If you have an old smartphone running Android 7.1.2 or older, bad news: the YouTube app isn't working anymore, and the little workarounds aren't working either. Google seems to have finally given up on these devices.
YouTube blocked on old Android smartphones
Until now, clearing the YouTube app's data was enough to get past the "This version of YouTube is out of date" message on Android 7.1.2 and earlier. But in recent days, many users have reported that this trick no longer works at all.
Some have even tried a clean install on a refurbished smartphone. zero or on a virtual machine, but the verdict is the same: the app now displays a message stating that you must "switch to YouTube.com." And as if that weren't enough, those trying to log in with their Google account encounter server errors (error 400), preventing any authentication. As a result, some accounts can still access YouTube, while others are simply blocked, for no apparent reason.
Why is Google blocking these devices?
This decision is not a bug: Google is gradually raising the minimum requirements for its services. Today, the official version of YouTube requires at least Android 8.0, which leaves any devices that can't be updated in the lurch. The goal? Probably to improve security and ensure optimal functionality... but it also means that older phones are becoming increasingly unusable.
The problem is that Google isn't just blocking the app. It also seems to be injecting restrictions into Google accounts themselves, making any attempt to circumvent it impossible. Even the community Revanced, which develops modified versions of YouTube, admits that finding a new solution would be a waste of time.
If you're affected, here are your options:
- Go through a browser by going to m.youtube.com (less convenient, but still accessible)
- Upgrade your phone to a newer model with Android 8.0 or later
- Wait for a new solution... but the chances of a working trick appearing seem very slim
In short, YouTube on older Androids is probably over for good, and other applications could soon follow the same path.
Source: Tech Issues Today
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