As of August 2022 (and accelerating through 2023), Google officially ended support for the YouTube app on devices running Android 5.0 (Lollipop). By mid-2023, server-side changes made the old app obsolete.
Why did Google do this?
The Result: If you try to open the stock YouTube app on a Lollipop phone today, you will likely see: "Something went wrong. Tap to retry" or "Update Google Play Services. YouTube won't run without Google Play Services, which is missing from your device."
Because the Google Play Store will no longer offer a compatible version, you must manually install the APK (Android Package Kit). youtube android 5 version
Open-source, lightweight, and actively developed for Android 5+.
Step 1: Uninstall the current YouTube app.
Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Uninstall ALL updates (or Uninstall entirely). You want it to revert to the factory version, then we will overwrite it.
Step 2: Disable Auto-Update in Play Store. Open Google Play Store > Tap the hamburger menu (3 lines) > Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps > Do not auto-update apps. This is vital. As of August 2022 (and accelerating through 2023),
Step 3: Download the correct APK.
Open your browser and go to www.apkmirror.com. Search for "YouTube" and filter by "Version 17.09.37". Ensure you download the variant that says nodpi or 160dpi (universal). Do not download the "bundle" - download the .apk file.
Step 4: Install the APK.
Open your downloads folder, tap the YouTube_17.09.37.apk, tap "Install," and then "Open."
Step 5: Sign in (with caution). You can sign in with your Google account. Note: You may see a "This account action requires a secure connection" error if your Android 5 ROM lacks security patches. If that happens, try using the browser version (see below). The Result: If you try to open the
Even after installing the correct YouTube Android 5 version, you may face issues.
| Error Message | Likely Cause | Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | "Can't connect right now" | Google Play Services is too old | Update Play Services via APKMirror (version 22.48.16 is the last for Android 5) | | "Video unavailable" | Age-restricted content requiring new authentication | Sign out of YouTube and use the browser version for those videos | | App crashes on open | Cache corruption | Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Clear Cache & Clear Data | | "No internet connection" | Your date/time is incorrect | Go to Settings > Date & Time > Set automatically (Network-provided time) |
Many Android 5 browsers are outdated, but Firefox 68.11 (final Lollipop build) can play YouTube via m.youtube.com with extensions. Install uBlock Origin to block ads and improve performance.
Start planning to upgrade your hardware. Refurbished Android 10 devices (e.g., Galaxy A12, Moto G Play) cost under $100 as of 2026. Alternatively, switch entirely to a Plex/Jellyfin home server and watch downloaded content.