YouTube Kids TV App Going Away in July: What You Need to Know

YouTube Kids TV app users will soon have to make a switch as Google announced that the app will be going away in July. It will be replaced by the main YouTube client, which will be the only way to access YouTube Kids on television.

Until now, YouTube Kids has been available as a standalone app on various platforms such as Android/Google TV, Apple TV, Samsung, LG, and Fire TV, with its own homescreen icon. However, last year, Google integrated YouTube Kids into the main YouTube client on smart TVs, game consoles, Roku, and more. This move expanded the availability of YouTube Kids to a wider range of devices.

Starting in July, the standalone YouTube Kids app will be discontinued, and users will need to access YouTube Kids through the main YouTube client. To do this, simply select your profile picture in the navigation drawer to open the "Who's watching" screen and choose a YouTube Kids profile.

It's important to note that this change will not affect the YouTube Kids experience, content, parental controls, or settings. All the features and functionalities will remain the same. The integration into the main YouTube client is aimed at streamlining the user experience and allowing Google to maintain and update a single application for YouTube Kids.

One drawback of this transition is the loss of the prominent app icon on television homescreens. Similar to YouTube Music, which is now part of the main YouTube client, YouTube Kids will only be accessible through a shortcut icon on the Play Store.

Parents and caregivers can rest assured that the parental controls and safety measures provided by YouTube Kids will continue to be available. These features include the ability to set time limits, restrict content, and enable search restrictions to ensure a safe and age-appropriate viewing experience for children.

With the move to the main YouTube client, Google aims to create a unified experience across different platforms. By consolidating the YouTube Kids app into the main client, Google can better optimize and improve the application for all devices, regardless of whether they run on Android or tvOS.

As the July deadline approaches, users of the YouTube Kids TV app are advised to familiarize themselves with accessing YouTube Kids through the main YouTube client. This transition will enable a seamless and continued viewing experience for children and families.

In summary, the YouTube Kids TV app will be discontinued in July and replaced by the main YouTube client. Users will need to access YouTube Kids through the main client on their smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices. The transition will not affect the YouTube Kids experience, content, or parental controls. Google's aim is to provide a unified and optimized user experience across platforms. Parents and caregivers can continue to rely on the safety features and controls offered by YouTube Kids to ensure a safe viewing experience for children.