Your Android tablet or mobile phone has officially become obsolete when the YouTube application is no longer updated and an error message appears or does not directly allow you to install it from the Play Store. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you’re doomed to be a paperweight. Recovering YouTube is easier than it seems and it won’t take you long to get there.
In this article, we will explain the different existing methods download and install YouTube safely on your old device. It will only take you a few minutes and you will follow some clear steps to bring your phone or tablet back to life.
3 Ways to Install YouTube on Old Android Phones and Tablets
Here are 5 effective methods, ordered from safest to most advanced, to install YouTube on older Android devices:
This is the simplest, safest and most effective solution because it is the one recommended by the platform itself with the message “Switch to YouTube.com” and, moreover, it does not require installing anything. Ideal if you only want to watch videos and post comments sporadically. It consists of installing some kind of shortcut to the browser version of YouTube as follows:
- Abbre Chrome on Android (although you can do this in other browsers too)
- And there YouTube website: www.youtube.com.
- Sign in to YouTube with your Google account.
- Press the three dots (⁝) which are located at the top right of the top bar of the browser.
- Select the option «Add to home screen» or «Install the application«.
This will create a shortcut on your home screen will open as a standalone applicationwithout the browser bar. It’s like bringing back the extinct YouTube!
Use an alternative client
If you prefer to keep all YouTube features or even extend them, the best option is to use an alternative client. It’s about Unofficial applications developed by the community, which not only offer compatibility with previous versions of Androidbut they also incorporate advanced features that the original app doesn’t include.
Of all the available alternatives, NewPipe stands out as the most robust and recommended option. It is an open source application that does not depend on Google services and has an active community that keeps it in constant development. The current version is compatible with running devices Android 5.0 or higher. If your equipment is even older, you can use it older versions of NewPipewhich will definitely work without any problems.
Download | NewPipe for Android
In case NewPipe does not meet what you are looking for, There are also other interesting alternatives. Here we present 5 YouTube clients for Android that are also ad-free.
Install a custom ROM
If you’re an Android expert and have the time, perhaps the best thing for you is to breathe new life into your device by installing a custom ROM. This will allow you update to a newer supported Android version with the official YouTube app. How to do it? Here is a guide that will help you:
- Do your research and find a custom ROM (like LineageOS) compatible with your exact phone or tablet model.
- Unlock the bootloader of the device.
- Install a recovery custom (like TWRP).
- Flash the custom ROMwhich usually includes a newer version of Android compatible with current YouTube.
This is undoubtedly the definitive solution because you will not only be able to install the official YouTube app, but all of it modern and updated Android system. Anyway, we hope that at least one of these solutions has helped you install YouTube on old Android phones and tablets.
