YouTube videos won't play on iPhones, why?

by Stewart Alexander

Posted: 13 years ago 28 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Anybody know why YouTube videos won't play on iPhones? It's not all YT videos but happens more often than not. Been scouring the net, but there's lost of conflicting info.

This is only happening with iphones, not all iphones mind you. I have a video on my mobile optimized demo squeezepage here:

http://www.prowebsites4u.com/mobile/

Check it on your iphone. I have an HTC Desire android, so i cannot replicate the problem. I'm using the video from www.m.youtube.com, the HQ version and my settings are set to display all videos on mobiles from withing my YouTube account.

Seems to be no clear answer anywhere i look.

Appreciate any feedback.

Thank you

Stewart

#iphones #play #videos #youtube

Gene Pimentel 13 years ago

Because Apple refuses to allow Flash technology on their devices. The way around it is to use the YouTube app. That will play all YouTube vids.
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Gclunis 13 years ago

Another reason is because many youtube videos aren't enabled for mobile devices. I run into the same issue on my blackberry and even on my friends ipad or my ipod touch. Even with the youtube mobile app, if the video isn't enabled for mobile then it will not play.
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mookinman 13 years ago

Youtube app is the only way to go I'm afraid.
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- Stewart Alexander 13 years ago
  
  I don't have an IPhone myself. I created a wso arounfd the topic of mobile websites and squeezpages. My iphone clients are all complaing that they cannot view the video on my squeezepage example.
  
  What app is it exactly that ey need? That way i can recommend it to them. I enable all my YT videos to play on mobiles and grab the videos from m.youtube.com not the main youtube.com site.
  
  Thanks for the info guys.
  
  Thanks
  
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Gene Pimentel 13 years ago

Stewart, I believe the YouTube app comes preinstalled on the iPhone.
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- Stewart Alexander 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel
  
  Stewart, I believe the YouTube app comes preinstalled on the iPhone.
  
  Thanks Gene
  
  Thanks
  
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E. Brian Rose 13 years ago

I have never experienced a YouTube video that would not play on my iPhone. When was the last time that you updated your iPhone software?
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wayne_yeager 13 years ago

Might be a memory issue. Here's what I'd do...

Try double-clicking your home button to see all apps that are currently open. Some apps are poorly written and leaving them open for a long time may reduce performance of your phone. Hold your thumb down on an icon to get them all shaking. Close all the open apps you're not using. Then re-open Youtube app.

If no luck, try hard reboot... hold home button plus off button simultaneously for a few seconds.

Still no luck, go to an Apple Store. Here endeth my iPhone knowledge.
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Steven Fullman 13 years ago

Every YT vid will play on an iPhone...it's the way they encode 'em...perhaps you didn't leave it long enough?
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DeadRooster 13 years ago

I've never had a YouTube video that did not play on my iPhone. Maybe I just didn't hit the right one yet.
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Darrell Hagan 13 years ago

Hi Stewert, not sure about iPhone but if any of your clients ask you about Android devices, I use an LG Optimus running Android 2.2 and have no problems with YouTube whatsoever.
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BloggingPro 13 years ago

Because Steve Jobs despises Flash for some unknown reason. Claims it isn't smooth or something. Either way use the Youtube App on your phone. You can set it as a default, so that when you try and view a youtube video it will automatically start the app and play the video.

Apple's don't like Flash!
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Kecia 13 years ago

I haven't had a problem playing YouTube videos either. Most that I click on in the browser actually open the YT app to play.
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Shazia Mirza 13 years ago

Apple is stubborn... lol. I dunno why they don't allow Flash, they want to see the fall of Adobe may be?

I say everyone, Microsoft, Apple, Google, wants to see Adobe fall and perish. That is why Microsoft brought up Silverlight (they thought they could replace Flash -> THEY FAILED!).

But I won't disagree with these big companies, Flash looks like it is reaching its limit, and HTML 5 is kicking butt in replacing it.

Oh well, there is a YouTube App for iPhone, so its all gud
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DeadRooster 13 years ago

The reason Apple won't allow Flash is because it's a development platform and developers could create their own apps which could compete with the Apple App Store.
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WillR 13 years ago

I think he is talking about watching Youtube videos without using any kind of app. He has a screenshot image embedded on his webpage and when people click on that image he wants the youtube video to popup and start playing.

The problem is, mobile and video are not very friendly at the moment. There's not really one solution that will work across all devices.
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smac122

13 years ago

I do videos for clients all the time, and the way you get them to play on mobile devices like the iPhone is to render them in mp4 format. That's the only way I know to do it, and every mp4 video I post plays perfectly on my iPhone.

Thanks
1 reply

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WillR

13 years ago

Originally Posted by smac122

That may be so but not every phone will play mp4 videos. That's my point. There isn't really one solution that will work across all phone types at the moment. HTML5 should solve the problem but again, not every device is equipped to handle HTML5.

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smac122

13 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

That may be so but not every phone will play mp4 videos.

True, but the OP is regarding iPhones specifically, and mp4 solves the problem (on iPhones).

Thanks
1 reply

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WillR

13 years ago

Originally Posted by smac122

True, but the OP is regarding iPhones specifically, and mp4 solves the problem (on iPhones).

Yes, but it won't solve his REAL problem which is having it be compatible on all phones.
There is no point having a mobile video squeeze page if not all devices can view it.

Originally Posted by Stewart Alexander

I created a wso arounfd the topic of mobile websites and squeezpages. My iphone clients are all complaing that they cannot view the video on my squeezepage example.

Thanks
1 reply

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smac122

13 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

Yes, but it won't solve his REAL problem which is having it be compatible on all phones.
There is no point having a mobile video squeeze page if not all devices can view it.

I read it differently. I took him to mean that his complaints were from *iPhone* users only. If his issue is with mobile devices in general, then you have a good point. However, I do not run into any mobile-compatibility problems with any of my videos if they are in mp4 format. Mp4's are viewable on the iPhone & iPad as well as every Droid device I've tested. My advice for anyone desiring mobile-compatible video, and this is from my personal experience, is to use mp4 format. I'm not a mobile video authority, just telling you what works flawlessly for me

Thanks

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nickv 13 years ago

Could be:
Video format (i.e. extension)
Not embedded correctly
Memory issues
more that I cant think of
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garyv 13 years ago

You can find several "flash friendly" browsers for your iphone if you unlock/jailbreak it...

Unlock iPhone 4.1
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- bobby_shahzad 13 years ago
  
  Actually adobe sued apple for the very same reason
  
  Adobe 'to sue Apple' over Flash row - Telegraph
  
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PeterBirganza

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Stewart Alexander

Anybody know why YouTube videos won't play on iPhones? It's not all YT videos but happens more often than not. Been scouring the net, but there's lost of conflicting info.

Appreciate any feedback.

Thank you

Stewart

Hi,
All the Youtube video are not made to run on mobile phones. There are some videos that do not play only on iPhone but also on any other mobile phone. But in apple phone, there may be any security reason that is not allowing you to play youtube videos. Because the applications of iPhone are different from other cell phones so it may be same kind of problem buddy.

Thanks
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Nightengale 13 years ago

I haven't had a problem playing You Tube videos on my iPhone. But then, they open automatically in the You Tube app. I've never messed with those settings, so it must have been set as the default to begin with. (I'm not very techie at all.)

On the other hand, I can't play videos in any other player on my phone, so any videos hosted by/played in Viddler, Vimeo, et al. won't play on my phone at all. It's made me think twice about using anything other than You Tube for my videos.

Trouble is, I have no idea how they'd appear/play on any other phone. I have yet to make my site and e-zine mobile-friendly and that's one of the things on my to-do list. I love my iPhone and doubt I'll ever switch, but it's disconcerting not knowing how things will appear to my list members on Androids, Blackberrys, etc.

Anyone know which smartphones I need to consider when going mobile? According to ZDNET, iPhones (Apple), Androids (Google) and Blackberrys (RIM) are the lion's share of the smartphone market: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-new...ng-strong/2387 It looks like the other smartphones are a small enough share of the market that I feel comfortable not worrying about them too much.

Thanks,
Michelle

P.S. It list the Microsoft smartphone in it's stats. Which phone is the Microsoft smartphone?
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Ethan Talley 11 years ago

It's because a long time ago Steve jobs and adobe decided to have a dispute and Steve Jobs decided cut his ties with adobe to offer apples own video software. It's not good for the consumer but I guess they want to monopolize their industry which is a great business idea to make a ton of money.that why their so rich.
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elijahdean 11 years ago

I have the iphone 5 and I never had a issue playing YouTube videos - I use the app or the browser.
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YouTube videos won't play on iPhones, why?

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