Fix Chrome Opening YouTube App on iOS Devices
Have you noticed that Chrome redirects you to the YouTube app instead of letting you browse the site? Normally, when you click on a YouTube link, it should open the website in your browser, but that’s often not the case. This redirection has a clear explanation and shouldn’t be viewed as an issue. Below, we discuss the reasons for this behavior and how to prevent it.
Why Does Chrome Redirect to the YouTube App on iOS?
Chrome operates as a web browser while YouTube functions as a web application, which can lead to some confusion. When you attempt to access YouTube through Chrome, you expect to be directed to the site where you can watch videos freely. However, users frequently encounter a situation where the YouTube app launches instead of displaying the website. This automatic switch occurs whenever users try to navigate to YouTube using the search bar.
This phenomenon is referred to as deep-linking. No matter if you open a YouTube link directly or search for it on your browser, it prompts the iPhone to launch the YouTube app. Consequently, this may lead to unwanted app pop-ups. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle this issue.
Solution – Access YouTube in a New Tab
The effective approach is to open YouTube in a new tab. When you do this, the deep-linking behavior gets circumvented, allowing you to access the link directly in the browser.
Step 1 – Enter “YouTube” in the Google Chrome search bar.
Step 2 – Long press on “YouTube” from the search results. Select the “Open in new Tab” option.
Step 3 – This will open the web version of YouTube in a new tab.
Step 4 – Navigate to this tab to watch videos on YouTube without launching the app.
By following these steps, the YouTube app will not open automatically. While you can use YouTube in this way, do keep in mind that you might not be logged into your account. If it’s your first time accessing YouTube through Google Chrome, you’ll need to sign in.
Once signed in, you can enjoy a seamless YouTube experience in your browser, akin to that of the app.
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