You wouldn’t think such a simple question would require a whole article. It’s a yes or no question, right? Well, there’s a little more to it than that. Buckle up, and let’s have a look at the reason the answer is both “Yes” and “No,” with a little bit of “what year is this” thrown in.
Welcome to 2007
If you set the clock back to the days of emo kids and chunky highlights, the world was a different place. The smartphone as we know it today didn’t exist. Neither did the streaming box. YouTube as a platform was a mere two years old and most people couldn’t upload videos longer than 5 minutes. That was ok, because with 3mbps DSL it took a very long time to upload 5 minutes of video.
Back then, the management at DIRECTV hoped that you’d use their box as a home entertainment hub. They didn’t just want you to watch TV, they wanted you to use the box for everything. So, they loaded it up with extra apps. You could connect a TV antenna and record local programming. You could view photos stored on your computer. And, they didn’t stop there.
In 2011, DIRECTV added support for YouTube videos. Of course your DVR needed to be connected to the internet, and most weren’t yet. But it did work. You could search for a video using your remote and play it on your TV. It was pretty cool for the time.
But, alas, fame is a fleeting thing. By 2015, the world of video was very different. People had streaming boxes and cell phones. They didn’t want DIRECTV’s admittedly clunky YouTube interface. So, when YouTube changed their codec, DIRECTV let the whole thing slide, and removed YouTube support from DIRECTV DVRs. Here’s the article I wrote back then telling you about it.
And so it was, for a while anyway
From 2015 until 2023, the answer to the question posed in this article was “No you can’t.” Just straight no. 2015-2020 were the days when DIRECTV was owned 100% by AT&T, and they put very little development into it. The rumor was that they were willing to let the satellite service die and move everyone to their streaming platform. That didn’t happen either.
And now, you can.
With the release of the new Gemini box, YouTube support has returned to DIRECTV in a big way. Not only can you watch YouTube videos on your DIRECTV box, you can run virtually any streaming app you want. That’s because you get two-in-one with the Gemini. It’s a DIRECTV box and a streaming box all in one. It even has a voice-controlled remote.
To watch YouTube videos with your Gemini, just press the APPS button at the bottom right of your screen and scroll to the YouTube app. If it’s not installed, go to the Google Play Store and download it for free. You’ll see that it’s the same YouTube interface you’re familiar with on other streaming boxes.
Get your Gemini from Solid Signal
When you’re ready to upgrade to the latest and greatest DIRECTV box, call the experts at Solid Signal! We’re here to take care of you. Gemini upgrades can be tricky and the folks at DIRECTV’s call centers are giving people a lot of bad advice right now. Don’t get caught — call the experts at 888-233-7563. We’ll get it right the first time.
