YouTube will no longer continue its iMessage mini-app for iPhone and iPad users

The iMessage App Store still exists, albeit many iOS users are unaware that they may download iMessage mini apps. YouTube was one of the applications that merged with Apple’s messaging service, but the firm appears to be discontinuing its iMessage mini-app.

According to 9to5Mac, the current version of the YouTube app for iOS (19.01.1), which was launched on January 10, surreptitiously disables the iMessage app, despite the fact that the release notes only mention bug fixes and enhanced speed.

Users may use the iMessage app to discover and transmit YouTube videos directly from a chat without leaving the Messages app. Those who have the iMessage mini app installed may also watch the movie directly from the normal YouTube player. The iMessage mini app vanishes after installing the newest version of the YouTube app.

YouTube has yet to clarify whether its iMessage mini app was deleted on purpose, although this appears to be the case. The iMessage mini app for YouTube was released in October 2017, a year after the iMessage App Store was made public. The iMessage applications were included in the iOS 10 upgrade and are still available today.

Despite the initial buzz, the iMessage App Store never took off. In subsequent years, several more iMessage apps have also been terminated. For the first time, the iMessage App Store allowed developers to offer iMessage stickers.