Even though it shut down, the idea didn’t disappear. Instead, it grew into something more flexible, more user-friendly, and more powerful. That’s where ReVanced comes in. It's not just an alternative to Vanced, it’s a rebuild from the ground up.
If you want to take full control of how YouTube works on your device, from blocking ads to choosing what swipes do, this guide walks you through it in a simple and clean way. Let’s begin.
What is YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced was a modified version of the original YouTube app that offered a lot of extra features without needing a subscription. It gained popularity because it solved the exact problems regular users had with the official app. No more ads, background playback, and many custom features were just a few taps away.
Vanced also had dark mode improvements and video tools that weren’t available by default. It looked exactly like the normal app, but felt smarter. Over time, though, the developers stopped updating it. Even after it was gone, the need for it stayed.
And that’s what pushed the community to support a newer solution called ReVanced.
Vanced with ReVanced patches
ReVanced is a patching tool. That means instead of downloading a complete app, you patch the official YouTube app and add features as you go. It sounds tricky at first, but it gives you more control over what you want.
You only add the features you care about, which means less clutter and fewer problems. It works on most Android phones, doesn't need root, and gives you back all the useful stuff Vanced used to offer.
Let’s look at some of those features you can add.
Remove ads
This one’s the biggest reason people switch to ReVanced. When watching videos, you won’t see ads at the start, during the middle, or around the screen. Everything is clean and fast.
Even banner ads disappear. This keeps your screen focused only on the content you clicked to see. No distractions or forced pauses.
Play videos in background
Want to keep listening while replying to messages or browsing? With ReVanced, videos continue even if you switch apps or turn the screen off.
YouTube normally doesn’t allow this unless you pay for Premium. But here, it’s built-in and works for any video.
Choose AMOLED dark
A proper dark mode can make a big difference, and ReVanced gives you true black instead of just dark grey. It’s better for your eyes and it saves battery too, especially on phones with AMOLED displays.
You can switch between different themes, but AMOLED black is the cleanest and feels the most polished when watching at night.
Skip sponsor spots
Lots of YouTubers add sponsored messages, but ReVanced helps skip them automatically using SponsorBlock.
It detects these parts based on crowd-sourced data and skips them while you watch, so you get to the content faster without any effort on your part.
Swipe gestures
Changing volume and brightness while watching videos becomes easier with custom gestures. You can swipe on the screen to adjust both settings, without needing to press buttons or open menus.
This small feature makes it feel more like a premium video app, where controls are quick and natural.
Better default settings
You don’t have to accept 480p anymore. ReVanced lets you set a preferred video quality for all videos. You can choose 1080p, 1440p, or even higher, and it remembers your choice.
It also has playback speed settings, codec overrides, and other hidden tweaks that make watching just feel smoother.
How to Download and Install YouTube Vanced
To start using ReVanced, you first need the patching tools. You can find everything you need at youtubevanced.org, including download links and setup instructions.
Follow this step-by-step:
Download the ReVanced Manager APK from the official source
Install MicroG so you can log into your YouTube account later
Open ReVanced Manager and go to the “Patch” section
Pick the base YouTube version that works best for you
Select the patches and features you want added
Let the patching process complete
Install the finished app from the manager
Use MicroG to sign in if needed
And that’s it. Make sure to uninstall or disable the original YouTube app to avoid conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I update ReVanced automatically like regular apps?
No, it won’t auto-update through the Play Store. When a new version of YouTube is available, you will need to run the patching process again with the updated version.
Q: Is MicroG really needed to log in?
Yes. Since ReVanced isn’t made by Google, it doesn’t connect to their login system by default. MicroG works as a workaround and is safe to use for this purpose.
Q: Can I use this on a rooted phone too?
Yes. While ReVanced works fine without root, it also supports rooted devices. If your phone is rooted, you can install system-level patches too, but it’s optional.
Q: Is this app available for iPhone?
No. ReVanced is only for Android devices. iPhones don’t support app patching like this, so there's currently no similar version for iOS users.
Q: Will this affect my actual YouTube account?
Not at all. You’re just using a different app to access your account. Watching videos, liking, subscribing — everything works the same. Your history and data are safe.
Conclusion
ReVanced takes everything that made YouTube Vanced great and gives you even more flexibility. You get to choose how YouTube works, what features it includes, and how it looks.
Whether you want an ad-free experience, better gestures, background playback, or control over video quality, ReVanced makes it happen.
