There’s nothing more annoying than trying to enjoy a video on YouTube and getting hit with ads right in the middle. It interrupts your focus, and sometimes the ads are longer than the clip you wanted to see. If that sounds like something you deal with often, YouTube Vanced might be just what you’ve been needing. It’s not an official app from Google, but it’s become really popular because of the handy features it offers, like no ads, background playback, and custom settings that you just don’t get in the regular YouTube app.
What makes YouTube Vanced helpful
YouTube Vanced is basically a custom build of the YouTube app with added functions that are normally locked behind a paywall or just not available at all. It works best on Android, and even though development on the original version has stopped, there’s still an active community keeping it going under something called ReVanced. This newer version picks up where Vanced left off and adds all the same benefits while also improving stability and keeping things compatible with new versions of Android.
Key features worth using
There’s a bunch of features inside Vanced that make it stand out. Some of them are small but really useful in day to day use, especially if you watch YouTube a lot.
Watch without ads
Ads are probably the main reason why people look for something different than the stock YouTube app. Vanced completely blocks all video ads, banner ads, and even popups. It does it automatically, so you won’t even notice when it skips something. It just feels like how YouTube should’ve always worked.
Listen with screen off
This is another favorite. With Vanced, you can lock your phone and still keep listening to whatever is playing. It’s great if you use YouTube for music or long podcasts. You won’t need to keep your screen on and waste battery just to hear sound from a video.
Use a dark theme
Some people just don’t like the bright white theme in the regular app, especially at night. Vanced lets you switch to a pure black mode that looks cleaner and is also better for battery life on OLED screens. You can set it to be always dark or let it switch based on time of day.
Control settings easily
This app lets you do stuff like change brightness or volume just by swiping on the screen while watching a video. It’s small touches like that which make the app feel a bit more user-friendly and smooth. You can also set a default video quality so it doesn’t keep dropping to 360p every time you open a new clip.
Skip boring sponsorships
YouTube Vanced also has support for SponsorBlock, which automatically skips parts of videos where creators do paid promotions. A lot of viewers find those parts boring, and this way you don’t have to manually drag the timeline. It saves time and keeps the video flow better.
How to Download and Install It
Getting YouTube Vanced isn’t as simple as opening the Play Store, but it’s still a simple process if you follow the right steps. You can start by downloading the Vanced Manager app from youtubevanced.org. Once you install that:
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Open the manager and install MicroG first, which lets you log into your Google account.
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Then install the patched YouTube version.
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After it finishes, you can open it like any other app and sign in.
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Everything works the same, just without the ads and extra annoyances.
FAQ
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use it?
Not at all. If you can follow basic instructions and install apps outside the Play Store, then you will be just fine. Vanced Manager makes it really simple to patch and install.
Is this app free forever?
Yes, YouTube Vanced is completely free to use. There’s no paid version or subscription. You just download it, install it, and enjoy. It stays free thanks to community developers.
Can I still use my Google account?
Yes, with MicroG installed, you can sign in using your regular Google account. That means you keep all your subscriptions, watch history, playlists, and so on, just like before.
Does it work on every Android device?
Most Android phones are supported, but you need to allow installs from unknown sources. Also, make sure your Android version is 6.0 or higher. If that’s fine, you should have no trouble running it.
What if I want to remove it later?
If you change your mind, you can uninstall Vanced and MicroG at any time. Your device will then go back to using the original YouTube app without any problems.
Final thoughts
YouTube Vanced isn’t for everyone, but for people who want a smoother and less frustrating YouTube experience, it’s definitely worth looking into. It gives you freedom from ads, adds small improvements that make daily use more pleasant, and doesn’t require you to pay a monthly fee. If you're tired of the limitations in the regular YouTube app, this might just be the better option for you.