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Viewing guide

Step inside
the frame.

The right viewing method depends on your device. Choose a quick interactive view, a phone viewer, or the complete headset experience.

Before you begin

Use YouTube for the interactive experience.

MindVR’s on-site player is useful for a standard preview. For looking around in 360°, stereoscopic playback, phone motion, or headset viewing, choose Watch 360° on YouTube from any project.

01 / Quickest

Desktop

Interactive 360° without additional equipment.

Best for exploring a video immediately with a mouse or keyboard.

  1. 01
    Choose a project on the Work page.
  2. 02
    Select Watch 360° on YouTube.
  3. 03
    Click and drag inside the video to look around. YouTube also supports the WASD keys for rotating the view.
  4. 04
    Increase playback quality and use full screen when your connection allows.

Use a current browser. YouTube lists current Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera versions for 180° and 360° playback.

02 / Mobile

Phone or tablet

Explore the full scene by touch, device motion or a compatible phone viewer.

Use the YouTube app—not an in-app or mobile browser.

360° interactionMove your phone or drag to look around.

The scene continues beyond both edges of the screen.

  1. 01
    Choose a project on the Work page and select Watch 360° on YouTube.
  2. 02
    Open the video in the latest YouTube app on iPhone, iPad or Android.
  3. 03
    Drag to look in any direction. On supported videos and devices, physically moving your device can also change the view.
  4. 04
    Rotate to landscape, increase playback quality and use full screen for the best handheld experience.

Optional Cardboard viewing: In YouTube’s Android app, tap the Cardboard icon for a split-screen view, then place the phone into a compatible viewer. Although iPhones work with Cardboard-compatible apps, YouTube currently does not offer this mode on iPhone or iPad.

03 / Recommended

VR headset

The strongest sense of scale, depth and presence.

Use the YouTube VR app on a compatible headset.

  1. 01
    Install or open YouTube VR on your headset.
  2. 02
    Open the MindVR video from YouTube, or search for its exact project title.
  3. 03
    Choose immersive viewing rather than panel or theater mode when that option is available.
  4. 04
    Select the highest comfortable quality, then re-center your view if needed.

Compatible platforms vary. Check YouTube’s current device list before relying on a particular headset.

Platform instructions reviewed against current YouTube guidance.

YouTube 360° playback guidance ↗YouTube Cardboard guidance ↗YouTube VR device guidance ↗

Ready to explore?

Choose a project
and look around.

View immersive work