YouTube is one of the most widely used video streaming platforms in the world, but its official app comes with certain limitations, such as ads, restricted background play, and a lack of customization. To circumvent these restrictions, users have turned to modified versions of the YouTube app like YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced. These modded apps provide a better and more personalized YouTube experience by offering features like ad-free viewing, background play, and additional customization options.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced — what they are, how they differ, and the advantages and risks of using them. Whether you’re looking for an ad-free experience or better control over your YouTube app, this guide will help you understand which of these modded apps might be right for you.
What is YouTube Vanced?
YouTube Vanced is a modified version of the official YouTube app that offers a range of premium features for free. It gained popularity due to its ability to block ads, enable background playback (audio continues even when you exit the app), and support higher video resolutions without requiring a premium subscription. YouTube Vanced was developed by independent developers, not by Google, and was available for Android devices as an APK (Android Package) that users could download and install manually.
Some key features of YouTube Vanced include:
- Ad-Free Experience: YouTube Vanced removes all ads, including video ads, banner ads, and sponsored content, providing uninterrupted video streaming.
- Background Playback: Users can continue listening to audio from YouTube videos even when the app is minimized or the screen is turned off.
- Higher Video Resolutions: The app supports 1440p, 4K, and other high-resolution video formats without the need for a YouTube Premium account.
- Customizable Interface: YouTube Vanced offers theme options (like Dark Mode and AMOLED Black), as well as other tweaks such as overriding the maximum resolution settings.
- Force VP9 Codec: VP9 is a high-efficiency video codec used to stream high-resolution videos with less bandwidth usage. YouTube Vanced allows users to force VP9 codec for more efficient streaming.
However, due to Google’s policies and the unofficial nature of the app, YouTube Vanced has been officially discontinued as of 2022. Despite this, many users still continue to use the app through APKs obtained from unofficial sources.
What is YouTube ReVanced?
YouTube ReVanced is essentially the successor to YouTube Vanced, developed by a new group of developers. After the original YouTube Vanced team halted updates, the ReVanced community took over, continuing to enhance and support the project. YouTube ReVanced carries the same core features of YouTube Vanced but also includes several improvements, bug fixes, and expanded functionality. It is essentially a re-engineered version of YouTube Vanced that aims to provide a similar, if not better, user experience.
Some of the features of YouTube ReVanced include:
- Ad-Free Experience: Like YouTube Vanced, YouTube ReVanced blocks all ads from YouTube, including video ads, banner ads, and pop-ups.
- Background Playback: ReVanced enables audio playback in the background, meaning you can listen to music or podcasts even when the app is closed or your screen is off.
- Customizable UI: YouTube ReVanced offers extensive customization options, including the ability to switch themes, hide UI elements, and adjust video resolutions manually.
- Enhanced Security and Updates: Since ReVanced is actively maintained, it provides more regular updates, bug fixes, and improved security measures.
- Extended Features: ReVanced adds extra features like the ability to force a specific video resolution, disable autoplay, and other performance enhancements.
- Root and Non-Root Versions: Unlike YouTube Vanced, which required root access for some features, YouTube ReVanced offers both root and non-root installation methods, making it accessible to a wider range of Android users.
YouTube ReVanced is available for download as an APK file, and the installation process can vary depending on whether you have root access on your Android device.
Key Differences Between YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced
While YouTube Vanced APK and YouTube ReVanced share many of the same core features, there are a few key differences between the two:
- Development and Support: YouTube Vanced https://youtubevanced.download/ was discontinued by its developers in 2022, meaning it no longer receives official updates or security patches. In contrast, YouTube ReVanced is an actively maintained project, with regular updates, bug fixes, and security improvements. The ReVanced community is also more open to new contributions from developers.
- Installation Methods: YouTube Vanced required the use of a separate “Vanced Manager” app to install the APK, while YouTube ReVanced allows for installation through an official ReVanced Manager, which provides a more streamlined experience. YouTube ReVanced also provides both root and non-root versions, making it more versatile for different types of users.
- New Features and Enhancements: YouTube ReVanced includes a few extra features not available in YouTube Vanced, such as the ability to customize the app’s appearance in greater detail, improved resolution settings, and better support for devices with newer Android versions.
- Security and Privacy: YouTube ReVanced is considered more secure because it is actively updated with security patches and bug fixes, whereas YouTube Vanced is more vulnerable to issues due to its lack of ongoing support.
In short, YouTube ReVanced is the more modern and feature-rich version of the two, with active development and regular updates.
How to Install YouTube Vanced or YouTube ReVanced
Since both YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced are not available on the Google Play Store, you’ll need to download and install the APK files manually. The installation process can differ slightly for each app.
For YouTube Vanced (Note: Installation for Vanced may not be recommended due to the discontinuation of official support):
- Download the Vanced Manager APK from a trusted website.
- Install the Vanced Manager on your Android device.
- Open the Vanced Manager app, and select YouTube Vanced (choose the version based on your system architecture).
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
- Once installed, you can use YouTube Vanced with all of the premium features unlocked.
For YouTube ReVanced:
- Download the ReVanced Manager APK from the official ReVanced website.
- If you don’t have a rooted device, ensure that you also download the required microG APK (a service used to handle Google services like notifications and authentication).
- Install the ReVanced Manager and open it. From the app, choose the version of YouTube you want to install (root or non-root).
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- Launch YouTube ReVanced, and you’ll have all the premium features available.
Advantages of Using YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced
- Ad-Free Experience: Both YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced provide an ad-free experience, allowing users to watch videos without interruptions.
- Background Play: You can continue listening to audio from videos while using other apps or when your phone’s screen is off.
- Higher Video Quality: Enjoy high-definition video streaming without restrictions, even on mobile data.
- Offline Playback: Both apps allow users to download videos for offline viewing, an essential feature for those with limited internet access or data plans.
- Customization Options: Both apps offer a high degree of customization, allowing you to adjust themes, resolutions, and other settings.
Risks and Disadvantages of Using YouTube Vanced and YouTube ReVanced
- Security Risks: Since these apps are not officially supported by Google, there is a potential risk of downloading modified APKs that could contain malware or other security threats. Always download from trusted sources.
- Legal Concerns: Modded apps like YouTube Vanced and ReVanced violate YouTube’s terms of service, and using them could lead to issues with your Google account, including the possibility of being banned.
- Lack of Official Support: Both apps are unofficial and come without the safety and support provided by the official YouTube app. You may not receive the latest features or fixes unless you manually install updates.
- Device Compatibility: As the modded apps are not designed by Google, they may not work properly on all devices, especially newer Android versions or custom ROMs.
Conclusion
YouTube Vanced https://youtuberevanced.org/ and YouTube ReVanced both offer an excellent alternative to the official YouTube app by unlocking premium features without the need for a subscription. While YouTube Vanced was the pioneer in providing a modded, ad-free YouTube experience, YouTube ReVanced has taken over the mantle with more active development and new features.
