Spotlight Stories
To watch Google Spotlight Stories, use the YouTube app on select Android devices or the Google Spotlight Stories App on iOS. Google Spotlight Stories require a fast connection, such as WiFi or LTE.
Google Spotlight Stories
Google Spotlight Stories is a new form of storytelling made specifically for mobile and VR. In these 360-degree, interactive stories, your phone becomes a window to a world all around you. The sensors on your phone allow the story to be interactive; when you move your phone to various scenes, you are able to unlock mini-stories within the story.
All Google Spotlight Stories are compatible with Cardboard.
On devices optimized for Spotlight Stories, you'll see a fully interactive show with camera techniques that allow interactive stories; move your phone and unlock mini-stories within the story, and hear sound in 3D (using headphones).
These technological advances allow you to experience the stories in new ways. Each viewing is unique.
Note: If you have a device that's not yet optimized for Google Spotlight Stories, you'll see a preview of the story video instead.
For more details, visit the Google Spotlight Stories website.
Find & watch Google Spotlight Stories on YouTube
- Download and open the latest version of the YouTube app on an Android device.
- Enter "Google Spotlight Stories" in the search box.
- Tap the search filter
.
- Change "Content Type" from All to Channel.
- Tap OK to start the search.
- From the search results, go to the Google Spotlight Stories channel and select a video.
- Tap the play icon to start the Spotlight Story.
- You can watch the stories in two ways:
- Move your phone around while watching: This lets you move the camera in the virtual world of the story.
- Use Cardboard viewer: Touch the screen and then select the icon in the bottom right.
.Frequently asked questions
Use the sections below to get answers to frequently asked questions about Google Spotlight Stories.
When watching on mobile, I don't get a 360 video in my mobile browser. How do I fix this?Make sure you're watching the video in the YouTube app on your mobile device.
You need the latest YouTube app version and phone operating system, as well as a device optimized for Google Spotlight Stories.
- Open the YouTube mobile app.
- Tap menu
.
- Tap Settings.
- Under "About," see the version number next to Version.
.You'll see this message when you're not connected to the internet. To fix the issue, make sure your internet connection is enabled and working properly on your device, then try watching the video again.
Close the YouTube app, re-open it, and try again. If the issue continues, try restarting your device.
If you continue to have issues, contact Google Spotlight Stories at spotlightstories-feedback@google.com.
Close the YouTube app, re-open it, and try again. If the issue continues, try restarting your device and watching the video again.
If you continue to have issues, contact Google Spotlight Stories at spotlightstories-feedback@google.com.
To fix, minimize the show, swipe the thumbnail version away, and load the video again.
If this doesn't work, you can close the YouTube app, re-open it, and try again, or select another YouTube video to watch.
If this doesn't work, you can close the YouTube app, re-open it, and try again, or select another YouTube video to watch.
If you watch any story on devices optimized for Spotlight Stories, you'll see the fully interactive show, which could include subplots, providing users multiple potential ways to view the story.
If you have a device that's not yet optimized for Google Spotlight Stories, you'll see a YouTube 360 preview of the Spotlight Stories video instead. This preview is a trimmed-down, edited version of the story that gives you a sense of the story plot, set, and characters in 360.
Unlike the Google Spotlight Stories version, you won't be able to interact with the story, its subplots, and other features.
Note: If you don't see a 360 world at all or you see distorted video playback, make sure you have the latest version of the YouTube mobile app.
If you continue to have issues, contact Google Spotlight Stories at spotlightstories-feedback@google.com.
Upcoming features & improvements
Support for more Android and iOS devices is coming soon. Learn more on the Google Spotlight Stories website.
Supported devices
We currently support the following devices for watching Google Spotlight Stories:
- Ara Arche
- BenQ Aquaria m5
- Droid Ultra, Turbo, Turbo 2, Maxx
- HTC One M7, M8, M9, M9+, A9
- iPhone 5S, 6S, 6 Plus, 6S Plus, SE
- Lenovo K3 Note
- LG G2, G3, G4
- LG V10
- Nexus 4, 5, 5X, 6, 6P
- Moto X Gen 1st, 2nd, Pure Edition
- Moto G Gen 1st, 2nd
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 3 Neo, 4, 5, Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, S6, S6 Active, S6 Edge, S6 Edge +, S7, S7 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy Alpha
- Sony Xperia Z, Z Ultra, Z1 Compact, Z2, Z3, Z3+, Z3 Compact, Z5, Z5 Compact, ZR
- Symphony Teleca Oneplus One, Two, X
- Xiaomi MI 4w, 4c
- iPad Air, Air 2
- iPad Pro, Pro 9.7
- iPad Mini 2, 3, 4
- LG G Pad 8.3
- Nexus 7 (2013), 9
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S [10.5], Pro [8.4], S2, S2 [9.1 Wifi], Pro [10.1], 3 [8.0]
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