‘Goodbye, YouTube Vanced’: Google shuts down popular app due to legal reasons
YouTube Vanced, the popular YouTube app that removed ads and allowed to download videos, was shut down on Friday by its creator due to legal reasons. Creator Amir Zaidi, also known as tizio on the XDA Developers forum, said he received two notices from Google telling him to take the app down or face possible legal action. In an updated notice on the app’s XDA forum thread, Zaidi said he decided to remove it because he didn’t want to risk losing access to his account over one of his apps.
Background
YouTube may be one of the most popular sites on the internet but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In December 2017 a type of forked version of the video-sharing site surfaced called YouTube Vanced.
It promised many changes from the regular version such as keeping videos from auto-playing on your screen and turning off suggested videos you might not want to see.
With its simplification, lack of ads, and better functionality, this lightweight version gained a lot of momentum in the competitive world that is online streaming and came close to rivaling its big brother site.
The creator of Vanced and other similar services could be in some hot water. Last year, a copyright-focused platform from Google called Copyright Match was launched. The purpose of Copyright Match is to remove online content or websites that violate or are in breach of copyright laws. According to Torrent Freak,
Copyright Match recently matched two videos on Vance’s servers with those on YouTube and subsequently removed both. This means that many people who use Vanced can no longer watch videos on their platform and it may be forced into shutting down for good soon.
What is YouTube Vanced?
YouTube Vanced is a modified version of the official YouTube app that provides many additional features. It has built-in adblockers and custom themes, among other enhancements. The new update restricts the ability to modify code within the app to provide users with an improved browsing experience.
YouTube Vanced gained popularity because it was one of the few apps that allowed users to easily download videos and bypass regional restrictions. But as more third-party solutions emerged, many went back to using YouTube’s original design while others continued using it simply for its conveniences
Is There a Way Around it?
Some users can retain the old design and features through unofficial methods. But some downsides come with this: it’s harder for you to stay safe on the internet, as most extensions rely on code from Google’s browser Chrome.
And finally, any extensions you install on Chrome can’t work with Opera or Firefox browsers, which use different versions of their coding than Chrome does. For example, Twitter thinks you’re signed in all the time if you use an extension.
This problem is less common than a lack of extensions that are usable with your new operating system though.
Alternatives to YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced is one of the most popular YouTube apps available. Its easy-to-use interface and streamlined functionality make it a contender among many power users.
But in a shocking turn of events, the internet giant has decided to remove all traces of the app from its servers. Not long ago, Google released an update for its Chrome browser that blacklisted apps that violate its policies.
Google hasn’t stated why it decided to shut down YouTube Vanced. The company hasn’t even confirmed that it was behind its removal. However, many believe that one of two things is true—either Google’s algorithm detected something shady on YouTube Vanced or its terms of service may have been breached in some way.
Whatever has happened here seems as though it could be temporary and just a roadblock for those who want to use such apps while they’re being fixed.
However, no one knows what will happen at all because no one knows exactly why Google has done what it did. Until an official statement is made by either party, any speculation can only serve as guesswork at best.
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