Don't Lose Your
YouTube Traffic
Paste any YouTube link and get a short link that opens the video in the YouTube app, not the browser, even from Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp.
Sign in with Google to create your link. Free for up to 5 links.Sign In
How It Works
Smart Redirect
Detects device type and routes to the best experience on Android, iOS, or desktop.
All Content Types
Supports all YouTube URL formats including videos, Shorts, channels, and playlists.
Click Tracking
See how many times each link is clicked and measure the impact of your shares.
Start free, go Pro if you want
Free for up to 5 links. Choose monthly or lifetime Pro for more links and detailed analytics.
Free
$0
Up to 5 links, free forever.
- Up to 5 smart YouTube links
- Opens directly in the app on iOS and Android
- Videos, Shorts, channels and playlists
- Click counts
- Simple bio page showing your latest 3 links
Monthly or lifetime
Pro
$39.99one-time
Subscribe monthly or pay once and use Pro forever.
Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited links
- Source analytics and a daily click chart for the last 30 days
- ytopen.app/@username bio page — unlimited links, reorder, hide
- Custom slugs: ytopen.app/new-video
- Change the destination video later
- Connect your own domain (link.yourchannel.com)
- Remove the "Made with YouTubeOpen" badge
Payments are handled securely by Polar. No-questions-asked refund within 14 days.
Why do YouTube links open in the browser instead of the app?
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X and LinkedIn open every link inside their own in-app browser. That browser cannot hand the link over to the YouTube app, so your viewers land on a stripped-down mobile web page: not signed in, no working subscribe button, no watch history, and ads even for Premium members. Most of them leave before the video starts.
How to open a YouTube link in the app with YouTubeOpen
Paste any youtube.com or youtu.be URL and get a short ytopen.app link. When someone taps it, we detect the device and the app they are in, break out of the in-app browser when needed, and open the video with YouTube's native deep link: vnd.youtube:// on iOS and an Android intent URL on Android. Desktop users go straight to youtube.com.
Works with every type of YouTube link
Regular videos, Shorts, channels, playlists and timestamped links are all supported. Use it in your Instagram or TikTok bio, WhatsApp broadcasts, Telegram channels, newsletters, QR codes, or anywhere else a plain YouTube link would open in the wrong place.
Just need a short, trackable YouTube link? Try the free YouTube link shortener
Guides
In-depth articles on YouTube deep links, in-app browsers, Shorts links and sharing on social media.
How to Copy a YouTube Link on iPhone, Android and PC
Copy a YouTube video, channel, playlist, Shorts or timestamped link in the YouTube app, a mobile browser or on PC, paste it anywhere, and clean or shorten the URL.
WhatsApp YouTube Links Opening in the Browser? Here Is the Fix
YouTube videos shared on WhatsApp open in a browser or a tiny in-chat player instead of the YouTube app. Learn why it happens on Android and iPhone and how to send links that open in the app every time.
YouTube Deep Link URL Schemes Explained: vnd.youtube://, youtube:// and Android Intents
A practical reference to every YouTube deep link format: vnd.youtube, youtube://, Android intent URLs and Universal Links, with examples, fallbacks and the cases where they fail.
How to Open YouTube Links in the App on iPhone and Android (Not the Browser)
YouTube links keep opening in Safari, Chrome or an in-app browser? Step-by-step fixes for iPhone and Android, plus the one method that works for the links you share.
YouTube Shorts Links: How to Copy, Share and Open in the App
How to copy a YouTube Shorts link on phone and desktop, what the URL formats mean, how to switch between Shorts and regular video links, and how to make shared Shorts open in the YouTube app.
How to Share YouTube Links on Social Media That Actually Open in the App
Stop losing viewers when sharing YouTube links on Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Learn how smart links ensure videos open in the YouTube app.
Why Do YouTube Links Open in the Browser Instead of the App?
Two reasons YouTube links open in the browser instead of the app: a phone setting, or the in-app browser inside Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and similar apps. Which apps do it, why it costs views, and where the fix lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is YouTubeOpen?
YouTubeOpen is a free YT link opener: a smart link shortener that makes YouTube links open directly in the YouTube app on mobile instead of the browser.
How does it work?
Paste a YouTube link, get a short link, and share it. When someone clicks the link, they are automatically redirected to the YouTube app based on their device type.
Is it free?
Yes, it's free for up to 5 links, with click counts for each. A one-time Pro plan adds unlimited links, source analytics, a bio page and custom slugs.
What platforms are supported?
We support Android, iOS, and desktop devices. The best redirect method is automatically applied for each platform.
Does it support YouTube Shorts?
Yes! We support all YouTube content types including videos, Shorts, channels, and playlists.
How does click tracking work?
You can see the total click count for each link you create in your dashboard. Only real user clicks are counted, bot traffic is excluded.
How do I open a YouTube link in the app instead of the browser?
On your own phone, turn on Open by default for YouTube on Android, or long-press the link and choose Open in "YouTube" on iPhone. For links you share, paste the YouTube URL into YouTubeOpen and share the ytopen.app link: it opens the video in the YouTube app on every device, including from Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp.
Start Converting YouTube Links Now
Create a free account and start sharing smart YouTube links.