YouTube has billions of videos, but the official app in 2026 is still flooded with unskippable ads, forced Shorts, and missing dislike counts. That’s why millions have switched to YouTube ReVanced — the only actively updated, open-source successor of the legendary YouTube Vanced project that gives you true YouTube Premium features and way more, completely free.
ReVanced 2026 blocks every ad, auto-skips sponsor segments with SponsorBlock, brings back dislike counts with Return YouTube Dislike, lets you enjoy background playback, download in 4K, and works perfectly on Android 16. No subscription, no compromises — just the cleanest ad-free YouTube experience possible. Download the latest YouTube ReVanced APK 2026 below and join the millions who never looked back.
The only actively updated, ad-free YouTube client in 2026
Tested and working perfectly on Android 14, 15, 16 and Onward (February 2026 build)
What Is Youtube Vanced?
YouTube Vanced is an upgraded version of the official YouTube app that offers a free, premium-like experience on Android. It features a built-in ad blocker for interruption-free videos and background playback, allowing you to listen to videos and MP3s while using other apps or when your screen is locked.
It also includes a fast video and MP3 downloader, letting you save yt vanced content directly to your device for offline use. Just download the latest youtube vanced apk—no vanced manager needed—and enjoy youtube no ads apk streaming, multitasking, and offline downloads effortlessly.
All Premium Features You Get 100% Free From Youtube Vanced
ReVanced completely transforms how you use YouTube by bringing features that are either locked behind YouTube Premium or simply don’t exist in the official app. It’s faster, cleaner, and built for people who actually watch a lot of YouTube in 2026.
AD BLOCKER
Every ad disappears — pre-rolls, mid-rolls, banners, and even the new unskippable ones YouTube rolled out in 2026. Open a video and it just plays. No pop-ups, no countdowns, no interruptions.
Background Playback
Play videos with the screen off or in a floating window. Perfect for music, podcasts, or following tutorials while using other apps — exactly what people loved about the old YouTube Vanced.
SponsorBlock
Automatically skip sponsorships, intros, self-promos, and “subscribe” reminders across millions of videos. This single feature saves hours every week and is the #1 reason people choose ReVanced over Premium.
Download YouTube Videos & MP3s Easily
Download any video or extract audio directly inside the app. Choose 1080p, 4K, 60fps HDR, or just MP3 — no external tools required.
Return YouTube™ Dislike
Real dislike counts are back. See how many people actually disliked a video before wasting your time.
Thanks to its built-in SponsorBlock integration, YouTube Vanced can automatically detect and skip sponsored segments in any video. This allows you to enjoy your favorite creators without interruptions, experience smoother playback, and save time. It’s one of the key reasons millions of users choose youtube no ads apk over the standard YouTube app.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Mode
YouTube Vanced also includes a powerful Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, allowing you to keep watching your favorite videos in a small floating window while using other apps. This feature is ideal for multitasking, letting you browse, chat, or work on your phone without pausing the video. With PiP mode, you enjoy seamless viewing and improved productivity, making Vanced a top choice for users who want flexibility and convenience.
Repeat Videos
Loop songs and tutorials with one tap, switch to audio-only to save data and battery, and control volume/brightness with smooth swipe gestures — features missing from the stock app.
Audio-Only Playback
With YouTube Vanced’s audio-only playback mode, you can listen to music, podcasts, or long discussions without loading the video. This not only helps save battery life and mobile data, but also provides a smoother listening experience, especially when paired with youtube music vanced. For full functionality, including Google account log-in to sync your playlists and history, users should also install the companion microg apk. It’s an excellent choice for Android users who prefer audio streaming on the go.
Swipe Controls
YouTube Vanced enhances the viewing experience with intuitive swipe controls. You can adjust volume or brightness simply by swiping up or down on the screen—making it faster and easier than using physical buttons. This gesture-based control system adds convenience and improves overall usability, a feature often desired by users of youtube revanced and other Vanced variants.
Dark Mode
YouTube Vanced also offers a sleek Dark Mode, enabling you to switch to a darker theme that reduces eye strain, especially in low-light environments. On devices with AMOLED screens, Dark Mode can also help conserve battery life. It provides a modern, comfortable viewing experience day and night, making the youtube ad free apk a preferred choice over the standard Google YouTube app.
What’s New in ReVanced 2026 (v20.29.34) – February 2026)
ReVanced Patches: Next-Level Performance and Stability
The latest iteration of YouTube Vanced, powered by youtube revanced patches, introduces significant improvements, ensuring the app remains current, stable, and feature-rich.
How to Install YouTube ReVanced in 2026 (2 Methods)
Installing YouTube Vanced on your Android device is easy, but because it isn’t available on the Google Play Store, you’ll need to follow the steps below to install it manually.
Method 1 – Non-Root (Recommended for 98% of users – 3 minutes)
- Download & install ReVanced MicroG (required for Google login)
- Download the latest ReVanced APK (we always host the official Extended build)
Install YouTube Vanced
After downloading the APK file:
- Open your file manager and locate the YouTube Vanced APK.
- Ensure “Install from Unknown Sources” is enabled in your device settings.
- Tap the APK file to begin the installation.
- Follow the prompts to complete the setup.
Once installed, YouTube Vanced will be ready to use with all its premium and advanced features.
How to Use YouTube ReVanced (Step-by-Step)
Once you’ve installed the latest YouTube ReVanced APK 2026 and ReVanced MicroG, using it feels exactly like the official YouTube app — except without ads and with way more control.
First Launch & Google Login
Open ReVanced → tap “Sign in” → choose your Google account.
MicroG handles authentication on non-root devices, so your subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations sync instantly, just like the original YouTube Vanced used to do.
Quick Access to All Settings (2026 Layout)
Tap your profile picture → ReVanced Settings (appears below the regular YouTube settings).
Here’s what most users enable in the first 30 seconds:
- SponsorBlock → turn on all categories (sponsor, intro, outro, self-promo, interaction reminder)
- Return YouTube Dislike → enabled by default in 2026 builds
- General ads → Block all (already on)
- Hide Shorts shelf / Shorts tab → completely remove Shorts if you hate them
- Player → Enable swipe controls, minimized player, auto-repeat
- Appearance → Pure black AMOLED theme
- Codec → Force VP9 or AV1 for better quality/battery
Daily Usage Tips That Save Hours
- Long-press the playback speed button → set default speed (1.5x or 2x for most people)
- Double-tap + drag left/right → jump 10 seconds (works smoother than stock)
- Pinch-to-zoom on any video → force full-screen on ultrawide phones
- Tap the download arrow → choose resolution/audio-only and save for offline
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter issues like a “No Internet Connection” error, try these proven fixes:
- Reset Account: Remove your Google account from the microg apk.
- Clear Data: Clear the data and cache for microg download, youtube vanced, and youtube music vanced.
- Use VPN: Test your connection while using a VPN.
- Enable Auto-Start: For custom Android ROMs (MIUI, OneUI, etc.), ensure auto-start is enabled for MicroG.
- Reboot: Always restart your device after attempting these steps.
YouTube Vanced: The Pros and Cons of a Discontinued Legend
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The Pros: Why Vanced Was Better Than Premium
The immense popularity of YouTube Vanced was driven by its ability to deliver premium-level features, often for free, and adding critical functionality that the official app completely lacked.
1. Complete and Total Ad Blockage
This was, without a doubt, the flagship feature. Vanced provided truly uninterrupted streaming by blocking every type of advertisement: pre-roll, mid-roll, and banner ads. For millions of users frustrated by the increasing number of ads, youtube ad free apk was a necessity, not just a luxury.
2. Seamless Background Playback
Want to listen to a lecture, podcast, or youtube music vanced while browsing Twitter or locking your phone screen? Vanced youtube made it possible. Its background playback feature let videos continue playing when the app was minimized, turning your phone into an excellent, free media player—a core benefit of a paid subscription.
3. Automatic Sponsor Segment Skipping (SponsorBlock)
One feature that put Vanced far ahead of even official YouTube Premium was the integrated SponsorBlock tool. Based on a community-driven database, yt vanced would automatically detect and skip creator-read sponsorships, intros, end-screens, and self-promotions within the video itself, saving you precious minutes of time.
4. Customization and Quality Control
Vanced was built with advanced users in mind. It offered features like the battery-saving, true black AMOLED dark theme, and swipe controls on the screen to adjust brightness and volume easily. You could also force specific video settings, such as forcing the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode on devices where it wasn’t officially supported.
The Cons: The Risks and the Inevitable Shutdown
While the feature set was nearly perfect, Vanced was always operating in a gray area. Its status as an unofficial client created inherent risks and, ultimately, led to its demise.
1. The Discontinuation Crisis
The biggest drawback today is the complete shutdown of the project following a cease-and-desist order from Google. The official YouTube Vanced team is no longer providing updates. This means that as Google updates the official YouTube app, the older Vanced client will eventually become incompatible and permanently stop working (which has led many to switch to youtube revanced).
2. Security and Third-Party Trust
Installing youtube vanced apk required sideloading an APK file outside the secure Google Play Store ecosystem. To log into your Google account, you needed to install a secondary component called MicroG. Users had to place complete trust in the third-party developers, carrying an inherent security risk of running modified software and potentially exposing login credentials.
3. Violation of Terms of Service (TOS)
Vanced directly violated YouTube’s Terms of Service (TOS) by bypassing the platform’s security measures and blocking their primary revenue stream. This is why Google ultimately pursued legal action. For many, the ethical concern of taking revenue away from content creators who rely on ad money for their livelihood was also a significant deterrent.
4. Complex Installation and Lack of Support
While the vanced manager tool made installation easier, the initial setup—which involved installing both Vanced and the microg download—was often confusing for non-technical users. Since it had no official status, there was zero customer service or dedicated troubleshooting support when bugs or compatibility issues arose.
Frequently Asked Questions For YouTube Vanced
Conclusion
YouTube ReVanced is the only YouTube client still receiving weekly updates in 2026. It blocks every ad, auto-skips sponsorships with SponsorBlock, brings back real dislike counts, and gives you true background play + 4K downloads — everything YouTube Premium offers and more, 100% free.
Install the latest YouTube ReVanced APK 2026 once, sign in with your Google account, and instantly transform YouTube into the clean, fast, ad-free experience millions wish the official app still was. No subscriptions, no compromises — just pure YouTube the way it should be.