There is a community project that patches the last working APK to remove ads and fix server errors. Search for "ReVanced Extended" for older Android versions.
Since the official APK is unreliable, most enthusiasts and reviewers recommend these third-party clients: youtube apk android 511
A: Historically, YouTube supports old app versions for 2-3 years after their release. v17.09.37 may work until late 2025 or mid-2026, but expect gradual breakage of features like the comment section or search suggestions. There is a community project that patches the
: Google officially ended security updates for Android 5.1 in 2018, and critical Google Play Services support for Lollipop finally ceased in July 2024 . For Android 5
While Vanced has been discontinued legally, legacy versions of the Vanced APK still circulate. For Android 5.1.1 users, Vanced was a godsend because it included ad-blocking and background playback built-in. However, getting Vanced to run on Lollipop requires a specific microG installation (a hack to mimic Google Play Services), which can be a technical headache for the average user.