Youtube Vanced is Dead. Long Live Revanced

[nkiritsis13]

It finally happened. Youtube Vanced stopped working after Google put the final nail in their god forsaken Youtube back end, killing what was the only sane way to use a Youtube app.

But fear not, for there is another, Revanced! Installing it might seem intimidating at first, but it's actually quite simple if you install the most recent version of the manager and the specific version of Youtube:

Preliminary downloads:

1. Download and Install MicroG (Or Alternative version of MicroG)

2. Download and Install the Revanced Manger (Lastest releases)

3. Download Youtube 18.03.36 APK (Second link, NOT the first bundle)

What I did to make things smooth:
1. Uninstall the default Youtube app
2. Depending on version, disable to reset to factory settings

Patching and Installation:
1. Open the Revanced Manager
2. Select the Patcher tab at the bottom
3. Select Application (Youtube)
4. Select the [Storage] button at the bottom right hand corner. This should take you to your downloads folder
5. Select the Youtube APK you downloaded (should be most recent)
6. Choose patches you want to install (All of them except you don't need debugging)
7. Patch
8. Open up the new Youtube Revanced application and sign into your Google account

Voila! Now you have an ad-free Youtube experience + SponsorBlock + ReturnDislikeButton


P.S. Sorry, but this won't work on iPhone. Apple might hate Google, but not enough.

[carcano69]

fake news, both the vanced youtube app and music player still work as of right now

[OptimusTrajan]

Vanced still works for me.

Why can't someone just continue the vanced project.

[obmas]

still works for me.

i can even cast it to SmartTubeNext on my FireTV cube with no ads on either device

[nkiritsis13]

Vanced still works for me.

Why can't someone just continue the vanced project.

It's coming for everyone eventually because Vanced is basically based on a version of Youtube that they themselves will eventually discontinue, but it varies across devices. So, it's better to at least familiarize yourself with Revanced (you can run both Vanced and Revanced simultaneously, I did), but at least you won't find yourself with nothing but a totally broken Vanced.

As for Vanced itself, there was a lot of back and forth about why they got shut down by Google via a cease & desist, so only the original developers probably know for sure what actually nailed them. The original speculation thrown around was about an NFT breaching Youtube's trademark, which sounds like a stretch, but given the way Revanced is handling things, it might have to do with how they distributed and/or modified the Vanced apk itself.

One final note before I forget, as a longtime Vanced user, I will admit that the most recent version of Revanced is at least having ongoing updates, so the experience is technically a bit more cohesive, I guess? Like on the latest version of Vanced I had running, the "Explore" tab was till there, but Revanced nixed that completely, so that was a nice QoL change. And when Youtube fukks up another thing, Revanced will be able to update to remedy that, too.

[freeburn]

I've been paying for youtube red since the day it launched as Google radio music service however many years ago that was

[nkiritsis13]

I did a quick test - the absolute latest version of Vanced 17.03.38 can be installed and does work. This is the only way to install it* since the Vanced manager is fetching out to nowhere now that it was shutdown.

*This one does use a bundle, which requires Split APK Installer, easy peasy.

At least device, you can tell that the Youtube backend is creeping up because it has a lot of sponsored videos on the front page. But it does work, just bear in mind that as Youtube deprecates old versions of the app, OG Vanced will stop working.

**Edit - There is also Vanced Manager 2.6.2 Crimson that is another option, but at that point you might as well just download the APK because it will update the existing app all the same.

[WiseOldApe]

I did a quick test - the absolute latest version of Vanced 17.03.38 can be installed and does work. This is the only way to install it* since the Vanced manager is fetching out to nowhere now that it was shutdown.

*This one does use a bundle, which requires Split APK Installer, easy peasy.

At least device, you can tell that the Youtube backend is creeping up because it has a lot of sponsored videos on the front page. But it does work, just bear in mind that as Youtube deprecates old versions of the app, OG Vanced will stop working.

**Edit - There is also Vanced Manager 2.6.2 Crimson that is another option, but at that point you might as well just download the APK because it will update the existing app all the same.

Brah I tried installing it via installer on that vaanced site and it didn't work - it opens and crashes/closes right away.

[nkiritsis13]

Brah I tried installing it via installer on that vaanced site and it didn't work - it opens and crashes/closes right away.

Are you also running MicroG? It's required for both Vanced and Revanced for non-rooted phones, so most people.

[JayJ350]

I always just used my ublock and adblock for youtube extensions and watch youtube on a web browser. Effective and simple.

[LogicalLifts]

Youtube Vanced is 'crashing' a lot more frequently now, but still works, so it is not "dead".

And on "Revanced is updating..." - what stops Revanced from receiving the same cease and desist? It's not like YouTube's legal representatives aren't able to chit one out in 15 seconds.

[Barteh]

Only thing I need help with is blocking ads on my TV and the samsung tv OS is absolute dogchit and difficult to work with. I assume I'd need to do some kind of magic with a firestick or google chromecast to find a way?

[nkiritsis13]

Youtube Vanced is 'crashing' a lot more frequently now, but still works, so it is not "dead".

And on "Revanced is updating..." - what stops Revanced from receiving the same cease and desist? It's not like YouTube's legal representatives aren't able to chit one out in 15 seconds.

That's why the Revanced team is handling so differently than Vanced - there is no guarantee for anything, but essentially I believe what it mostly comes down to how Vanced itself was the Youtube app but modified:

https://twitter.com/YTVanced/status/1503471203314450433



Revanced is not distributing a modified APK, but a means to patch a downloaded, default Youtube APK.

Only thing I need help with is blocking ads on my TV and the samsung tv OS is absolute dogchit and difficult to work with. I assume I'd need to do some kind of magic with a firestick or google chromecast to find a way?

I got you, man:

SmartYoutubeNext

I've been using it on my Fire TV Stick, but it's compatible with any Android TV stick/box.

[LogicalLifts]

Thanks, so I did the steps.

"YouTube ReVanced keeps stopping" - it autocloses on launch. I have the YouTube app disabled. Any ideas?

EDIT: re-installed it, same behavior.

I can patch and install it just fine, but it refuses to open. Anyone else have this? Googling the problem isn't helping much.

[nkiritsis13]

Thanks, so I did the steps.

"YouTube ReVanced keeps stopping" - it autocloses on launch. I have the YouTube app disabled. Any ideas?

EDIT: re-installed it, same behavior.

I can patch and install it just fine, but it refuses to open. Anyone else have this? Googling the problem isn't helping much.

I searched and found a possible answer: First try opening MicroG and logging into your Google account.

Another possible one I found was disabling the "spoof wifi connection patch" in the patch menu.

[LogicalLifts]

I searched and found a possible answer: First try opening MicroG and logging into your Google account.

Another possible one I found was disabling the "spoof wifi connection patch" in the patch menu.

I can't open Vanced microG. It just shows 'uninstall' or 'force stop' under app info. It is installed, though.

I re-patched Revanced as you suggested without the "spoof wifi connection" patch, and:


I mean during installation it says 'blocked by play protect' but I tap 'install anyway'. Then on 'send app for scanning' I tap 'don't send'.


Is this working? It shows me logged in with Youtube Premium in the top left...


EDIT: seems to work. Layout looks different, including 'turn on incognito' (is that search history?). Let's go...get the most out of this.


Anyone here a YTer? I started uploading some videos and my count seems to get audited repeatedly and reverted down by YT.

[nkiritsis13]

thanks will try out, the youtube app for google tv is unbearable and shows way more ads than the web browser for whatever reason. its every fuking video everytime, the last smartube thing i had on there broke

Yeah, I switched over instantly because the ads were too much. The latest few versions have been running really well, too.

Make sure to check out the settings because you configure a ton of things in there, even down to the order of menu items when you select a video.

I can't open Vanced microG. It just shows 'uninstall' or 'force stop' under app info. It is installed, though.

I re-patched Revanced as you suggested without the "spoof wifi connection" patch, and:


I mean during installation it says 'blocked by play protect' but I tap 'install anyway'. Then on 'send app for scanning' I tap 'don't send'.


Is this working? It shows me logged in with Youtube Premium in the top left...


EDIT: seems to work. Layout looks different, including 'turn on incognito' (is that search history?). Let's go...get the most out of this.


Anyone here a YTer? I started uploading some videos and my count seems to get audited repeatedly and reverted down by YT.

Glad you got it up and running.

Overall it seems to handle irregular resolutions better than the last versions of Vanced, but the biggest difference is that it completely removes the sponsored video ads scattered throughout the feeds.

Before the version of Vanced I had running died, it actually had fewer sponsored ad videos than the most up to date version that still works, which was really odd.

[LogicalLifts]

Indeed. I hadn't even realized it but my Vanced was becoming increasingly borked - there were loads of promoted videos/ads between videos when I scrolled.

Now with ReVanced there are none - let's hope this sticks around for a while.

[phillipsanchez]

Wonder if there is anything like this for iOS.
Would love an app that let me download youtube videos and block all the youtube rubbish.

[menseks]

vanced died for me like over a year ago.

[obmas]

Wonder if there is anything like this for iOS.
Would love an app that let me download youtube videos and block all the youtube rubbish.

There is
https://www.reddit.com/r/jailbreak/c...youtube_tweak/

But sideloading IPA's on ios annoying as hell because you need to resign the package every 7 days.

Or you could pay for a "signing service" to avoid that: https://theapplearchive.com/pages/signingservices.html

[phillipsanchez]

There is
https://www.reddit.com/r/jailbreak/c...youtube_tweak/

But sideloading IPA's on ios annoying as hell because you need to resign the package every 7 days.

Or you could pay for a "signing service" to avoid that: https://theapplearchive.com/pages/signingservices.html

I tried all that sideloading stuff once.
The problem is that I can spend weeks without an internet connection so even the signing service would be wasted. And Alt Store sucks.
Obviously the effort and amount of app access you lose when jailbreaking makes that route not worth it to me,

I think I'll look at alternatives to download Youtube videos and just load up my iPad and phone before I travel.

Not worried about ads since Brave browser cuts them all out. Only other thing I would love is a Sponsorblock sort of thing.

[userLOUJT79NXCU]

Youtube vanced will probably stop working in few months

[LogicalLifts]

It has been working great since I installed it.

I do wonder though: who out there cared to see dislikes on a video? I Googled it a bit and saw quite a few folks out there really, legit upset that their dislike isn't visible, asking if the person who runs the channel can see it.

Weird af.

[LogicalLifts]

This is dead now right?

Mine can't pass the 1 minute mark in a YT video and there is constant spam that it is failing to load dislikes.

My version is 18.03.36.

Anyone else found a way to fix this? Had been loving the app.

Edit: you patch the YT base, then it lets you patch revanced. It updated to .40 and works like a charm again.

Edit2: no it doesn't. In longer videos it starts then is permanently stuck seeking after about 1 minute of play. Frustrating.

[obmas]

This is dead now right?

Mine can't pass the 1 minute mark in a YT video and there is constant spam that it is failing to load dislikes.

My version is 18.03.36.

Anyone else found a way to fix this? Had been loving the app.

Edit: you patch the YT base, then it lets you patch revanced. It updated to .40 and works like a charm again.

still works for me. try turning off all the experimental features

[LogicalLifts]

still works for me. try turning off all the experimental features

It works for you even without updating? How do I turn off experimental features breh?

[OptimusTrajan]

Vanced stopped working for me the other night. Installed revanced and I'm back up and running.

Lmao at paying for youtube or watching ads.

[jreacher]

I used to use Revanced but I'm really digging LibreTube on Android, which uses Piped instances.

[nkiritsis13]

This is dead now right?

Mine can't pass the 1 minute mark in a YT video and there is constant spam that it is failing to load dislikes.

My version is 18.03.36.

Anyone else found a way to fix this? Had been loving the app.

Edit: you patch the YT base, then it lets you patch revanced. It updated to .40 and works like a charm again.

Edit2: no it doesn't. In longer videos it starts then is permanently stuck seeking after about 1 minute of play. Frustrating.

I stopped using regular Vanced altogether because it was at the point where too much of the vanilla youtube was bleeding into it.

I had installed Vanced for my mum a long while ago and she was complaining about the app not working and telling her to update, so the next time I had the chance to install Revanced I put it on her phone. Other than being easier to do with practice, it went much faster which I'm assuming is because her phone is newer, and only a model up. So I would guess the process will be even quicker for most people with newer models.

I used to use Revanced but I'm really digging LibreTube on Android, which uses Piped instances.

Good call, I'll have to check it out. It's always better to have backup options just for worst case scenarios.