I click on one, the screen goes dark, and I can’t do anything. I have to use the menu button to get back to my apps. This problem appeared only after the latest TV OS 26.0.1 update. The YouTube app behaved normally with TV OS 26. My Apple TV model is A1625, and the YouTube app version is 4.51.08.

Search in the YouTube app is working fine for me on tvOS 26… 🤷‍♂️

Are you signed in with your Google account when using Search? (I am.)

I am having the exact same issue. Doesn’t matter which YouTube account I am on but for some reason the search function will not play videos. This only started with TVOS26. Wasn’t an issue before that.