Dim the lights, grab a snack and cozy up on the couch because movie night no longer requires a pricey streaming subscription. If you haven't poked around the platform lately, YouTube has quietly become one of the best places to stream full-length movies for free, and you don’t need a Premium account to do it. Just hit play, sit through a few ads, and enjoy the show.

What's even better is that YouTube’s free thriller selection is much deeper than you'd expect. The library is packed with slow-burn psychological mind-benders, twisty domestic thrillers, and even the occasional forgotten gem from the late '90s or early 2000s. Plus, because the catalog rotates frequently, it’s always worth circling back every few weeks to see what's new.

Whether you’re in the mood for a puzzling crime saga, something that borders on horror, or a flick that drops a fresh twist every 30 minutes, there’s a gripping story waiting for you tonight. We dug through the digital archives to find the best free thrillers on YouTube worth queuing up first. Check out our top picks below.

'The Quiet'

Dot (Camilla Belle) is a deaf teenager who moves in with her wealthy godparents (Martin Donovan and Edie Falco) and their daughter Nina (Elisha Cuthbert) after her father's death. As Dot struggles to make herself at home, she slowly realizes that Nina is being systematically abused at home. But the question of what she can do about it pushes her, as well as the entire family, toward violence in very real and uncomfortable ways. But Dot has secrets of her own that Nina uncovers, and everything has to come to light sometime, even if it changes the family forever.

Watch on YouTube

'Truth or Dare'

After a Mexican spring break detour into an abandoned mission, a group of college kids (Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane, and Hayden Szeto) wakes up to deal with a supernatural version of the game Truth or Dare, with an easy set of rules. Tell the truth, do the dare, or die. The demon enforcing things communicates through the bizarre, unsettling grins of whichever bystander it happens to be puppeting at the time. Not exactly high cinema, but a perfectly serviceable late-night pizza-and-popcorn watch that's got the markings of a thriller you won't soon forget.

Watch on YouTube

'180'/'Imaginary Friend'

Emma (Lacey Chabert) is a popular but somewhat reclusive artist still living in the mansion where she grew up with her abusive father. Battling mental health struggles and trying to hold together a splintering marriage to her husband, Brad (Ethan Embry), she's rattled when the imaginary friend she leaned on as a child starts reappearing. Emma takes increasingly drastic steps to silence the visions, but at the same time, she suspects that Brad is hiding something upsetting that her childhood "friend" might be trying to warn her about.

Watch on YouTube

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This week, YouTube announced updates that will help you stream the FIFA World Cup this summer via its Primetime Channels offerings. You'll also get access to reality shows from Bravo and Fox, as well as other sports.

Starting on June 1, FOX One is available on Primetime Channels, with Peacock coming soon. You'll be able to sign up for both streaming services directly on YouTube in the platform's storefront.

What it costs and what you'll get

Fox One is available for $19.99 per month. This will get you access to all Fox content and live Fox channels.

Once the World Cup kicks off on June 11, you'll be able to watch all 104 matches via the Fox One subscription.

Outside of the beautiful game, you will have access to Fox News, Fox Sports, and local Fox channels. Plus series like "MasterChef" and "Memory of a Killer."

Additionally, you can watch local and national news channels, Fox Sports and series like MasterChef and Memory of a Killer.

If you're interested in Peacock, when that arrives, the Premium Plus version will get you $16.99 a month. You'll get access to NBC content, Universal movies, and NBC sports, including coverage of the MLB, Olympics, NBA and NFL.

For just the World Cup, that's $19.99 per month. Add in Peacock, and it'll cost you $36.98 a month.

YouTube says more Primetime Channels are in the works, but currently you can access things like HBO Max, Paramount Plus and NFL Sunday Ticket without having to bounce between different apps.

World Cup coverage

Tom's Guide is here to help you watch the World Cup.

We're tracking the best TV deals to get you set up with the best big-screen TV. Or if you watch on your phone, here are the headphones you need to feel like you're at the games.

The World Cup produces an absurd amount of merch, and we've tracked down the best deals on World Cup apparel, jerseys and more.

Finally, if you plan on traveling to the World Cup, here's what you need to know about connecting your phone to international data plans.

And that's just to start. Keep Tom's Guide in your tabs as the games get going for even more information.

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This week's slate of top new movies on the best streaming services is all about thrillers. There's not one, not two, but three thrillers arriving across platforms, alongside a sci-fi horror taking a different approach to PVOD.

Thriller fans can pick from "Fuze" on premium streaming, "Shelter" on Starz and "Dead Man's Wire" on Netflix. Or, if you want something very different, HBO Max has Charli XCX's mockumentary, "The Moment." Plus, Markiplier's popular sci-fi horror "Iron Lung" makes its at-home premiere on YouTube.

I've combed through the latest streaming releases and picked out the most noteworthy new movies you can watch this week. And if you're not in the mood for a movie, check out our weekly guide to the top new TV shows.

‘Fuze’ (PVOD)

One of my favorite movies last year, “Relay,” came from director David Mackenzie, and barely six months later, the Scottish filmmaker is already back with another crime thriller in the form of “Fuze.” Unfortunately, this one doesn’t quite reach the same intense highs, but it’s still got its merits. It also centers on an audacious heist, which is always fertile ground for a thriller, and while I won’t reveal spoilers, I can confirm there’s a neat twist towards the end.

Set in London, a portion of the city is forced to evacuate when an unexploded World War II bomb is discovered on a construction site. Among the military squad called in to defuse the bomb is Major Will Tranter (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). However, in the chaos, a group of criminals led by a man named Karalis (Theo James) uses the evacuation as a distraction to pull off a bank heist. But as the authorities circle, alliances are questioned and morals tested.

Watch on Prime Video (buy/rent) from May 26

‘Dead Man’s Wire’ (Netflix)

Fans of the thriller genre are spoilt for choice this week. However, if you don’t want to cough up a rental fee to watch “Fuze,” why not consider “Dead Man’s Wire,” which is dropping on Netflix this Wednesday. This crime thriller is particularly interesting because it’s based on a true story. And with its “little guy vs. big business” themes, it feels more than a little relevant for our current climate, even despite the movie actually being set in the ‘70s.

Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) is a desperate and dangerous man who feels wronged by his mortgage broker. After being given the runaround one too many times, he resorts to extreme measures. He takes the CEO’s son hostage and places a homemade “dead man’s switch” around his neck. This leads to an intense standoff. The police quickly surround Kiritsis’ apartment, but are unable to act because if Kiritsis is harmed or apprehended, the device will go off and deliver a lethal shotgun blast to his hostage.

Watch on Netflix from May 26

‘The Moment’ (HBO Max)

Pop documentaries and concert movies are back in vogue recently, post the juggernaut success of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour. However, “The Moment” is a little different. It’s a mockumentary starring Charli XCX that serves as a warped epilogue to the “Brat Summer” phenomenon, which saw the popstar's global fame skyrocket. Rather than just filming a night of her tour, Charli XCX has created an experimental mockumentary.

Charli XCX, real name Charlotte Aitchison, plays a distorted version of herself. “The Moment” picks up at the tail end of the “Brat Summer,” with Charli’s fame at its apex. Forced to comply with label demands, mounting pressure and fan expectations, while starting rehearsals for the biggest tour to date, this fictional version of the popular artist considers whether staying on top of the cutthroat pop game is worth losing yourself in the process.

Watch on HBO Max from May 29

‘Shelter’ (Starz)

“Shelter” is yet another thriller (see what I mean about genre fans eating good this week?). This one hit theaters back in January and is now heading to Starz. It stars Jason Statham and falls comfortably with the British actor's usual routine. It’s not exactly the most memorable entry in his filmography and lacks the cheesy charms of say “The Beekeeper.” However, it delivers exactly what it promises: Statham kicking plenty of butt and acting tough.

Statham plays a former MI6 assassin who has left behind his old life to live a peaceful existence off the grid on a remote Scottish island. His solitude is disrupted when he takes in a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) after her uncle is killed at sea in a violent storm. When his former employers learn of his location, they mount a mission to eliminate him, and so Statham’s Michael Mason is forced to go on the run and slip back into his old habits.

Watch on Starz from May 30

‘Iron Lung’ (YouTube)

“Iron Lung” marks the directorial debut of Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach, and the popular YouTuber has opted to stick to his roots, initially rolling out his sci-fi horror exclusively on YouTube. However, it’s hitting the video sharing platform as a premium product, so you’ll have to pay a rental/purchase fee. Still, it’s a unique way of debuting a new release on streaming, and I expect Markiplier’s army of subscribers (his channel boasts 38.6 million of them) will flock to support this film, much like they did when it was in theaters.

Based on the indie video game of the same name, “Iron Lung” is set in a distant future where all stars, planets, and most of the human population have vanished. Only those on space stations survived. When a remaining moon, covered in an ocean of blood, is discovered, the remnants of humanity send convicts to the depths in a claustrophobic submarine. Simon (played by Fischbach) is the latest survivor forced to pilot a craft to discover exactly what horrors lurk within the vast ocean of human blood.

Watch on YouTube from May 31

Today (May 19), during Google I/O 2026, CEO Sundar Pichai announced new features that will change how you search for videos on YouTube.

Ask YouTube is a new way to search for videos in the app, which Pichai said "entirely reimagines the experience." The AI feature lets you ask more complex and conversational search queries in the search bar.

Plus, Gemini Omni is getting deeper integration in the YouTube Shorts Remix and YouTube Create tools. Here's what's new.

Google's example was looking for tips on teaching your kids how to ride a bike or finding reviews of cozy games to play before bed.

Ask YouTube will compile videos that best match the search, which includes both long-form videos and Shorts. Similar to AI overviews in Google Search, you will see an "interactive, structured" response. In this new view, Ask YouTube will jump you directly to the part of the video that relates to your query.

The potential impact on YouTube Creators seems like it could be pretty large, as they constantly battle the algorithm. My colleague Marcus Cooper expressed skepticism about the new feature.

"On the surface, Ask YouTube sounds like it could be helpful to the user. Whether it will help people find more varied creators than the algorithm — we'll see," Cooper said. "Do we need everything to be AI? Probably not."

Initially, the feature is only be available to YouTube Premium subscribers aged 18 and up in the United States, starting today. A broader release will roll out later, but Google did not provide a timeline.

Gemini in Shorts and Create

If you make and upload videos to YouTube, the new Gemini Omni tool is coming to Shorts Remix and the YouTube Create app.

Remix allows you to take an "eligible Short" and add your own AI prompts and images to create a new vision, like adding a 90s filter or inserting yourself within the context of the original video. Gemini Omni is supposed to better understand "user intent" for more consistent storytelling while handling complex video and audio adjustments.

Remixed Shorts created via Omni will have digital watermarks, identifying metadata and will automatically link back to the original video, Google said. Creators will have the option to opt-out of the remix.

Remixing with Omni is rolling out today for free in YouTube Shorts Remix and the Create app. It will also come to AI Playground in the near future.

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Kick off your shoes and grab the remote, because the days of needing a pricey subscription for movie night are officially over. While it’s easy to overlook, YouTube is sitting on a gold mine of free, full-length films that don't require a Premium account to enjoy. As long as you don’t mind a few ads here and there, you’ve got a front-row seat to a massive library that won't touch your budget.

The catalog is deeper than you might expect. We’re talking recognizable studio hits, nostalgic favorites and hidden gems across every genre, plus a surprisingly solid documentary selection. Since the titles shuffle in and out frequently, it’s the kind of digital bargain bin that’s always worth a second look. To save you endless scrolling, we’ve sifted through the lineup and rounded up five standouts worth queuing up first.

'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'

This 1994 coming-of-age drama finds Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio in some of their most gripping roles yet. Gilbert Grape (Depp) is a young man who spends his time caring for his disabled brother, Arnie (DiCaprio), while living with their mother in a small, cramped home. While she spends every day on the couch, unable to move due to her weight gain, Gilbert and Arnie find adventures around town to keep them busy. And though Arnie needs constant care, Gilbert is interested in growing up and meeting women.
Watch free on YouTube

'Bridget Jones's Diary'

Renée Zellweger is at her absolute best in this rom-com that's loosely based on Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Zellweger is Bridget Jones, a single 30-something who keeps a diary that runs down all her wants and wishes in life, including fulfilling her mission of finding "Mr. Right," quitting smoking and losing weight. She ends up becoming the center of attention for two men (Hugh Grant and Colin Firth), both of whom want her. Jones must figure out which man it is who appreciates her the most and whether he's worth her time, all the while recording her romantic misadventures in her titular diary.
Watch free on YouTube

'Children of Men'

Based on P.D. James' novel of the same name, this dystopian thriller explores a world where humans can no longer have children. After enduring 20 years of this blight, humanity is about to go extinct, and turmoil and uncertainty have forced most countries to turn into authoritarian states. Just as former activist Theo Faron (Clive Owen) has to say goodbye to his son, he meets a refugee named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) who secretly reveals to him that she's pregnant. It makes her the last pregnant woman in the world, and from there, the race is on to keep her safe until she can give birth without falling into the clutches of the government or those who would wish to harm her.
Watch free on YouTube

'Legally Blonde'

When sorority girl Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) makes a bid at getting back at her ex-boyfriend, she doesn't just change her hair or date someone else. She goes to Harvard to get a law degree. She shakes off the jeers and mocking from her classmates for her pink-centric fashion sense and Valley Girl affect, all to prove to her disbelieving ex that she can excel at the law. Elle does that and more, showing that underestimated women are capable of doing anything they want to do.
Watch free on YouTube

'Jeepers Creepers'

Two siblings (Justin Long and Gina Philips) make their way home for spring break after being away at college. An old truck begins to aggressively tailgate them, but after it passes, the danger seems to have subsided. When they come across the same truck and its driver doing something that brings to mind an urban legend with similar characteristics, they begin to wonder if they're dealing with the same crazed killer who murdered a couple in the '70s. Crazed chases ensue, set to copious usage of the song "Jeepers Creepers," which sounds just as spine-tingling as you think it does.
Watch free on YouTube

If you've ever found yourself in a situation where you're watching a lengthy YouTube video, you know how frustrating it is to have to stop watching and do other things on your phone or tablet. But, in a remarkably generous move by Google, that isn't going to be an issue for much longer.

Google has announced it will be expanding YouTube's picture-in-picture mode to everyone. This used to be an exclusive feature for YouTube Premium subscribers, though Google expanded it to free users in the U.S. a few years back. Now the feature has started rolling out to free users worldwide, but only if you're watching the right kind of video.

According to Google, picture-in-picture will only be available on "longform, non-music content" for users on Android and iOS. Google hasn't specified exactly what qualifies as "longform content," and if there's a minimum time limit. However, we can safely assume that YouTube Shorts won't count.

Obviously, the music limitation has been added to stop people from trying to use picture-in-picture as a loophole for streaming tracks in the background. Background play in the main YouTube app is still exclusive to full Premium subscribers. Premium Lite subscribers, on the other hand, get picture-in-picture access to everything except music.

How to use picture-in-picture mode on YouTube

The bad news is that the picture-in-picture update will take a few months to fully roll out, so you may have to wait a little longer to take advantage of it. The good news is that the update should be activated as soon as the rollout reaches you, meaning you probably won't need to do anything.

To activate picture-in-picture mode, you simply need to open a video and head back to your phone's homescreen. A mini player should appear at the bottom of your screen, playing the same video. It's possible to move that player around to different parts of the screen, expand its size, and access playback controls by tapping the mini-player.

It's quite a useful tool if you watch a lot of YouTube on your phone, but still want to have access to all your other apps in the process. The fact that you no longer have to pay for it makes it even better, especially when you remember just how much YouTube Premium costs. It's $16 a month for Premium and $9 a month for Premium Lite, and seeing as how everything else costs so much anyway, getting Premium-tier features without having to pay for them is a win.

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YouTube Shorts clutter your feed and encourage endless scrolling. The platform finally added a way to eliminate them completely from the mobile app by setting your Shorts feed limit to zero minutes.

YouTube introduced Shorts time limits last year but the minimum was 15 minutes, which still meant seeing Shorts daily. The new zero-minute option removes them entirely from your feed, though individual Shorts may still appear occasionally in search results or recommendations.

Here's how to hide Shorts on YouTube mobile.

What if the option isn’t showing for you?

If you can’t see the 0 minute option just yet, this likely means the feature hasn’t reached your account. YouTube is rolling it out gradually, so it can show up at different times for different users.

It may also be worth checking that your app is fully up to date, as older versions can still show 15 minutes as the lowest option.

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From "The Mandalorian" to "The Last of Us" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," Pedro Pascal seemingly cannot escape his destiny as Hollywood's favorite father figure. The 2018 sci-fi sleeper hit "Prospect" is no exception, featuring the actor taking yet another young'un under his wing to forge a surprisingly heartwarming connection amidst a cold, indifferent universe. The best part? This gritty space western is currently streaming for free on YouTube.

As the feature-length evolution of Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell's Kickstarter-funded short, "Prospect" was produced on a $4 million budget, or a mere fraction of a single "The Last of Us" episode. However, what it might lack in blockbuster CGI, it more than compensates for with rich character drama and ruminative themes. A pre-fame Sophie Thatcher ("Yellowjackets") stars alongside the ever-sensational Pascal, as the duo embarks on an "us-versus-the-world" mission that would make Joel and Ellie — or even Din Djarin and Grogu — green with envy.

If you prefer your science fiction smart, stripped-down, and atmospheric, there’s no need to dig any deeper than this hidden gem. "Prospect" is a masterclass in world-building that won’t cost you a single cent to enjoy.

What is 'Prospect' about?

Set in a distant future where humanity explores the cosmos with blue-collar grit, "Prospect" follows teenager Cee (Thatcher) and her father, Damon (Jay Duplass). As prospectors searching for valuable gems to secure their survival, they land on a lush but toxic alien moon. The descent is rough, damaging their spacecraft and leaving them stranded, but the setback feels fortuitous when they stumble upon a dig site containing a precious gem that could change their lives forever. While Cee urges her father to take the win and go, Damon’s ambition gets the better of him.

This greed leads to a tense standoff with Ezra (Pascal) and his silent companion, Number Two (Luke Pitzrick). Though Ezra initially attempts a robbery, the parties broker a shaky truce when Damon reveals he’s been hired to excavate the fabled "Queen’s Lair" — a site rumored to be bursting with riches beyond their wildest dreams. Damon proposes a partnership to share the spoils, but a desperate double-cross ensues, resulting in the deaths of both Number Two and Damon in the chaotic fallout.

Cee retreats to the damaged ship, but with no way to launch, she is eventually found by Ezra. After a period of volatile hesitation and mutual distrust, they strike a new pact: they will navigate the moon's perils together to find the mercenaries at Queen’s Lair and hitch a ride off-world. It sounds like a simple extraction, but in the world of "Prospect," nothing is easy. The moon’s harsh environment is a constant threat, yet it pales in comparison to humanity’s worst instincts. Throughout their journey, Cee and Ezra must constantly look over their shoulders, wondering if they can truly trust the person holding the other end of the rope.

Why you should watch 'Prospect' on YouTube for free

As with the best entries in the genre, "Prospect" holds up a piercing mirror to society. This isn't a story of grand galactic discovery or alien spectacle; it’s an exploration of how history tends to repeat itself. Despite advanced technology and the expansion of the human footprint across the stars, resources remain scarce because of systemic greed and the inevitable creation of hierarchies. We watch as morality takes a backseat to the scramble for survival, suggesting that humans rarely learn from their past mistakes.

Yet, within this bleak landscape, there remains a glimmer of hope that humanity hasn't entirely disappeared down a black hole of apathy. Much like the dynamic between Ellie and Joel in "The Last of Us"—minus the fungal zombies—Cee and Ezra begin their journey as enemies with genuine reasons for hostility. Forced together by necessity, they slowly begin to bond as they glimpse each other’s scars and hardships. Their loyalties are tested repeatedly, and the temptation to take the selfish path is always present, but the film serves as a poignant reminder that human connection is more valuable than any "precious cargo."

Minimalistic in style but heavy in substance, Pedro Pascal and Sophie Thatcher harvest "all the feels" in "Prospect." It is a film about second chances and finding agency in the raw deals life throws your way. By the credits, you’re left with the faint hope that there might be a future for humanity after all. At the very least, it provides definitive proof that Pascal was born to play the reluctant guardian.

Stream "Prospect" on YouTube for free

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A jury in Los Angeles has found Meta and YouTube negligent in a massive social media addiction trial. The jury determined the companies failed to warn users of the dangers of their social platforms.

It's the first domino to fall in a series of trials that have been described as the "Big Tobacco" moment for social media.

Today's trial began in late January in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Meta and YouTube were sued by a young woman, identified as K.G.M or Kaley, who alleged that she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child. Jury deliberations started more than a week ago on March 13.

The jurors ruled in favor of Kaley with compensatory damages assessed at $3 million. Meta must pay 70% of that, with YouTube on the hook for the remaining 30%. The trial is moving into punitive damages soon, which could get substantially higher.

"Today's verdict is a historic moment — for Kaley and for the thousands of children and families who have been waiting for this day," attorneys representing the plaintiff said in a statement after the verdict. "She showed extraordinary courage bringing this case and telling her story in open court. A jury of Kaley's peers heard the evidence, heard what Meta and YouTube knew and when they knew it, and held them accountable for their conduct."

Meta has promised to appeal the verdict. "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options," a spokesperson said after the Los Angeles trial.

'Deliberately keeping kids hooked'

Common Sense Media founder and CEO James P. Steyer praised the verdict calling it a "powerful recognition."

"Social media companies deliberately design their platforms to keep kids hooked, consequences to their mental and physical health be damned. The momentum for change is no longer building. It's here," said Steyer in a statement to Tom's Guide.

Throughout the LA trial, both companies denied the plaintiff's claims. Kaley alleged that she suffered from severe body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts brought on by near-constant use of the apps and the deluge of notifications from them. Attorneys for the giant tech firms implied that a turbulent childhood and family life were responsible for her mental health issues, while she used the apps as a coping mechanism.

Today’s verdict marks a significant blow to social networks who are already under the microscope from parents, lawmakers, and educators," said Emarketer analyst Minda Smiley:

"For years, social media companies have claimed they’re hard at work making their platforms safer for kids and teenagers. Critics have long been skeptical that they’re acting in good faith—or that their efforts are having a material impact. This verdict could mark the start of a difficult new chapter for social platforms, one where the rules they write for themselves no longer cut it."

Meta and YouTube claimed that they take safety and health concerns seriously. That's a hard pill to swallow after Meta was accused of suppressing child safety research last year.

"Social media giants would never have faced trial if they had prioritized kids' safety over engagement," Steyer noted. "Instead, they buried their own research showing children were being harmed, and used kids and society as guinea pigs in massive, uncontrolled, and wildly profitable experiments."

The trial saw testimony from seveal high-level executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and YouTube's VP of engineering Cristos Goodrow. Mosseri claimed that the the apps were not "clinically addictive" during his testimony.

Meta faces more trials

Meta faces a series of trials across the country about the safety of its platforms. This week, jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico determined that Meta willfully violated the state's unfair practices. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez alleged that the company failed to safeguard its apps from online predators who targeted children.

Reuters reported that the company will have pay $375 million for violating New Mexico laws. “The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety,” Torrez said in a statement.

The state is urging Meta to implement changes to its apps including "enacting effective age verification, removing predators from the platform, and protecting minors from encrypted communications that shield bad actors."

The New Mexico case revealed internal employee messages where employees discussed some 7.5 million child sexual abuse material reports that would disappear after Zuckerberg's 2019 decision to make Facebook Messenger have end-to-end decryption by default.

“There goes our CSER [Community Standards Enforcement Report] numbers next year,” an employee wrote in December 2023 according to a filing.

“I care about the wellbeing of teens and kids who are using our services,” Zuckerberg said in Los Angeles, according to CNBC.

Apple and Snap are also on the hook

Meta and YouTube aren't the only high-profile companies facing major trials over child safety.

As CNBC reports, Apple is on trial in West Virginia over allegations by the state attorney general, John McCuskey, that the company failed to prevent CSAM from being stored on iOS devices and iCloud.

Apple said in a statement that “protecting the safety and privacy of our users, especially children, is central to what we do.”

Additionally, Snapchat and TikTok were originally part of the LA trial before settling with the plaintiff. A separate federal trial is supposed to kick off in Northern California this year involving all four companies over claims from school districts and parents that the apps foster detrimental mental health harms on children and teens.

Like the series of trials Big Tobacco faced in the 1990s that saw billions in payments, this could be a pivotal year for social media platforms and the companies behind them.

It could lead to similar legal changes that fundamentally alters how these companies operate.

"This verdict, along with other recent court rulings, should embolden lawmakers in California and across the country to use their authority to force real change in how these companies design and operate their products," Steyer said.

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Settle in and claim your spot on the couch — movie night doesn't require a subscription anymore. If you haven't poked around lately, YouTube is quietly one of the best places to stream full movies for free, and you don't need YouTube Premium to do it. Just hit play, survive a few ads and you're in.

It's also a lot more expansive than people assume. The free selection spans popular studio titles, throwback favorites, niche genre picks and documentaries — and the lineup rotates regularly, so there's always a reason to check back.

Whether you're after a comfort rewatch, a late-night thriller, or something to half-watch while folding laundry, there's plenty to choose from. We dug through the catalog and pulled out the standout picks worth starting with. Have fun!

'Mallrats'

This cult Kevin Smith comedy follows best friends T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) and Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee), whose lives unravel in the span of a single day — so naturally, they do what any reasonable person would: head to the mall. Food courts, comic shops, and a rotating cast of miscreants await as they hatch increasingly desperate plans to win back their girlfriends. Along the way, they hang with slackers Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith), terrorize a dating show host, and somehow end up meeting Stan Lee. It's peak '90s Smith — lo-fi, loud, and deeply funny. If you haven't seen it, it's completely free on YouTube, so you're out of excuses.

Watch on YouTube

'Coneheads'

This big-screen expansion of the beloved SNL sketch follows cone-headed aliens Beldar and Prymaat (Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin) after they crash-land on Earth and face an uncomfortable truth: They're stuck here. So they do the only reasonable thing — blend in. They settle in New Jersey, raise their daughter Connie (Michelle Burke), and maintain a surprisingly functional suburban life, despite being, you know, aliens with cone heads. The catch is that the government hasn't stopped looking for them, and their cover can only hold so long. What starts as a survival strategy slowly becomes something more complicated — a life they didn't plan on, and might not want to leave.

Watch on YouTube

'True Grit'

When her father is murdered, teenage farm girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) doesn't wait around for someone else to handle it. She hires Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), a U.S. marshal of questionable sobriety but undeniable results, to track down the killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) joins the ride with his own score to settle, and the unlikely trio heads into rough country to find Chaney and collect what's owed. It's a Western coming-of-age story, which sounds like an odd combination until you watch Steinfeld command every scene she's in.

Watch on YouTube

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Earlier this month, YouTube announced new, cheaper YouTube TV subscription packages. However, the packages are being slowly rolled out to customers.

The company has been broadening access to the new packages, and more people should be able to access the plans.

As a reminder, the new plans let you subscribe to genre packages instead of committing to the all-in plan that costs $82.99 per month. The all-in tier includes access to over 100 live channels across different categories.

The new plans bundle channels together and cut the price down to as low as $54. To start, YouTube TV is offering plans for sports, news, entertainment and family content with plans to offer more genres in the future.

One of the best new plans is the Sports plan, which costs $64.99 per month, $54.99 for new customers. It includes major broadcast networks like ESPN, Fox Sports 1, NBC Sports and more. You also don't lose features if you go to a cheaper tier. So you'll still have access to unlimited cloud DVR storage, multiview capabilities, and access to add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZone.

How to change your plan

Finding the new plans is pretty straightforward, but seeing every available plan can be a bit annoying.

To start, tap your profile icon, usually in the upper right of your screen on both mobile and desktop. Then click Settings. It should open directly into the Membership tab. If not, click the tab, then click the Manage button under YouTube TV.

Under Manage, you'll see an Options panel with a recommended subscription. Do not tap Select Plan unless you specifically want the one recommended here. That link will take you to a pay page.

Annoyingly, clicking Explore Plans only shows you three plans, generally the three most expensive bundles. You'll need to scroll down to the Find a plan button.

It will pull up a multi-choice screen asking what you want to watch: sports, entertainment, news, or family. Select the ones that interest you.

I only want the sports package, but selecting live sports recommended the Sports, Sports + News, and Sports + Entertainment packages. Tap Select Plan in the box for the bundle that appeals to you.

From there, you can confirm your plan change. You may have to pay a balance ora full payment depending on your billing schedule.

Unfortunately, if you're still not seeing the new plans, there isn't a way to speed up the rollout. You'll just have to wait. Reportedly, it's based on account history and location and is a way for Google to manage the transition. But access should be available soon.

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YouTube was unavailable for users for multiple hours on February 17th, 2026, after an outage hit Google’s video streaming service, affecting both the website and the app.

The U.S. West Coast reported the most issues with YouTube during the outage, which impacted more than 30,000 YouTube users at its peak. Initial reports of problems with YouTube started to spike around 5:30 PM PST. There are still reports of issues, and we're reporting live on the latest updates.

YouTube February 17, 2026 outage

• Greater than 30,000 U.S.-based Youtube users experienced issues with the platform, with complaints peaking around 5:45 PM PST
• The U.S. West Coast was most impacted, according to Down Detector
• The YouTube Help page issued a statement stating the outage issue had been fixed around 7:30 pm PST
• By 7:45 PM PST, U.S. users reporting issues with YouTube to Down Detector dropped below 5,000
• At 8:04 PM PST, U.S. Google confirmed that the issue was to do with the "recommendations system" and it had been resolved.

Met with a blank screen

If you head over to YouTube on your computer right now, the site will load but you won't see any videos. Instead, after doing so, I was met with a blank screen without any videos whatsoever.

Back up on DownDetector

Although YouTube wasn't showing up on Downdetector at first, it now is, with just over 30,000 users reporting problems on the site. Meanwhile, more than 8,000 YouTube TV users have reported experiencing issues with the service, while Google itself has close to 2,500 issues reported so far.

We'll be tracking all three sites closely, but it seems that for now, YouTube is where the majority of problems are occurring.

Things are improving...

Since we last checked in, the number of reported cases of issues with YouTube in the U.S. dropped from just over 30K to closer to 22K.

No official response yet

Normally, during a major outage like this one, companies head to X (Twitter) to provide updates. However, if you go to YouTube's official account, the last post was made 4 hours ago and is about cooking creators, not the outage. Hopefully, we learn more from YouTube and Google soon.

West Coast hit the hardest

Based on Downdetector's map of reported problems, it appears that YouTube users in San Francisco have been hit the hardest, with Los Angeles not that far behind. Then, on the East Coast, New York is showing the most reported problems, though other cities across the U.S. are also experiencing issues when trying to watch videos on YouTube

All's good in Seattle, Washington and Santa Cruz, California

Dan Bracaglia here, checking in from Seattle, Washington, with no issues to report with YouTube. I've also received reports from friends in Santa Cruz, California, and Reading, Pennsylvania that the platform is working without issue as of 6:15 pm PST. Hopefully, this means the outage will be short-lived!

YouTube acknowledges the outage

As the number of reported issues with YouTube continues to decline, the official YouTube account has acknowledged that you are not, in fact, imagining problems with the platform.

YouTube homepage still won't load

Our colleagues in Australia have confirmed that they, too, are having issues with YouTube, primarily loading the home screen. A quick test trying to load YouTube.com from Seattle, Washington, results in similar issues. However, if I punch in a video's direct URL, things seem to be loading with no issue.

Reported YouTube issues drop from 30k+ to 16K

Things are looking up, my fellow YouTube lovers. Those reporting issues with the video platform on Down Detector have dropped to around 16,000 from 30,000+ just an hour ago.

While the homepage may still be slow to load, as it is for me on the U.S. West Coast, YouTube seems to be recovering nicely/quickly.

Further clarification from Google

As the number of reported issues continues to drop just below 10,000 on Down Detector, I wanted to share this message posted to the official YouTube Google support account. TLDR: The homepage seems to be back up, but folks are still reporting issues logging in to YouTube and YouTube TV.

Good news, everyone!

Good news, everyone (in Professor Farnsworth’s voice)! Your favorite rags-to-riches video platform, YouTube, is almost back to normal, according to Down Detector, which is showing roughly 7,000 reported issues in the U.S., a massive decrease from 30,000+ earlier this evening.

Are you still having issues loading YouTube as of 7:15 pm PST or beyond? Let me know in the comments below.

Is the YouTube outage over or are people just going to bed?

According to Down Detector, as of 7:30 pm PST, the number of folks reporting issues with YouTube in the U.S. has dropped below 7,000, which is a good sign. The question is, are we seeing a decline in reported issues because folks are simply giving up and going to bed? 7:30 pm may be dinner time on the U.S. West Coast, but for my friends and family on the East Coast, where it's 10:30 pm, it's likely bedtime.

YouTube gives the all-clear

As the reported number of issues from U.S. YouTube users drops below 5K, it seems safe to call this outage largely resolved. The YouTube support blog similarly gives the all-clear (screenshot above).

That said, I will continue to keep an eye on Down Detector from the U.S. West Coast and drop an update if things take a sudden turn for the worse. Here's hoping that's not the case!

YouTube outage = resolved

With Down Detector now showing fewer than 5,000 U.S. users reporting issues with YouTube, it's safe to call this outage resolved.

How did the great February 17, 2026, YouTube outage impact you? Let me know in the comments below.

What happened last night?

YouTube has shed some light on what happened last night — specifically an "issue with our recommendations system" stopped videos from appearing across "surfaces on YouTube." This included the homepage, app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids.

No specifics have been shared on what specifically brought it down, but this is now indeed resolved.

A small uptick in outage reports?

This could be nothing — maybe a bit of a hangover of outage reports. And in the grand scheme of the huge outage earlier on, it's tiny.

But at 756 reports, reports have increased a little bit... We're keeping an eye on the situation.

OK, there *may* be something going on here

So I'm investigating this further, and there have been a few reports globally (these times are in GMT) of connectivity issues and the app not loading. We're trying to replicate these issues, but nothing yet.

If you're still seeing some issues, you may be caught in the 'aftershocks' of the outage

So here's what I've found from taking a look around and investigating the issues. YouTube is officially up and running, but there are some scattered reports of residual glitches in the app on TVs and the browser.

These can be caused by your system "remembering" YouTube in its broken phase, which is easy to fix.

• If you're on a computer: Hard refresh the browser by hitting either Control + F5 on Windows or Command + Shift + R on a Mac.
• If you're on the app: Close the app fully by swiping it away from your recent apps and reopen it.

If you're still seeing any problems, pop them in the comments and I can investigate further!

Reports continue to rise

As of 7 a.m. / 12 p.m. GMT, Downdetector shows over 1,000 reports, showing that users are still experiencing issues. Of course, compared to the over 300,000 reports earlier, many appear to be able to load the app without any connectivity issues, but YouTube still appears to be having some problems for many. We'll keep you posted!

Still seeing issues? Try refreshing cache

While reports are still high, if you're still not able to get YouTube working, then it's worth clearing your cache just in case it's getting in the way, since YouTube is back up and running.

If you're on Chrome, do the following:

• On Windows or Mac: Click the ellipses (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner of your browser. Select "Delete browsing data" to open a new window. Tick "Cached images and files" (and anything else you prefer to give it a complete refresh, like browsing history, cookies, etc.) and click "Delete data."
• On iOS or Android: Click the ellipses (three horizontal dots) along the bottom bar. Tap "History," then "Delete browsing data" at the bottom. Select "Cached images and files" (and anything else), then "Delete data."

If this works, fantastic! Otherwise, we'll keep checking to see if other major issues arise from YouTube.

Users still experiencing problems

Over on StatusGator, we're still seeing very recent outage reports from across the globe, with users in the U.S., New Zealand, France, Malaysia and more reporting "Sign in problem," "App not loading" and "Error message."

Currently, it's working all fine on my end (Darragh here), but there are still outage reports coming in. Hopefully, YouTube is working out problems from the "aftershock" of the widespread outage.

As its final update, YouTube has stated, "The issue with our recommendations system has been resolved and all of our platforms (YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids, and TV) are back to normal!"

The outage reports continue

As the U.S. wakes up, many may be experiencing the aftereffects of the outage. This could be why we're still seeing a small rise in outage reports of over 1,100 on Downdetector, which has been above 1,000 over the past hour.

Head over to Downdetector.co.uk, and you'll see that there are currently only 225 reports. Since it's officially been stated that YouTube is now fixed (that includes YouTube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube Music, Kids and TV), we'll hopefully see fewer people experiencing any problems trying to watch videos. Stay tuned!

'No known issues' for now

While I'm still seeing reports of "Error message" and "App not loading" on StatusGator, there's currently "No know issues" according to the site, even though there is a small uptick in issues reported.

For now, many of the latest status reports are from the U.S., so we may see problems for some with the site and app be less wide spread around the globe.

Just about 1,000

After a long outage, we're finally seeing the Downdetector reports dropping to around 1,000. As of this post, it's at 1,024 reports, likely just stragglers from users experiencing unrelated issues.

With YouTube having said everything is back in order and reports being a far cry from what they once were (around 330,000), it seems we're coming to the end of this massive YouTube outage (I should, I have YouTube on in the background right now, and it's working flawlessly).

What are you watching?

Now that YouTube is mostly back, what are you watching on it? For me, I'm watching this golf video with Garrett Clark (gm_golf) of Good Good.

If you can't think of something to watch, maybe the Tom's Guide video embedded above will tickle your fancy (who doesn't like a nice battery showdown?).

Oh, and we're officially below 1,000 reports now (986 as of this post)!

Where's it up to now?

One hour later, we're still above 900 reports. Not nearly as bad as the spike we saw, but not great. Hopefully things continue to drop off now...

Down to 800 reports...

Although the spike is going down and we're moving in the right direction, users are still experiencing problems as of 10 minutes ago. Currently it's working okay for me (Kaycee, hello!), but for some they're still getting that dreaded "Error try again" message.

YouTube back but still acting up? Here's how to fix it

With YouTube back for many, the worst of the outage is firmly in the rear view — but for some of you, things might still look a little off. If that's you, don't panic. It's likely just your device clinging onto a broken version of the site from during the outage. Here's how to shake it loose.

First, try the quick fix.

Before anything else, give your browser or app a hard reset. On a computer, that means a hard refresh — Control + F5 on Windows, or Command + Shift + R on a Mac. On the app, swipe it away from your recent apps completely and reopen it fresh. Nine times out of ten, this is all you'll need.

Still not working? Clear your cache.

If the quick fix didn't do it, your cache might be the culprit. Essentially your device saved a "snapshot" of YouTube mid-outage and is still showing you that. On Windows or Mac, hit the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, select "Delete browsing data," check "Cached images and files," and hit delete.

If you're on iOS or Android, the process is the same from History onward — just tap the three horizontal dots along the bottom bar to get there instead.

Still having issues after all of this? Drop them in the comments.

Still some reports

Not much has changed in the last couple hours. We're still seeing around 600 reports on Downdetector for YouTube, though it's unclear where those reports are coming from, as all accounts we can find say it's working perfectly.

Are you still experiencing issues with YouTube?

In the most recent update at 2:00 p.m. ET, Downdetector was showing 638 outage reports for YouTube — which is slightly up from the previous update. These could be isolated events, especially when there's not much activity on social media from users about the service not working properly.

Another update

As of 3:59 p.m. ET, Downdetector was showing 591 outage reports for YouTube. If you're keeping track, that's down from the last update, which is certainly a good thing. Hopefully, this trend continues so you won't miss the latest upload from your favorite content creator.

When the Appl Vision Pro launched in February of 2024, it was surprisingly missing the YouTube app. That all changes today (Feb. 12) with the arrival of an official, native YouTube app for visionOS.

According to Apple, your profiles, playlists, and watch history are accessible in the app. It also includes access to every kind of video from shorts to 3D, 360 and VR180 content.

At launch, Google said that YouTube for the Vision Pro was "on the road map," though the company declined to provide a timeline. The company did recommend using YouTube in the Safari browser.

You can access the new YouTube app on the App Store right now. "The YouTube app turns every video on the platform into a spatial watch experience," the listing says.

If you have the newer Apple Vision Pro M5, you can even watch 8K videos, even as it seems to be the end for 8K TVs.

It's possible the YouTube app finally came to be thanks to Google's own VR/XR goals. The Samsung Galaxy XR was recently launched in October with an excellent version of YouTube available to Android XR users. And Google is rumored to be internally developing its own branded devices.

What Apple really needs to snag now is a native Netflix app. However, there don't seem to be any plans from the streamer to develop one.

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YouTube TV announced that it was creating cheaper subscription package bundles in December, and they're finally here, sort of.

Starting this week, the new "YouTube TV Plans" are rolling out with an initial four plans. The streamer announced that more than 10 plans will become available over the next several weeks.

All the plans are cheaper than the current all-in plan that costs $82.99 a month. The cheapest new bundle plan will save you up to $28 a month.

These are the four plans that YouTube TV is launching first:

• Entertainment: ($54.99/month, $44.99/month for new users). Built for "cinephiles and comedy buffs," this one includes FX, Hallmark, and channels like Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, and more.
• Sports: ($64.99/month, $54.99 for new users). Specifically for sports fans, this plan includes access to major channels such as NBC Sports, FS1, and all ESPN networks, plus ESPN Unlimited (coming this fall).
• Sports + News: ($71.99/month, $56.99/month for new users). Bundle news channels like CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN and CSPAN alongside all of the sports channels.
• News + Entertainment + Family: ($69.99/month, $59.99/month for new users). This bundle adds more family-friendly channels, including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, and PBS Kids, to the news and entertainment bundles.

It should be noted that the Sports plan gets the lower price for new users for the first year. The other three plans only get the cheaper newbie price for the first three months.

YouTube TV says that you won't lose features on the plans. You should still have access to unlimited DVR, the ability to add 6 members to an account, key plays, and multiview.

Separately, you will still be able to access add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket, HBO Max and 4K Plus.

As with all Google rollouts, you may not see the new plans right away when looking at your subscription management page. I checked my YouTube TV page and don't have access to the new plans yet.

If you're not seeing the bundles, give it a couple of days, and they should pop up.

If I had to bet, the Sports package would likely be the most popular YouTube TV offers. Personally, I exclusively use YTTV to stream sports like college football and the Premier League when it's not locked to Peacock. So I am excited to save some money on the Sports plan.

It's nice to finally see a streaming service get a little cheaper after everything saw price hikes last year.

I am curious what the other plans YouTube TV wants to offer will include, as the first four seem fairly conclusive.

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If you're like me, you might struggle to understand some of the lyrics you hear in songs. Sometimes you just can't hear what the correct words are, and trying to sing along just leads you to mumble the tune until you get back to something you know. Or maybe that's just me.

In any case, having one of the best music streaming services with the lyrics available makes it an awful lot easier to avoid embarrassing yourself during your home karaoke sessions. The problem is that YouTube Music has just started restricting lyrics access for free members.

That's right, from now on, only paid subscribers get to figure out what the words to all their favorite songs actually are.

Wait, what's happening here?

As spotted by users on social media and 9to5Google, YouTube Music is now restricting access to the lyrics feature if you're a free user. Apparently, you get access to full lyrics for just five songs, after which you're limited to the first few lines and a mess of blurred-out ineligible text.

Youtube music now needs premium for lyrics from r/youtube

YouTube Music is warning people about this, too, noting that they have X many views remaining, and that you have to subscribe to Premium to gain full access to lyrics thereafter. Apparently, YouTube Premium and Music Premium subscriptions are both equally valid in this respect. They'll cost you $14 and $11 a month, respectively.

The new paywall has apparently been in testing for a few months and is starting to roll out globally right now. I haven't experienced it on my own YouTube Music account just yet, which apparently means I'm one of the lucky ones. But presumably, I don't have very long to enjoy this feature, without being told to hand over wads of cash to Google each month.

It feels like YouTube's getting greedier

I'm not one of those people who constantly go on about how good things used to be and how much worse things have gotten over the years. But in the case of YouTube, it is absolutely true, and it feels like the constant attempts to push people to subscribe to Premium are behind at least half of the problems — maybe more.

The quality of ads on YouTube proper is a testament to this. There's been a very noticeable downgrade over the past several years, with ads getting longer, appearing in greater frequency and offering fewer options to skip.

Not to mention the fact that some of those ads are truly appalling, advertising some of the worst products and services I've ever seen. That includes what appear to be scam products and propaganda for hate groups. If ever there was a need for ad blockers, it's YouTube ads — so it's no wonder Google's gone to war with them.

Admittedly, keeping some features behind a paywall does make sense, even though it would be nice for them to be freely available. Ad-free listening, offline downloads, higher resolution videos and things of that caliber. Background listening is one that really should be free, though, even if it's only on YouTube Music and not available for videos.

Come on, though. Lyrics?

And we're now at the point where YouTube is paywalling lyrics. Admittedly, lyrics are easily available online, but you have to go looking for them for each song. Having them available in your music streaming app is one of those quality-of-life features that makes your service that little bit nicer to use. But Google saw an opportunity to get more subscriptions, and apparently decided to take it.

YouTube isn't actually the first streaming service to try this either, since Spotify attempted to paywall lyrics back in 2024. But mass backlash from users caused the company to reverse course and make lyrics freely available again. As they should be. Because we're at the point where I want to know whether there's anything YouTube won't do to try and push people to subscribe to Premium.

I use the lyrics feature a lot. Not just so I can sing along to things without feeling silly, but also so I can sing along to my son more effectively and get him to finally go to sleep. Sometimes he needs the actual lyrics, because mumbled acapella versions of the song don't seem to have the same effect.

YouTube Music's feature isn't perfect, and I've found so many songs that straight-up don't have any lyrics. But the ones that do, even if they don't auto-play through each line, make using the app so much nicer. And Google's decided you, and I need to pay for the privilege, because the ad revenue apparently isn't cutting it.

What's next, limiting the number of songs you can listen to without paying? I remember the backlash when Spotify tried that too. It lasted almost 2 years before they switched it back, but by then, I had stopped using Spotify and never went back. I wouldn't put it past Google and YouTube to try, to be honest.

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• How to watch YouTube TV from anywhere

• Stream YouTube TV (free trial) in the U.S.
• Abroad: Watch YouTube TV anywhere with a fast VPN (75% off)
• All 104 World Cup matches LIVE!

Looking to watch YouTube TV – the pay-TV version of YouTube – from outside the United States? If you're visiting the U.K., Canada, Australia or indeed anywhere else, you can use a VPN – NordVPN works best – to unblock YouTube TV and watch FIFA World Cup games as normal from any location.

YouTube TV offers a free trial, too, so you can access that and watch live sports and TV from anywhere. That's ideal if you're looking to take in the festival of football that is the World Cup 2026, but don't have cable. All games are set to show on Fox and FS1, which are both part of YouTube TV's standard channel line-ups.

Ready to catch every minute of the World Cup and more on YouTube TV from anywhere in the world? Whether you’re on the beach or stuck in Europe, our guide reveals how to stream YouTube TV live like you’re back home in the U.S.

How to watch YouTube TV free in the U.S.

Watching YouTube TV in the U.S. is about as easy as hitting play and settling in to watch the likes of the NFL, World Cup, Premier League or the latest binge-watch drama.

With full access to live TV, local U.S. channels, major networks, sports, news, and unlimited cloud DVR, YouTube TV lets you stream cable-free on your phone, smart TV, laptop, or tablet – at home or on the go.

Traveling outside the USA? You can watch YouTube TV from outside the U.S. with a VPN. Not all VPNs work with YouTube TV, but we've found the right one for you...

How to watch YouTube from anywhere

Do you need a VPN to watch YouTube TV from abroad?

Yes – it's confirmed that a good VPN that connects you to a U.S. server is required to bypass the geo-restriction so YouTube TV thinks you’re back at home in the U.S.

What streaming devices are supported by YouTube TV?

📱 Mobile & Web

Android phones & tablets (Android L or later)
iPhone & iPad (iOS 15 or later)
Web browsers — watch via tv.youtube.com on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.

📺 Smart TVs

Samsung Smart TVs (2017 & newer)
LG Smart TVs (2016 & newer)
Vizio SmartCast TVs (select models)
Hisense Smart TVs (select models)
Sharp Smart TVs (select models)
Sony Smart TVs (select models)
(Support varies by model and app store availability)

🎮 Streaming Media Players & Set‑tops

Roku players & Roku TVs
Apple TV (4th gen & 4K)
Chromecast with Google TV / Google TV devices
Android TV devices (including built‑in TVs and boxes)
Amazon Fire TV devices & Fire TV Edition TVs
(App must be available in the device’s store)

🎮 Game Consoles & Smart Displays

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4/Pro
Google Nest Hub / Smart displays with YouTube TV support

More from Tom's Guide

• YouTube TV FAQs
• The best VPN service
• How to watch Peacock from anywhere with a VPN

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Want to watch the Grammys 2026 for free without missing a note? You’re in the right place. Here's how to watch the full replay for free with a smart workaround – no backstage pass required.

The Grammys was live on CBS in the U.S. on cable – but what about streamers?

Good news: you can get a front row seat to "music's biggest night" without spending a dime thanks to the following live TV streaming free trials:

Sign up to YouTube TV and you'll find that it allow new users to test-drive their plans at zero cost. (We've checked ourselves and YouTube TV has a full Grammys replay available right now).

Ready to tune into the 68th Grammy Awards from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles? Here's all you need to know about how to watch Grammys 2026 replay for free – even outside the U.S in the U.K. and Canada.

How to watch the Grammys for free (replay)

CBS ennjoyed the rights to air the Grammys 2026 live at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 1.

The easiest way to replay the Grammys free is to jump on a live TV streaming service.

YouTube TVand DirecTV offer free trials. Note that you should search for "the Grammy Awards" if you want to find it on YouTube TV. It should then pop up.

You can stream the show on your phone, TV, or laptop, then cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.

It’s completely legal, takes just a few minutes, and means you can enjoy music’s biggest night for free.

Traveling abroad? Access your usual U.S. services (or even sign up to their free trials) with a VPN. We're using NordVPN (save 70%) right now and it works fine.

How to watch Grammys for free from anywhere

If you're stuck abroad – where the Grammys is not on Paramount Plus – you can watch Grammys free streams and replays from anywhere with the best VPNs.

NordVPN is our top choice, and our VPN testing expert Mike confirms it's the most reliable option to stream Grammys live from outside the U.S..

Sign up now (you're protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee), set your location back to the U.S..

How to watch Grammys replays for free in the U.S. and U.K.

🇺🇸 United States — Free Grammys replays

Paramount+ on-demand: After the live Grammys air on CBS, the full ceremony is usually available to watch later on Paramount+ on demand. Even if you missed it live, you can sign up to Paramount+ Essential.

YouTube TV (free trial): According to our U.S. streaming expert Malcolm, there's a full replay of the Grammy Awards available on YouTube TV now. Make sure you search for "the Grammy Awards" – that seems to bring it up.

CBS.com & app: Sometimes the Grammys replay or highlights are posted on CBS’s official site or app after the show has aired; check there. Again, you may need to use a VPN to access CBS's content when outside North America.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — Free Grammys replay

Paramount+ on demand (TBC): Paramount told us that unlike fans in the U.S., U.K. viewers can't watch the Grammys live as part of a plan or free trial. However, a full replay (minus the scandalous bits) will be available soon after.

Official GRAMMY YouTube: UK viewers can watch performance clips, highlights, and sometimes full segments on the Recording Academy's official Grammy YouTube channel after the event.

Why isn't the Grammys available live in the U.K.?

Even though Paramount+ exists in both the U.S. and the U.K., the full live Grammy Awards are not included in the U.K. version due to geo‑restricted licensing deals.

UK fans still see clips, highlights, and the Premiere Ceremony, but the main live show isn’t carried on Paramount Plus U.K. without handy workarounds like a VPN that make it look like you’re back in the U.S.

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• How to watch Grammys 2026 online
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According to a new report, YouTube TV is getting a major DVR upgrade that will allow you to navigate directly to specific spots in recorded programs. It finally makes watching shows you've recorded easier and improves one of the best live TV streaming services.

The new feature is available for YouTube TV subscribers now, according to Cord Cutters News. They highlighted how it might work with a news show like ABC World News Tonight, where you could skip individual news segments.

It's unclear if this would allow you to skip chunks of commercials to the next section of the show or news program. Basically, it transforms the current recording tool into a more intelligent playback system.

According to Cord Cutter News, the feature is made possible thanks to metadata provided by channels like ABC. The network supplies the information, such as timestamps and markers.

YouTube TV takes that data to create chapters in the recording. You should see options to select and jump to the chapters.

Apparently, the section skipping feature is currently only available with select programs. ABC World News Tonight is one such example. For now, it seems the feature is mainly for programs that split evenly into standalone segments, like the daily news.

Beyond this report, I could not find anything official directly from YouTube announcing the new feature. I've reached out to YouTube for confirmation and more details on the alleged upgrade.

We will update that article once YouTube responds.

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YouTube is doubling down on AI as a content production method by announcing that creators will be able to use an AI likeness of themselves to make Shorts. That means, conceivably, you could start watching Shorts from your favorite YouTubers that don't contain any real footage at all.

Just like enjoying some AI-generated music in your Spotify Discover mix, the move into AI from streaming platforms like YouTube will allow them to dramatically increase the amount of available content much faster.

YouTube unveiled Shorts to directly compete with TikTok and now, according to CEO Neal Mohan, the short-form videos draw around 200 billion views every day.

"This year you'll be able to create a Short using your own likeness, produce games with a simple text prompt, and experiment with music," Mohan wrote in his annual letter. "Throughout this evolution, AI will remain a tool for expression, not a replacement."

Fighting AI slop

Although creators will soon be able to use AI to turbocharge their Shorts, there are going to be some limitations on possible deepfakes.

YouTube has guardrails in place to pick up when a creator's voice or face is used without permission in other videos. In addition, the site will label any content created using its AI products and says that creators must disclose when they've created realistic, altered or synthetic content.

Mohan addressed the issue of AI slop in his letter: "Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned not to impose any preconceived notions on the creator ecosystem.

"But with this openness comes a responsibility to maintain the high quality viewing experience that people want. To reduce the spread of low quality AI content, we’re actively building on our established systems that have been very successful in combatting spam and clickbait, and reducing the spread of low quality, repetitive content."

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I watch a lot of YouTube, and I've always used the 2x playback speed setting for videos that don't need my full attention. But changing the speed requires opening the settings menu, which adds friction when I just want to quickly skim past intros or boring sections.

Last week, I accidentally discovered a gesture that changed everything. I tapped and held on the video screen during playback, and it immediately jumped to 2x speed. When I lifted my finger, it returned to normal. This simple gesture lets me speed through any part of a video instantly without opening menus. Here's how it works and why it's a game-changer.

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Clear your schedule and turn the volume up. If you’re in the mood for explosions, chase scenes and high-octane thrills, YouTube has you covered. You don't need an expensive subscription for movie night when YouTube has plenty of free action flicks to take in.

You might be surprised to learn that YouTube hosts a rotating selection of full-length movies that can be streamed for free with ads. Yes, you can watch them all, all without YouTube asking you to spend a cent or sign up for YouTube Premium. That makes it one of the easiest ways to jump into action-packed entertainment on demand, and there are plenty of movies to choose from.

To save you the hassle of digging through endless search results, we’ve rounded up some of the best free action movies you can stream on YouTube right now. If you’re ready for some of the most exciting popcorn movies on the platform, sit back and relax, because these are it.

'Starship Troopers'

In this campy sci-fi action flick, Earth is at war with giant alien insects known as the Bugs. Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) joins the military and is sent into space to fight on the front lines against the four-legged freaks for humanity to live another day. But what starts as an exciting adventure quickly becomes much more dangerous as Johnny and his fellow soldiers face some brutal battles.

The only thing that really matters, however, is that the good guys get to lay the smackdown on the bugs and humanity ends up triumphing like it always does in the end. Would you like to know more?

Watch on YouTube

'Road House'

Dalton (Patrick Swayze) is a bouncer who’s hired to clean up a rough, out-of-control bar in a small Missouri town. Known for his calm personality and brutal fighting skills, Dalton is brought in to restore order, but his presence quickly attracts trouble from the local crime boss who runs the town through intimidation and violence. Isn't that always the way?

When things get especially disastrous, Dalton has to fight to protect the entire bar, his friends, and himself. Rest in peace, Swayze, and thanks for giving us this Peter Griffin-approved classic.

Watch on YouTube

'The Departed'

Two men live double lives on opposite sides of the law in Boston in "The Departed." Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover inside a powerful Irish crime organization, while Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) secretly works as a mole for the same criminals while he makes his way up the ranks in the state police.

Both are trying to stay hidden as each side realizes there is a traitor in their ranks. If you like smart, intelligently-paced action with star-studded talent, this is one flick you're going to want to catch, especially if you're a big DiCaprio fan.

Watch on YouTube

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YouTube went through an outage affecting millions of users across the globe. With over 12,000 outage reports on Down Detector at its peak, users are sharing the 502 page error they are all seeing.

A 502 bug is typical when there's a problem with the servers, and users reported the US, Spain, Japan and more were affected. Other countries like the UK were unaffected and the app was all fine too. This impacted the website specifically.

That's a big spike

We're currently at 12,934 user outage reports at the time of writing. According to our StatusGator and user reports, this seems to be an outage impacting the website — the mobile app seems to be OK.

What users are seeing

This is what a lot of the users in the U.S. are seeing when trying to enter YouTube or YouTube TV — a 502 server error. "Please try again in 30 seconds," the error message reads.

A potential fix?

A small but important turn in the tide of outage reports. This may be a blip!

Was this a broader Google thing?

There's a chance this may be something more on Google's server side of things. There have been outage reports on the big G's side too, but nowhere near the same size as YouTube. So this could be a bit of a red herring — you see them often when it comes to people blaming the servers rather than the service.

Looks like it (might) be over

Outage reports have just taken a massive dive, and Tom's Guide staff are confirming YouTube loads again in the U.S.

The Oscars are going streaming, and YouTube is getting the biggest night in Hollywood. Starting in 2029, YouTube will become the exclusive home of the Academy Awards, taking over from ABC after more than five decades. The Google-owned platform beat out multiple bidders, including ABC itself, for the rights to the prestigious ceremony.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the deal in a press release, confirming that YouTube will air the 101st Oscars and continue hosting the show through 2033.

YouTube’s win underscores how aggressively tech companies are moving into live, prestige programming once dominated by traditional linear networks. Netflix began streaming the SAG Awards in 2024 (with the show now rebranded as the Actors Awards). And Apple, Amazon and other platforms continue to chase big, live events such as awards and sports.

Global push

Meanwhile, the Oscars have been struggling in the ratings for years and grappling with relevance in a fragmented media landscape. Giving the ceremony to a giant global streaming platform signals the Academy has bowed to the reality that audiences aren’t watching network or cable TV … or even TV at all.

“The Academy is an international organization, and this partnership will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible — which will be beneficial for our Academy members and the film community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement.

The deal includes access to a number of related events, including the Governors Awards, the Oscars Nominations Announcement, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Scientific and Technical awards, as well as interviews, film education programs and podcasts.

What's next?

“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”

Reportedly, losing the Oscars was a relief to Disney execs who didn’t want to spend the kind of money that the Academy was seeking. An ABC spokesperson told Deadline that it was proud to host the Oscars for more than half a century and wished success to the Academy.

It’s unclear from the press release how the Oscars will stream across YouTube’s ecosystem. It may air only on the YouTube platform, or it could be simulcast on YouTube TV.

What is clear is that the Oscars aren’t betting on appointment television. Instead, it will rely on global reach and the algorithm to maintain its status as a cultural touchstone into the 2030s.

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I just found out YouTube has its own version of Spotify Wrapped, and honestly, I had no idea this existed until now. YouTube Recap breaks down everything you watched in 2025 — not just music, but your complete viewing history across the platform.

The feature rolled out to North America first and is expanding globally this week, accessible on both mobile and desktop. When I tried to find mine initially, the banner on the homepage never showed up, so I had to search for it manually.

If you're just discovering this feature (like I did), here's how to actually access your Recap when it's not appearing where it should.

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It appears that YouTube Music could soon receive a long-awaited search feature that could help it better compete against the rest of the best music streaming services.

There's nothing inherently wrong with YouTube Music, but it does lack some of the usability that other apps like Spotify have. This includes being able to quickly search within a playlist for a certain song. However, a screenshot shared on Reddit from user xerus9915 reveals that a new "Find in Playlist" option is at least in the works.

According to the post, the feature is available on version 8.45.3 of the app, but the post also notes that it is still impossible to search through radios saved to their library. When fully functional, this feature would be a big win for long-time YouTube Music users, as the current best means to search within playlists is via a browser extension, leaving app users out in the cold.

However, there is some bad news as the addition is only appearing on select iOS devices at the moment, although other Reddit users commenting on the post claim that the feature has not appeared on their iOS devices. This could indicate that the “find in playlist” feature is still in the A/B testing phase, which would match Google’s usual approach when it comes to new features.

On the plus side, it looks like "Find in Playlist" is as easy to use as we would hope. All users will need to do is tap the three-dot menu located next to a playlist. Once there, simply selecting the option and then searching for a specific song will reveal if anything matching the search term is in that playlist.

This isn’t the only new feature announced for YouTube Music, as the company announced a brand new AI feature being tested as part of the YouTube Labs project. This new addition is based around trivia and commentary, offering the user facts and stories about the tracks and artists.

For the time being, we will have to wait and see when YouTube Music fully releases the means to search for a song or artist, and which phones will gain access. However, we would hope that it comes sooner rather than later, and we will make sure to update you as soon as we know more.

Let us know if this is a change that would bring you back to using YouTube Music if you recently dropped it, or if there are other features and additions that you would like to see in the future.

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If you're an NFL fan, then NFL Sunday Ticket is on your radar. The streaming service gives you access to every out-of-market NFL game on Sunday afternoons, and if you're looking to watch every NFL game this season, it's a must-have. Unfortunately, it's incredibly expensive, starting at over $300, and even the most recent markdown had it at a still pricey $150.

Well, football fans, rejoice: Right now, you can get NFL Sunday Ticket for a limited time for just $48. That's 68% off the $150 list price and over $100 in savings. If you're a returning user, you're not eligible for this price, but returning users can get NFL Sunday Ticket for just $62 right now, which is still pretty good. According to YouTube, these early Black Friday deals will disappear on Dec. 1, so you'll want to act fast.

Now, before you sign up, you'll need to decide whether you're signing up via YouTube or via YouTube TV. The price is the same either way, but if you're thinking of subscribing to YouTube TV or are already subscribed, then signing up through YouTube TV is the better move, since your Sunday Ticket games will then be available in the YouTube TV app. That's important when it comes to watching multiple games at once — with YouTube TV's multiview, you can stream up to four local and Sunday Ticket games on the same screen.

If you don't have YouTube TV yet, sign up right now for just $62.99 a month for your first five months. You'll need to use our link to get that deal — signing up through YouTube TV directly will only get you a promotional rate of $72.99 a month for your first three months. That's not bad, but our deal saves you an additional $70 over the course of five months.

Remember: This NFL Sunday Ticket promotion expires on Dec. 1, so you'll want to act fast if you're trying to score Sunday Ticket at its cheapest price yet. The YouTube TV promotion also has an expiration date — make sure to sign up before the end of the year.

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AI-age verification is undoubtedly annoying, especially when it decides we're lying about our age. Unfortunately, YouTube's version is back and is once again causing issues.

YouTube first announced that it would be introducing an AI-backed verification system in July. However, we started to see users complain about the feature in September. It looks like some of the issues with the AI falsely restricting certain channels are still a factor.

We have seen several Reddit posts complaining about their accounts being restricted recently. One user, TREXIBALL, complained that the AI had flagged their account as soon as they turned 18. Another user, bobbahuey, noted that they had been using their account for 10+ years, but had only recently been asked to verify they were an adult.

On one hand, there's an argument that it's easy to solve the problem by simply verifying your age. However, considering YouTube's recent history, users may be cautious about supplying personal information. You can use the selfie feature, but that doesn't always work for everyone.

What does being age-restricted mean?

If your account is restricted, then the most noticeable issue is that you’ll be blocked from viewing age-restricted content. On top of that, any advertisements you see will be non-personalized.

While YouTube’s ads are certainly a pain, it’s seemingly worse when they have nothing to do with you. Not only that, YouTube will also minimize any recommendations with content that could be problematic if viewed multiple times.

On top of that, YouTube will activate its digital well-being tools by default, including reminders to take a break, as well as bedtime reminders. YouTube will also show reminders about privacy when users try to upload any new content.

The content that you do upload will also be set to private by default, and the ability to earn from gifts on vertical live streams will be heavily restricted.

Let us know if you’ve found that your account has been age-restricted and what you have done to solve the problem.

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Today (November 7), a huge number of users are reporting that YouTube is down, but what’s actually happened is another step has been taken in the anti-ad block war.

If you are using ad blockers that you can get from the Chrome extension store (think Adblock Plus), the home page will not load and even if it does, videos will either not buffer or take a long time to start playing.

This is similar to what happened before, but even worse now is the reports that even uBlock Origin is not breaking through either. But there are three workarounds. To start with, though, let’s ask one key question.

How does YouTube detect an ad blocker?

YouTube has always been vague in telling users how it identifies ad blockers. That being said, though, we can take notes from what’s happened on both YouTube in the past and other websites, and make some logical assumptions.

Here's how to fix it

First thing’s first, get away from Ad Block Plus! A lot of the ad blockers you see on the Chrome extension store do offer for sites to be whitelisted for a fee, which YouTube does pay for its general advertising network.

Done that? Good! Now let’s break the three workarounds:

• Get YouTube Premium: YouTube is making an aggressive case for you to upgrade to Premium for $13.99, but in all fairness, it’s money well spent. I’ve been using it for the past year, and it’s great for music and watching hours of videos offline while flying.
• uBlock Origin Lite seems to work: This one is actually available on Chrome extension store, and doesn’t require you to fiddle with the settings every browser update to make the original Origin work.
• Switch browser: The cat and mouse game between uBlock Origin and YouTube can get tiresome — namely having to go back into experimental settings and tweak a few settings to make it work again. Instead, grab any other Chromium browser like ChatGPT Atlas, or even non-Chromium browsers that offer extension compatibility like Firefox or Opera Air, and you’ll be able to block again.

If you run into any issues with my workarounds, please fire up in the comments!

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As Disney and Google continue to negotiate fees, sports fans who signed up for YouTube TV are out of luck as games and events on ABC and ESPN continue to be unavailable.

YouTube pulled more than 20 Disney-owned channels including ESPN and ABC right before Halloween after Google and Disney couldn't come to an agreement. At the time, YouTube TV claimed that it ""will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products."

For sports fans, that meant missing out on a slate of college football games over the weekend, including marquee matchups in the SEC, across ABC and ESPN. As the standoff continued, it also meant the ESPN Monday Night Football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys was not available — perhaps no great loss if you like competitive games; the 2-5 and Cardinals beat the 3-4-1 Cowboys by a score of 27-17.

On Tuesday (November 4), ESPN personality Pat McAfee used his platform to lambast his own network and its owners.

“We’re all done with it,” McAfee said on his show before complaining about channels begging viewers to go to websites to "save the channel." You may have noticed similar messages before Google struck a deal with NBC at the end of September.

"And also, if you’re on TV, stop telling people to go to a website to save a multi-billion-dollar deal," McAfee added. "Nobody cares what you have to say. There will be nothing that we have to say or any website that will be visited. There are, I don’t want to say the exact names, but these people (hands up high), let’s put our swords down. Let’s put our swords down for the good of sports."

Meanwhile, Disney and YouTube TV have had dueling proposals to allow ABC back on the streamer. Disney asked YTTV to briefly bring back ABC for this week's election coverage, which Google rejected.

On Wednesday, Google proposed letting ABC and ESPN return while the companies negotiate: "We propose immediately restoring the Disney channels that our customers watch: ABC and the ESPN networks, while we continue to negotiate. Those are the channels that people want."

As far as we can tell, Disney has not publicly responded to this tactic. Neither company wants to cave — Disney wants more money for its channels, and of course, Google wants to pay less.

'All you're doing is pissing everybody off'

McAfee called on Disney and Google to sign a deal.

“We need each other. A lot of people saying ‘greedy corporations,’ it’s like, yeah. We need each other, especially with where sports are right now," McAfee said. "And we’re in the middle of it, so let’s get it done. And stop asking me to go to a website. I don’t want to do that, so stop … all you’re doing is pissing everybody off even more. So it’s like, let’s just not do that."

If the two giants can't reach a deal, YouTube TV is offering a discount to customers if the outage lasts "an extended period of time."

How to watch ESPN sports in the meantime

While YTTV is among the best streaming services and with ESPN the best live streaming service, there are alternatives, especially if you want to watch ESPN and ABC.

Sling TV is the cheapest way to stream ESPN with its Day Pass, which will cost you $4.99 for 24 hours of access to Sling Orange. However, it is limited and doesn't include channels like the SEC and ACC networks or ABC.

There are three streaming alternatives, which include the Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited bundle, Hulu with Live TV, and DirecTV genre packs. They each have their own drawbacks, which we've broken down here.

NFL fans who paid for Sunday Ticket may be in for prolonged frustration if this doesn't resolve soon. YouTube TV has reportedly been pointing people to its customer service to restore access.

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Google and YouTube have agreed to pay $30 million to settle allegations they illegally collected personal data from children under 13 years old. The settlement resolves claims that the companies violated privacy laws by gathering information from minors who watched cartoons, nursery rhymes, and other child-directed content on YouTube between July 2013 and April 2020.

While Youtube hasn't actually admitted any wrong doing, if your child watched YouTube during this period and was under 13 at the time, they may be eligible for a payment. However, it's critically important to understand the exact qualification requirements before submitting a claim, as filing falsely constitutes perjury.

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Some YouTube TV subscribers are discovering a surprise $10 monthly discount in their account settings, totaling $60 in savings over six months. However, contrary to early speculation, this discount is not related to the recent removal of Disney channels from the platform.

According to YouTube TV spokesperson Jess Gibby, these credits are specifically "for subscribers who previously canceled or paused their subscriptions" and is unrelated to the ongoing Disney dispute.

How to check your account

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Editor's Note: As of Oct. 31, 2025, YouTube TV has lost Disney and ESPN. Both sides have said they are still working toward a solution, but remain far apart.

The deadline is almost here. It's that time again, fellow YouTube TV subscribers. Disney has gone to war with YouTube TV, and it could ultimately end with the live TV streaming service losing out on Disney, ESPN, ABC and more popular channels that are a must for most consumers.

Here's the rundown: On Oct. 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET the distribution deal between Disney, which owns ESPN, ABC and numerous other networks, will end. At that point, YouTube TV will no longer air any Disney-owned networks until a new deal is struck.

YouTube TV and Disney: What's going on?

Disney, for its part, is accusing YouTube TV of being the reason behind the lack of a new deal. “This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. “If we don’t reach a fair deal soon, YouTube TV customers will lose access to ESPN and ABC, and all our marquee programming — including the NFL, college football, NBA and NHL seasons — and so much more.”

Unsurprisingly, YouTube TV says it's Disney, not the Google-owned cable alternative, that's to blame for the current situation. "We've been working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content on YouTube TV," YouTube said on its official blog. "Unfortunately, Disney is proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices, while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products - like Hulu + Live TV and, soon, Fubo. Without an agreement, we'll have to remove Disney’s content from YouTube TV and if it remains unavailable for an extended period of time, we will offer subscribers a $20 credit."

It might be time to jump ship for Hulu with Live TV

Here's the thing: I don't care which company is at fault. I want the best channel selection for the most affordable price. And while YouTube's $20 credit is a fair offer, it won't do me any good if I still have to pay elsewhere to get the Disney-owned channels that I want to watch. So I'm strongly considering switching to Hulu with Live TV.

I'm fully aware that this is exactly what Disney is hoping for, or at least, certainly won't upset the House of Mouse. But ultimately, there are three reasons why I'm about ready to make the switch, and only one of them has to do with this most recent carriage dispute.

The biggest reason I'm tempted to make the switch is that right now, you can get Hulu with Live TV for just $64.99 a month for your first three months. That's $18 a month less than the $82.99 list price for YouTube TV, and still $8 cheaper than YouTube TV's current introductory offer, which is $10 off a month for your first three months of YouTube TV.

Plus, Hulu includes ESPN Unlimited, Disney Plus (with ads) and Hulu (with ads). So not only would I pay less for my live TV service by making the switch, I'd save money on some of the best streaming services too.

Now, it's important to note that Hulu with Live TV isn't perfect. I've tested all the best live TV streaming services, and while I liked Hulu a lot, it missed out on some popular channels and didn't have the best app for streaming live TV. I preferred YouTube TV, which is why it's currently our pick for the best cable TV alternative. And once the three-month promotional period ends, Hulu with Live TV costs $89.99, which is more than the $82.99 you need to shell out for YouTube TV.

Still, saving $18 a month isn't insignificant, and I'd never have to worry about ESPN going away. I haven't made a final decision yet, but at this point, I'm strongly considering leaving YouTube TV for Hulu with Live TV before the latter's current promotion ends on Nov. 5, 2025.

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YouTube is getting several visual updates thanks to a new UI redesign that started rolling out this week. These new features launched globally yesterday (October 13), though you may not have received it yet.

The redesign comes less than two weeks after a major UI overhaul launched on the mobile version of YouTube.

The most noticeable update to YouTube is the redesigned video player, which features new icons and elements that are meant to be more transparent. That way, they won't obscure the video as much.

A YouTube announcement post described the updated app as a "cleaner and more immersive" player. That includes improvements to "Seek" which enables you to double-tap to skip. This is supposed to feel more "modern and less intrusive." Transitions between tabs on mobile have been updated as well.

The new design seems bubblier and more transparent. The different buttons also have more distinct outlines. So instead of just icons on the player bar, now they're in distinct circles.

Lastly, the process of adding to playlists and Watch Later has been made simpler, while some videos will get little animations when you tap the like button. You might see this on music videos and sports highlights to start.

I noticed it on a movie trailer, where tapping the like button briefly turned the new thumbs up into a clapperboard.

It's possible that some people have had this layout for more than a month, since Premium subscribers tend to get some beta changes early.

Reddit isn't happy

When is Reddit ever happy? Nonetheless, the YouTube subreddit is filled with complaint posts about the new UI. Most people seem confused.

We've seen it called "genuinely ugly" among the nicer, less profane-filled comments.

Personally, I find the new YouTube look appealing, if a little too large, but not distractingly so.

Interestingly, the new feature that people on Reddit do seem happy about is the new comments section which has introduced "threading" that looks very similar to how comments on Reddit work.

If you're not familiar with threading on Reddit and now YouTube, you can see how comments connect to one another thanks to threaded responses. This is especially helpful for convoluted, multi-reply comments that can go off on tangents.

YouTube says this should "provide a more focused reading experience within the replies panel."

Do you have it yet?

Google rollouts can be a little slow, taking days or even weeks to hit most people.

After some refreshes, I was able to see the new interface, but some of my colleagues have yet to receive the update. We checked both work and personal accounts in both normal and incognito modes.

Unfortunately, it's not clear from Google how long it will take until more people can try out the redesigned video player.

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After negotiating a last-second deal yesterday (Oct. 1) to keep NBCUniversal channels on YouTube TV, Google and the Comcast-owned media company have struck a new long-term deal. The multi-year agreement keeps access to Peacock, Universal Pictures media, and NBCUniversal channels across YouTube TV, YouTube and Google TV.

This all helps YouTube TV retain the top spot as one of the best live TV streaming services.

"We’ve secured long-term access to our full portfolio of broadcast and cable networks on YouTube TV, and we’re advancing our Peacock strategy with an upcoming launch on YouTube Primetime Channels and ongoing presence on Google TV," Matt Schnaars, President of Platform Distribution & Partnerships at NBCUniversal, said in a press release.

Prior to October 1, the two companies were negotiating over carriage fees to keep NBCU's content available on the live TV streaming service. NBC had been threatening to pull its channels from YouTube TV.

This isn't the first time NBC channels have gone dark. In 2021, NBCU briefly pulled channels when its carriage deal with YTTV expired, while the two companies were negotiating the just-lapsed agreement.

"This deal builds on our long-standing partnership with NBCU while addressing the evolving media landscape and recognizing the importance of making content available where and how viewers want to watch it,” said Justin Connolly, Vice President, Global Head of Media & Sports at YouTube in the press release.

If you watched any NBC channel in the last week, you may have noticed a scrolling message at the top of the screen begging viewers to contact YouTube TV to deal with NBCU. It was especially noticeable during the big Oregon vs Penn State whiteout game.

There were also advertisements on YouTube and during the game with similar lobbying messages.

Despite the aggressive lobbying, it's unlikely Google and NBCU were going to let anything actually get blacklisted, as both services are highly valuable to one another.

It's unclear from the press release how long this deal is meant to endure. The previous deal lasted four years. If the companies came to a similar agreement, we can expect this dance to happen again in 2029.

What's in the agreement?

Multiple NBCU channels will stay on YTTV, including NBC, Telemundo, Bravo and USA. Additionally, NBCUniversal will be launching a new NBC Sports Network channel that will be available on YouTube TV.

This new channel is meant to complement the sports coverage on the main NBC network. In the coming months, NBC says that the Peacock streaming service will be available as an add-on via the YouTube Primetime channels.

Additionally, media from Universal Pictures will be continue to be available to rent or buy via YouTube, YouTube TV and Google TV. That's in addition to film from NBCUniversal, which will be available on demand on YouTube Premium and YouTube Free Primetime Content.

Lastly, the companies announced that Peacock will continue to be available on Google Play and Google TV.

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YouTube appears to be rolling out a UI change for its phone app, but users don't seem too pleased with the new look.

A developer changing the look of its app is certainly nothing new, with YouTube itself having seen its fair share of changes over the years. Not every change implemented by the company has been positively received, but this new look, shown off on several Reddit threads, might be one of the more controversial ones.

In the current version of the YouTube app, all of the information you need about the channel is located directly underneath the video. However, the new UI completely removes the channel name, instead leaving only a username.

The uploader's icon is also increased in size and has been moved to sit next to the video's title, while the join and notification options now live next to the like and dislike buttons.

I checked my iPhone 15 Pro Max and, as seen in the above image, my app has the original UI. I also checked a colleague's Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and didn't see the change. Unfortunately, the Reddit post in question doesn't mention the model on which the screenshot was taken, but Android Authority reports that some of their devices have the new look.

For the most part, the common consensus on Reddit threads appears to be that the UI looks far too “squished” or “crouched.” I can see what they mean, and losing the channel name is an odd choice. On the other hand, there's an argument that it appears a bit more streamlined and allows users to better see the next video on smaller screens.

It appears that there’s also a new look for YouTube Shorts, although I'm not too sure about the validity of this one. According to a few posts on Reddit, the buttons on the right-hand side of the screen appear much smaller and smoother-looking than they did in the past.

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If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, today could bring some big changes (or at least a little uncertainty). That’s because the streaming service’s deal with NBCUniversal expires today, and until a new agreement is reached, some of the channels you rely on every day could disappear from your lineup.

For fans of live sports, late-night shows and prime-time dramas, the timing couldn’t be more inconvenient. Even those who stay updated with the daily news could find themselves without channels like MSNBC or CNBC.

YouTube TV is trying to soften the blow with a $10 credit if NBCU channels go dark for a while, but the reality is that your viewing experience could be interrupted. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on updates from YouTube TV so you’ll know as soon as the channels are restored.

In the meantime, we’ll walk through exactly which channels and shows could be affected and some simple steps you can take to keep your favorite content coming, even if the deal doesn’t get renewed right away.

What channels are affected?

YouTube TV subscribers are at risk of losing access to several NBCUniversal channels due to an expired carriage agreement. If a new deal isn’t reached soon, these channels and services could go dark, directly affecting your subscription.

Here’s what channels could be affected:

• NBC: This includes both national and local affiliates, meaning viewers could lose access to a wide range of popular programming, from live sports like “Sunday Night Football” and college football, to hit reality and entertainment shows such as “The Voice” and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as major news broadcasts and local news coverage.
• MSNBC: A leading network for political news, analysis and commentary, covering everything from breaking national stories to in-depth investigative reporting.
• CNBC: Focused on business, finance and economic news, CNBC delivers live market updates, expert analysis and shows like “Squawk Box” and “Mad Money.”
• USA Network: Known for a mix of scripted series, reality shows and sports coverage, USA Network features popular dramas, comedies and reality competitions that draw a broad audience.
• Golf Channel: Offers comprehensive coverage of professional and amateur golf tournaments, instructional content and live event commentary for golf enthusiasts.
• Telemundo: Provides Spanish-language programming, including telenovelas, news, reality shows and live sports, serving a wide audience across the U.S.
• Peacock: NBCUniversal’s streaming service, which may also be affected, potentially disrupting access to a wide range of movies, TV shows and exclusive streaming content available on-demand.

How to keep streaming these channels

If a blackout does occur, there are a few ways to keep watching while waiting for updates or a new agreement.

A good option is to check the NBC and Peacock apps. Even if YouTube TV loses access, these apps may still offer live streams or on-demand episodes. You might need a separate account, but it’s an easy way to stay current on primetime shows, news and sports highlights.

You could also explore other streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, Fubo TV or Sling TV, which may continue carrying NBCU channels. For viewers who rely heavily on these channels, a short-term switch could be worth it to avoid interruptions.

Finally, don’t forget on-demand and catch-up options. Many NBC and NBCU shows post full episodes online shortly after airing on the NBC website, the NBC app or the Peacock streaming service, letting you stay up to date even during a blackout. Keeping notifications on in the YouTube TV app or on social media can also alert you immediately when the channels are restored, so you won’t miss a thing.

For YouTube TV subscribers, today’s expiration of the NBCUniversal deal could mean interruptions to some of your most-watched channels. While YouTube TV has promised a $10 credit if channels go dark for an extended period, the key takeaway is to stay informed and keep an eye on updates so you know exactly how your subscription and daily viewing could be affected.

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I’ve hovered over the sign-up button for YouTube Premium many times. While I subscribe to several of the best streaming services, YouTube is the video-viewing platform I use most, and by some distance. I watch YouTube pretty much all day long, whether I’m in the gym, in bed or just as background noise while working from home (Shout out to Asthenic for their brilliant Synthwave playlists, which always score my working day).

However, despite being a heavy YouTube user and even a YouTuber myself in my teenage years (I wisely deleted my terrible DVD unboxing videos long ago, so don’t go looking for them), I’ve never been tipped over the edge to sign up for Premium. That was until a couple of weeks back, when, during a late-night watching session, and after more than a few pints of Guinness, I got so frustrated with frequent mid-roll ads in a video I was enjoying, I decided, screw it, I’m signing up for a free trial.

I’ll admit my initial plan was to take the 30-day free trial and then most likely cancel, as the $13.99 per month fee felt a little too steep. However, after now having had access to YouTube with Premium benefits for a little while, I already know I can’t go back. YouTube Premium really does make using the juggernaut video-sharing platform a dramatically smoother experience, and I’ve also discovered it’s more than just ad-free watching.

Ad-free YouTube really is as awesome as it sounds

While there are more benefits to YouTube Premium than just watching videos without ads, let’s not beat around the bush: Uninterrupted viewing is the benefit that likely draws in most subscribers, at least initially. Getting frustrated with ads was what tipped me over the edge.

I’ve largely been able to tolerate ads when watching a longer YouTube video. Because the platform allows creators to select where mid-roll ads are placed, any creator who cares about their viewers' experience usually does a good job of inserting them as non-intrusively as possible. But even so, I can’t deny that being entirely free of them is a wonderful thing.

The biggest benefit of ad-free YouTube comes when hopping between shorter content. In the current YouTube landscape, it’s not uncommon to get unskippable 30-second ads on videos that are barely a couple of minutes long, which can become seriously frustrating very quickly.

As noted, I watch a lot of YouTube music compilations (this 10-hour loop of my favorite track from the Persona 5 soundtrack set over rain noise is another favourite), so the lack of mid-roll ads has been extra appreciated. Nothing kills my workflow more than when my chill background tunes suddenly turn to somebody trying to sell me cryptocurrency.

YouTube Premium offers more benefits than you might expect

Where YouTube Premium has also won me over is in all the other ostensibly "smaller" subscriber benefits. These seem like minor upgrades, but they all add up to make the user experience significantly better.

Being able to download videos to watch offline is a pretty nice perk. Granted, it’s not one I envisage using super often, but I signed up for Premium while visiting my family, who live a flight away in Northern Ireland, so it was nice to download a couple of videos for the journey home. Granted, I’m still more likely to download a Netflix show or movie.

The benefit I’ve found myself using the most has been “background play,” which allows you to carry on listening to YouTube content on your mobile device even when your screen is switched off.

I “watch” a lot of podcast-style videos, covering everything from Premier League soccer to the latest video game news, usually, if I wanted to listen to these while doing other stuff (like walking to the grocery store), I’d have to carefully place my phone in my pocket with the video still playing, but thanks to Premium that’s not an issue. Picture-in-Picture, another nifty feature, reduces the YouTube app to a small window while you do other stuff on your phone. It's similarly useful in specific circumstances.

Another perk that YouTube often flags is access to the separate YouTube Music platform, but as a dedicated Spotify user, I can’t say this one appeals to me. Nevertheless, my overall takeaway from using YouTube Premium for a couple of weeks is that there’s more to gain than just ad-free viewing. Even if there wasn’t, having now sampled ad-free YouTube, I can't go back to unskippable commercials and endlessly mid-rolls.

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Password sharers beware, it looks like YouTube Premium is the latest streaming service to roll out restrictions on account sharing, following in the footsteps of previous crackdowns on popular platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max and more.

As reported by Android Police, some subscribers to YouTube Premium’s Family plan, which costs $23 per month, have received a notification via email that their benefits will be paused as “it appears you may not be in the same household as your family manager.” The email, sent to Android Police by a reader, notes that Premium benefits will be paused for 14 days.

Paused accounts can still watch YouTube, but will lose Premium features like ad-free streaming, downloading YouTube content for offline viewing and access to YouTube Music. However, YouTube does offer the ability to contact Google support to “confirm eligibility and maintain access” if the user in question believes their Premium account was flagged in error.

Cracking down on account sharing

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Forget scrolling endlessly and trying to settle on a movie. Your next big watch is already waiting for you on a platform you probably check out every day: YouTube.

It might sound surprising, but YouTube has a huge treasure trove of full-length movies you can watch anytime, and they're all completely free. They aren't low-quality uploads riddled with too many ads, either. There's a seriously solid library of movies that don't even require a YouTube Premium subscription for you to watch. It's a game-changer that easily makes YouTube one of the best free streaming platforms out there.

From cult classics and indies to action-packed thrillers and romances, there’s a little bit of everything for every type of movie lover. To get you started, we've done the digging for you and pulled together three of the best movies on YouTube available to stream right now. Check out our picks below.

'Wonder'

Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) has spent most of his life hiding behind astronaut helmets and homeschooling because he looks different. But when he starts fifth grade at Beecher Prep, things have to change, and he finds himself in the spotlight and under scrutiny.

His mom, Isabel (Julia Roberts), and dad, Nate (Owen Wilson), promise things will be fine, but Auggie finds himself bogged down by bullying. He deals with cruel pranks, uneasy friendships and other uncomfortable truths of being different in middle school. All the while, his sister ends up feeling invisible beside her famous little brother. "Wonder" is all about kindness and how it can change lives.

Watch on YouTube

'The Cured'

Senan (Sam Keeley) isn’t out of danger just because scientists whipped up a cure for the virus that once turned him and thousands of others into zombies. In the ruins of Dublin, the newly “cured” former individuals aren't just shunned, but they're tracked and feared and treated like prisoners.

Senan moves in with his widowed sister-in-law, Abbie (Elliot Page), desperate to rebuild his life. But his friend Conor (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) kicks off an underground movement of cured people who refuse to stay second-class citizens. In the end, Senan has to choose between conforming to what society expects of him and rebelling against persecution in this inventive zombie flick.

Watch on YouTube

'The Man in the Moon'

Dani Trant (Reese Witherspoon) is a 14-year-old girl who's just spinning her wheels in rural Louisiana. That all changes when the Foster family moves in next door to her family. She ends up falling for their brooding older son, Court (Jason London), who treats her like more than just his kid sister.

Dani’s first crush blossoms into love fast, but Court starts to notice Dani’s older sister, Maureen (Emily Warfield), instead. What began as a sweet romance turns into a love triangle that forces the Trant family, and namely Dani, to confront what it is to grow up and how to cope with unrequited love.

Watch on YouTube

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“South Park” blew its satirical payload when, after various delays, season 27 debuted with an excoriating takedown of Donald Trump, the episode attracting 5.9 million viewers across Paramount Plus and Comedy Central in just its first three days.

After a week off the air, the R-rated animated comedy is charging back into the fray to continue its merciless mockery of the incumbent president and his administration. Catch it now with our guide explaining how to watch “South Park” season 27 episode 2 online from anywhere with a VPN.

Despite bungled contract negotiations repeatedly curbing the season 27 premiere, “South Park” returned all guns blazing with their roast of Donald Trump.

In fact, he’s unequivocally ridiculed in “Sermon on the Mount”: depicted as a shrill, “tin pot dictator” in the 1999 “South Park” movie, and a literal bedfellow of Satan. The episode also addresses Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount Global (who currently own “South Park”) for $16 million, and show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone don't shy away from criticising the media conglomerate itself.

Needless to say, the White House's response wasn’t complimentary. They released a statement declaring that the show was "uninspired" and “hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years.” Well, they might want to look away now. Because Parker and Stone are doubling-down on the ridicule in their sophomore assault, with Satan fending off advances from Trump at a black tie dinner and Mr Mackey going on a gun-toting ride along with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the episode 2 preview.

Don’t miss the latest controversy-baiting installment: the following guide explains how to watch “South Park” season 27 episode 2 online from anywhere – and potentially for free!

Can I watch 'South Park' season 27 episode 2 for free?

Yes. 10 Comedy run by 10 Play in Australia will be showing episode 2 for free on their streaming platform.

The episode will air at 10.30pm AEST on Thursday, August 7.

Remember to use a VPN if you're traveling outside of Australia while it is on.

Watch 'South Park' season 27 anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "South Park" season 27 on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the special thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the U.K. and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up your website or streaming service of choice and tune in just as you would at home.

How to watch ‘South Park’ season 27 episode 2 online in the U.S.

We're going on down to "South Park" again! U.S. fans with cable can watch "South Park" season 27 episode 2 via Comedy Central on Wednesday, August 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

If you don't have cable, then cord-cutting services with Comedy Central include Sling TV (50% off), which is available through either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue package from $46 per month. You can even get 50% off your first month, before returning to the original fee.

Hulu with Live TV plans start from $82.99 per month, after a 3-day free trial.

Fubo.TV packs a lot more channels, although it costs a fair bit more. But it does offer a 7-day free trial before you pay anything, though.

Of these options, we recommend Sling TV (one of the best streaming services and best cable TV alternatives).

Just want to stream the show? Paramount Plus will upload brand-new "South Park" episodes every Thursday, the day after they've aired on Comedy Central.

Watch ‘South Park’ season 27 episode 2 online in Canada

Canadians can watch "South Park" season 27 episode 2 on Thursday, August 7 with a subscription to Paramount Plus. The latest installment will join all the former Paramount specials alongside all past 26 seasons of the show.

Comedy Central Canada will be the cable home which you can access through your usual subscriptions.

If you're a US viewer traveling in the Great White North and want to watch your usual free stream, you can do so with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 episode 2 in the U.K.

"South Park" season 27 episode 2 will air on Thursday, August 7 at 10 p.m. BST on Comedy Central in the U.K.. Those without cable or satellite, however, can stream episodes the same day with a Paramount Plus membership.

A U.K. viewer overseas? Use a VPN to watch "South Park" season 27 from abroad.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 episode 2 in Australia

"South Park" season 27 episode 2 will be broadcast on August 7 at 10:30 p.m. AEST on the free 10 Comedy channel in Australia, as well as being available to stream with Paramount Plus.

If you happen to be visiting the country from the U.S. or the U.K., simply sign up to a VPN to appear as if you're back home when watching.

‘South Park’ season 27 episode 2 preview

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

YouTube is going to start relying on AI to determine whether or not an account belongs to a teen or an adult, and take actions as a result. In a recent blog post, YouTube announced machine learning would "interpret a variety of signals that help us to determine whether a user is over or under 18".

If the AI believes the account is being operated by a teen, it will automatically apply age-appropriate protections, including:

• Disabling personalized advertising
• Turning on digital wellbeing tools
• Adding safeguards to recommendations, including limiting repetitive views of some kinds of content

YouTube says it plans to start testing this approach on a small subset of users in the US over the coming weeks as a trial, before rolling it out to the rest of its users. The company notes it has been using this approach in other markets "for some time" and is now bringing it to the U.S.

So, how does it work? According to the blog post, the various signals the AI will look for include things like the longevity of the account and the types of videos that account is most often searching for. Additionally, it will pick up and monitor the categories of videos the user is watching to reach a conclusion.

What if the AI gets it wrong?

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Both Google and YouTube are adding new features that aim to expand what you can do with your photos.

Specifically, Google says its Photos app is gaining new tools that can breathe new life into your photos. Those features include adding a photo-to-video feature powered by Veo 2 as well a new Remix capability that converts existing photos into animations, sketchs, comics and other styles.

Meanwhile, YouTube Shorts will also pick up the photo-to-video feature, and it's introducing new generative video effects, too.

Google will let you turn images into video

The photos-to-video feature lets users transform their images into 6-second video clips in just a few steps. All this is powered by Google's Veo 2 AI video generator when you select a picture from your gallery and pick from one of two prompts — “Subtle movements” or “I’m feeling lucky.”

You can also remix your photos to a different style

On top of that, Google Photos will now allow you to “remix” your images, allowing you to change the style of your images with ease. For instance, you could turn your most recent selfie into an anime, comic or even a 3D animation. All you have to do is select an image in your gallery and then choose your preferred style.

Features will be easier to find with the Create tab, and spot thanks to watermarks

Not only can you animate your images, but Google is also introducing a new Create tab in Google Photos that makes it even easier to find the tools that you need. Basically, it's a tab to find each feature, such as photo-to-video and remix, in one place.

With the push for more AI-backed features, Google is also working to improve transparency regarding what is, and isn’t generated through AI. For instance, all videos and photos generated with the above methods will include an invisible SynthID watermark, while Videos generated in Photos will also have a visual watermark, similar to what you’d see in Gemini.

On top of that, both Photo to video and Remix will be supported by Google’s Red Team, a group of ethical hackers, who will aim to find and address any potential issues, while also conducting evaluations to prevent any of these features from being misused.

You can try out the Photo to Video feature today (July 23), while the Remix feature will be arriving in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Create tab is expected for release in August.

YouTube shorts can make use of Photo to Video too

It isn’t just Google that is making use of AI for new features, as YouTube has announced new features based around combining the creation tools with YouTube Shorts. Like Google, YouTube is also introducing the ability to turn your photos into video, allowing you to easily breathe new life into your pictures. This feature is set for release next week, free of charge, in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with more regions coming later this year.

YouTube shorts can also use AI generation to make images even better

On top of that, YouTube is also adding new generative effects to YouTube, including the ability to turn your doodles into lifelike images. You’ll also be able to turn your images into more unique videos, for instance, adding in water or twinning with a lookalike sibling.

To access these effects, find the sparkle icon in the shorts camera and then tap on “AI” to start browsing. YouTube isn’t only releasing features either, as the company has announced that while the features will initially run on Veo 2, the company will soon be rolling out the newer Veo 3 to YouTube later this summer.

Find your new tools even faster in the AI Playground

YouTube is also introducing AI Playground, where you can easily find the latest gen AI tools, as well as a gallery of examples and pre-filled prompts to help you get started generating music, videos and more. AI Playground is available now for everyone in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. All you need to do is tap the create button, and then the sparkle icon in the top right corner.

Like Google, all of these tools will make use of Synth ID watermarks, as we all as clear labels, to help prove that they were made with AI.

Overall, it’s an exciting time for AI fans looking to add something a little bit different to their images and YouTube shorts. It’s also good to see that both Google and YouTube are working to implement more transparency on what is AI and what isn’t. As such, now is the time to grab one of the best camera phones and see what you can create.

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There's still no trailer at the time of writing, but "South Park" season 27 episode 6 finally has a title ahead of its belated premiere this Wednesday, October 15: "Twisted Christian". The logline, reading "Cartman is possessed and may be the key to stopping the Antichrist", suggests the episode may have been inspired by Peter Thiel.

Here's how to watch "South Park" season 27 online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.

Thiel, who co-founded PayPal and Palantir, was a key early supporter of SpaceX and Facebook, and is now one of the Trump administration's wealthiest and most influential backers, has hosted several off-the-record lectures of late, in which he reportedly drew parallels between the Antichrist and critics of AI, and warned that the world will be plunged into Armageddon if AI is regulated.

Thiel also raised eyebrows in June, with his appearance on the "Interesting Times with Ross Douthat" podcast. Asked if he "would prefer the human race to endure" instead of being wiped out by AI, he hesitated at length, eventually, and only after Douthat had made his discomfort with Thiel's indecision abundantly clear, answering in the affirmative.

While its takedowns of the president have dominated the headlines, "South Park" has also taken a stand against AI and Trump's primary enablers — the billionaire class that counts Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook as some of its members. It saw Randy Marsh turn to the now-ubiquitous ChatGPT for (terrible) advice, and consequently lose everything.

With the new season on course to break viewership records, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have earned the license to take as much time as they need to transform current affairs into these masterpieces, so Paramount has confirmed that the fallow weeks will be standard.

Read on to find out how to watch "South Park" season 27 online and from anywhere in the world.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 for free in Australia

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "South Park" season 27 on your usual subscription?

You can still tune in thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN — and you can find out why in our NordVPN review.

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the U.K. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up 10Play and tune in just as you would at home.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 in the U.S.

Fans based in the U.S. can watch "South Park" season 27 on Comedy Central at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesdays. Following an unexpectedly prolongued hiatus, episode 6 will air on October 15.

If you don't have cable, cord-cutting services with Comedy Central include Sling TV (50% off), which is available through either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue package from $46 per month. You can even get 50% off your first month.

Hulu with Live TV plans start from $82.99 per month, after a 3-day free trial.

Fubo TV packs a lot more channels, although it costs a fair bit more. However, it does offer a 7-day free trial.

Of these options, we recommend Sling TV (one of the best streaming services and best cable TV alternatives).

Just want to stream the show? Paramount Plus will upload brand-new "South Park" episodes on Thursdays, the day after they air on Comedy Central.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 in Canada

Canadians can watch "South Park" season 27 on Paramount Plus on Thursdays. A subscription costs CA$6.99 per month. Episode 6 will hit the streamer on October 15.

Comedy Central Canada is the show's cable home.

If you're an Australian viewer traveling in the Great White North and want to watch your usual free stream, you can do so with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.

How to watch 'South Park' season 27 in the U.K.

"South Park" season 27 airs at 10 p.m. BST on Thursdays, on both Comedy Central and Paramount Plus, which costs £4.99 per month.

Episode 6 will land on October 16.

U.K. viewer overseas? Use a VPN to watch "South Park" season 27 from abroad.

'South Park' season 27 — What you need to know

"South Park" season 27 — Episode guide

Season 27 Episode 01 — "Sermon on the 'Mount": Wednesday, July 23

S27 E02 — "Got a Nut": Wednesday, August 7

S27 E03 — "Sickofancy": Wednesday, August 20

S27 E04 — "Wok is Dead": Wednesday, September 3

S27 E05 — "Conflict of Interest": Wednesday, September 24

S27 E06 — "Twisted Christian": Wednesday, October 15

S27 E07: Wednesday, October 29

S27 E08: Wednesday, November 12

S27 E09: Wednesday, November 26

S27 E10: Wednesday, December 10

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Apple has taken well-known YouTuber Jon Prosser to court for the alleged theft of trade secrets regarding iOS 26.

According to the lawsuit, Prosser is accused of tasking another man, Michael Ramacciotti, with secretly accessing the iPhone of his friend Ethan Lipnik, a now-former Apple software engineer working on the new iOS.

This information, taken from this device, was then used to report on Apple’s planned changes for the then-unannounced iOS 26.

Apple reportedly learned about the leak from an anonymous email. In the email, it was stated that Prosser was supplied the information about iOS 19, the name given to iOS 26 at the time, by Lipnik.

The sender cites that they had seen a FaceTime call between "Prosser and Lipnik or a friend of Lipnik's where iOS 19 was demonstrated to Prosser." The email also reveals that Ramaciotti, as well as three other redacted names, are involved.

Apple states that Lipnik has shared a voice recording with Apple that had been sent to them by Ramaciotti, apologizing for breaking into the phone and claiming that the subterfuge was Prosser’s idea.

Lipnik does not appear on Apple's complaint, but has since been fired from Apple for failing to comply with the company's policy regarding securing sensitive information.

Apple claims that Prosser offered Ramacciotti “money or a future job opportunity” in exchange for access to the information on the device. Allegedly, Ramacciotti learned Lipnik’s iPhone password and then, using location tracking to gauge when Lipnik would be away from the device, accessed the phone running the new software.

This software was then shown to Prosser over a video call, which was recorded, shared with others, and used to create renders of iOS 26’s new designs.

Prosser has several videos showcasing the reported renders

Prosser has released several videos regarding the new iOS on both his Front Page Tech and Genius Bar podcast YouTube videos. These include a video in January 2025 titled “your very first look at iOS 19,” which revealed the new camera app redesign.

This was followed by another video in March that showcased the redesigned Messenger app and, in April, a video titled “the biggest iOS leak ever” that included details of Apple’s Liquid Glass design. These videos are all still available at the time of writing.

Prosser posted on X, in response to MacRumors coverage of the case, that Apple’s sequence of events is incorrect, stating that “This is not how the situation played out.”

Prosser goes on to state that he did not plot to “access anyone’s phone” and that he was “unaware of how the information was obtained,” but is looking forward to talking to Apple about the incident.

A follow-up comment on the post also includes a screenshot of a text message chain that appears to be between Prosser and Ramaciotti claiming that the material supplied was “legit.”

As it stands, Apple has asked for both damages as well as a court order that would prevent Prosser from being able to disclose trade secrets. While some might argue that iOS 26 has already been announced, Apple has stated that there are secrets still at risk as the development phone “contained other unannounced design elements.”

We'll keep you posted on any new developments in the case. In the meantime, here's a breakdown of all of the new iOS 26 features for your iPhone you can try once the public beta is available.

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Last month, I found myself on vacation at a hotel resort that, for some unexplained reason, was playing non-stop episodes of the original Pokémon TV series on the bar televisions.

While I certainly enjoyed bopping out to the earworm theme tune over a few beers — much to my partner’s embarrassment as I belted out every word — mostly I was also overcome with a nostalgia desire to binge-watch the original adventures of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu when I returned home.

I assumed I’d have to search the best streaming services for its current home, or maybe even resort to purchasing each season on Amazon Prime Video, but to my great delight, I just discovered you can watch the classic Pokémon TV show for free on YouTube.

I’m a little behind the curve on this one, but in December 2024, the Pokémon TV channel sprang up and started uploading full episodes to the free-to-watch video-sharing platform.

Naturally, the upload began with season 1, known as Indigo League (which is the season I have the most childhood fondness for), and over the past seven months has slowly been uploading episodes in batches.

As of writing, you can watch up to episode 34 of the show’s fourth season (Johto League Champions), and there are no signs of the uploads slowing.

If, like me, you spent your childhood obsessed with the smash-hit monster-collecting video games, trading cards and cartoon series, this dose of pure millennial nostalgia might just brighten your summer even further.

And it’s particularly awesome that you can enjoy these episodes for free on YouTube without needing to fork out for a streaming subscription.

I’m not entirely sure when the uploads will stop. The Pokémon series is still ongoing, currently on season 27, comprising more than 1,300 episodes, with newer episodes landing on Netflix.

But frankly, I only need the first half-dozen seasons, as these are the ones I watched in my youth. As long as these are available for free, my inner child is happy.

The Pokémon movies are also streaming free

While I very much enjoyed the TV show as a child, I’m most nostalgic for the original Pokémon movies. Primarily, the creatively titled “Pokémon: The First Movie,” which hit cinemas in the West in the winter of 1999.

In fact, it might just be one of the first movies I ever saw in theatres, it’s certainly the first flick I can remember seeing on the big screen.

You know where I’m going with this: The Pokémon TV channel has also uploaded the very first movie for free this month, letting you enjoy the epic battle between Mew and Mewtwo in all its glory.

Even better, it’s been confirmed that the two subsequent sequels are on the way. Pokémon TV is hosting a series of live watch-along parties, with “Pokémon The Movie 2000” premiering on August 1, and “Pokémon 3: The Movie” debuting on its YouTube channel on September 5.

Our sister site, GamesRadar, reports these movies will only be available for a "limited time," so I suggest watching them as soon as they go live, just in case their stay on YouTube proves to be a short one.

But whether you’ve a fondness for the original TV show, or the feature-length flicks, or perhaps you want to introduce the next generation of Pokémon fans to the franchise, you’ll want to head over to YouTube and start watching now.

Now, if we can get the Digimon, Beyblade and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated shows uploaded to YouTube, I will be able to relive all my favorite childhood cartoons.

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A bug has appeared on the Android version of the YouTube app that makes navigating a lot more difficult — by making the bottom bar disappear.

It was recently discovered (via Android Police) that a new bug has completely removed the navigation bar from the YouTube app for both regular and YouTube Premium users. As such, affected devices can’t access the Subscriptions, Shorts, Library or Profile buttons to quickly navigate. Not only that, it appears that the Notifications button at the top of the screen is also missing.

While losing access to the Shorts and Library is certainly annoying, you can still find most of the content on the home page. But losing the ability to navigate to your Profile is a bigger issue, as it means no access to Playlists, History or Incognito mode. It’s also the only means to quickly swap accounts, meaning some of the proposed fixes that recommend changing accounts are much harder to achieve.

YouTube is aware of the issue, with its support page detailing that the company is working on a solution and will update as soon as possible. For the time being, it appears that the majority of users affected are in the U.S., but several comments on the support page indicate that users in other countries are seeing scattered cases. We checked devices across Tom’s Guide and the UK devices all appeared to still have the navigation bar at the bottom.

Sadly, this issue reminds us that one of the biggest issues with YouTube as a service - there’s no real alternative to it. While you could use some of the best streaming services like Netflix or Disney+, they don’t offer the same type or volume of content. On the plus side, the desktop, smart TV and iOS versions of the YouTube app both still function as they should.

We will keep you updated with any news as we hear it, including when a fix is announced by YouTube. In the meantime, please let us know if you have been affected by the bug and what solutions you have found.

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Google is rolling out beta testing for YouTube Shorts that adds Google Lens to the short-form video platform. The feature would allow watchers to search for more information on what they see in the brief content.

Once the feature is available, you can access it by pausing the Short. Lens will be available from the top menu, which you can use to highlight a portion of the video to search.

From there, Google Lens will overlay search results over the clip. Google breaks it down on a support page, which notes that the feature is only coming to iOS and Android mobile devices. The menu will also let you translate captions.

Once you're done with your search, you can close the Lens or swipe down at the top of the results to close them.

In an announcement post, Google noted that there won't be any ads in the search results, at least during the beta testing. It also says, "The Lens experience isn’t available for Shorts with YouTube Shopping affiliate links or with paid product promotions."

Presumably, this won't last when the feature comes out of beta. Likely, Google will add some sort of commerce integration or a Google Shopping feature down the line.

YouTube has been trying to make Shorts more prominent in the last few months, especially in the TV app, so it's not surprising that more features are coming out specifically for the short-form platform.

The new Google Lens feature is starting to roll out this week. Like many Google rollouts, if you don't immediately have access, give it a day or two.

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Last month, Google announced YouTube TV would get a new version of multiview that subscribers could use for non-sports content. Now Google is rolling out that functionality for a select number of channels like Bravo, ESPN, and USA, with more to be added over the next few months.

For the unfamiliar, YouTube TV's multiview feature lets you watch up to four streams at once. Your options were limited to preset configurations at launch, but Google has since rolled out a Build a Multiview function that lets subscribers select which streams to include in their multiview feed.

The feature is still in its early stages, and at the moment, you can only select from live sports feeds to build your multiview feed, but that will soon change.

The news came via Reddit of all places, as first spotted by 9to5 Google. On Friday, Google announced it's “experimenting with the ability for YouTube TV members to build a multiview with select channels," starting with a “small list of popular national channels across a variety of content genres.”

During the initial phase, the company's testing channels like ESPN, Bravo, and USA, but these channels could change over time. On that note, Google said it plans to “expand to more, including local channels, over the coming months.”

How to try out YouTube TV's multiview feature

If you're a current YouTube TV subscriber, you can take this upgraded multiview feature for a spin. You can access it in the same way as before, by either tapping down on your TV remote to find a multiview or, if you're on mobile, tapping Multiview on the player. You can also find personalized multiview recommendations in the Home tab from the "Watch in multiview" or "top picks for you" row.

However, Google mentioned it's rolling functionality out gradually "over the next few weeks." So if you don't see the option yet, don't worry. It may just take a few weeks before the experiment becomes available to you.

On top of rolling out more options for building your multiview feed, YouTube TV also plans to launch a new "Always-On" multiview, which will include your local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC channels out of the gate. So there's plenty for YouTube TV subscribers to look forward to in the coming months.

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Recently, I’ve started to find myself turning away from online streaming services due to how prevalent and irritating the ads have become. Unfortunately, YouTube is no different, having recently expanded how many ads we have to sit through in a video. And it looks like it's going to get even worse.

In its recent Brandcast presentation (via Android Authority), YouTube revealed a new ad product called “Peak Points.” According to the report, this new format utilizes Google Gemini to analyze YouTube videos to find the moments with the highest user engagement, and then suggests placing ads right after.

So, imagine for a moment that you’re watching highlights from your favorite show or game, perhaps that notorious scene from The Last of Us season 2. You get through that part and then are suddenly assaulted by an ad that completely breaks the immersion.

This isn’t the only new ad format being added, although the second one is a lot more palatable. Shoppable CTV is an e-commerce product feed where users can browse and purchase items during an ad. It’s still a kind of ad, but it’s much less annoying than being deliberately interrupted at the best parts of a video.

What are Point Peaks meant to accomplish?

Point Peaks aims to benefit advertisers by allowing the ads to appear at the point when users are most invested, which in turn means they better capture their attention. At a glance, it seems to be similar to a marketing strategy called emotion-based targeting. This is where advertisers place ads that align with the emotions evoked in the original content. The theory is that, in doing so, the ad has better retention among viewers, which in turn leads to better sales.

Personally, this feels much more disruptive than beneficial, and it risks turning away a lot of users. While the current ads are annoying, they’re usually clearly marked and don’t take away from the content. However, these ads aim to appear right at the zenith of your chosen video, which then completely ruins the experience.

There’s also no indication that the suggested ads will be emotionally aligned, which is a major point of the theory. As such, you could get a video for deodorant while watching moments from Netflix’s new romantic drama, “Forever.” We also don’t know if these ads can be skipped, or if they’ll replace the others at the start of the video. As such, they might just lead to people turning off the video or going to another one rather than finishing what they were watching.

What options do we, as viewers, have?

The biggest issue that faces viewers is that YouTube doesn’t really have any competition that we can turn to. As such, we’re forced to either find workarounds or pay money to avoid the ads.

You could try using one of the best ad blockers, but YouTube has been at war with those for a while now. For instance, last year, we saw the service have videos jump straight to the end if it detected an ad blocker. However, YouTube was adamant that it wasn’t an intentional action, and was instead a result of the ad blocker affecting a recent update.

Alternatively you could open your wallet and subscribe to YouTube Premium, which removes all ads as well as offering several other benefits depending on which plan you use. This isn’t a terrible option, mind, but its existence makes YouTube's constant push for more ads feel like a ploy to push users to subscribe.

For the time being, there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding these new Peak Points ads. Unfortunately, we won’t really know how disruptive they’re going to be until we see them in practice. Until then, let us know what you think, and if this will finally be the push to get you to subscribe to YouTube Premium, or is this the final nail in the coffin for you?

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Last week, YouTube turned 20 years old and released several updates across its various platforms, including Music, YouTube TV, and the main YouTube platform.

Today, Google announced several upgrades coming to the YouTube smart TV app. As with most things on YouTube, these updates primarily focus on finding content or being served different types of content.

The biggest surrounds shelves, or the rows of videos you see in the app. There are five new shelves, each covering a different type of content.

• Continue your search - Shows your top 3 searches and lets you jump in where you left off
• Listen again - Dedicated music row that shows your top songs
• Live performances, remixes and covers - Shows other versions of songs you've listened to or searched, beyond the official music or lyric videos
• Primetime channels - For subscribed channels, this one shows content from primetime channels that you've searched or watched most recently
• From your top channels - The top videos from the top channels you've watched

Beyond the new shelving, there are a couple of new tabs as well.

YouTube has been promoting podcasts since Google integrated the older Podcasts app into the YouTube Music feed. Now, there is a dedicated Podcasts Tab in the YouTube app on your TV.

For those who watch Shorts on your TV, a new Shorts row is available in your "Watch Next Feed," as well as a Shorts shelf on your subscriptions tab. "We've split out Shorts from long-form videos for a cleaner layout," says Jessie of Team YouTube.

Smaller updates

A couple of smaller updates are being implemented to improve playback and video previewing for a better experience.

First, the ability to loop videos is expanding. Previously, it was only available on playlists, but now you can loop "all VOD content." You can find the "Loop" setting in the Playback settings menu.

For previews, YouTube says that it has "expanded inline previews" to channel pages, subscription pages and topics pages. The platform is also done rolling out immersive channel previews. These are full-screen background previews on channel headers to "make the page more immersive."

Lastly, if you're a creator, there is a new "Device type" card in Studio Analytics that tells you how much watch time on your channel is coming from mobile, computer, tablets or TVs.

Unlike most Google updates, which roll out over several weeks, according to YouTube, these updates should now be visible.

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