This leaves many users asking: Is it impossible to watch YouTube on these devices? Absolutely not. While the modern App Store experience is closed off, there is a hidden, official method to get a working version of YouTube on your iOS 9.3.5 device.
Apple has a feature specifically designed for this scenario that many users don't know about. The Solution: The "Purchases" Method (Legitimate & Safe) The only official, safe, and legal way to get YouTube on iOS 9.3.5 is to download a legacy version of the app directly from Apple's servers. Apple allows this for apps you have "purchased" (or downloaded for free) in the past.
This guide will walk you through the process, the limitations, and the alternatives to breathe new life into your older Apple hardware. iOS 9.3.5 was released in August 2016. It was the final software update for the iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad mini 1, iPhone 4S, and iPod Touch 5th Generation. While the operating system remains stable, the app ecosystem has moved on.
If you are reading this, you are likely holding a reliable workhorse from a bygone era—perhaps an iPad 2, an iPhone 4S, or the original iPad mini. These devices, powered by the final update of their era, iOS 9.3.5, are still perfectly functional for many tasks.
Google (YouTube’s parent company) frequently updates their app to support new features, higher resolution videos, and modern coding languages. Consequently, they dropped support for older iOS versions years ago. If you search for "YouTube" on the App Store today, the result you see is the modern version, which your device cannot run.
However, a major frustration arises when you try to open the App Store to download YouTube. You are likely met with a frustrating prompt: "This application requires iOS 13.0 or later."