How can I downgrade Youtube on my Android Phone?

To downgrade the YouTube app on your Android phone, you have a few methods, each with its own steps and limitations. Here are the primary methods:

Uninstall Updates to Revert to Factory Version

This method reverts the YouTube app to its factory version, which may not be the specific older version you want, but it can help if you're experiencing issues with the latest updates.

• Go to your phone's Settings.
• Navigate to Apps or Apps & notifications.
• Find and select the YouTube app.
• Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Uninstall updates.
• Confirm the action to revert the app to its factory version125.

Using ADB Commands

This method allows you to completely remove the current version of YouTube and install a specific older version using ADB commands.

• Remove the Current Version:

  • Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging on your phone.
  • Connect your phone to your PC.
  • Open a command prompt or terminal and use the following ADB command to remove the app for the current user:

    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube

  • If you want to remove the app system-wide, you would need to use additional commands, but this is more complex and not recommended for casual users4.

• Install the Older Version:

  • Download the APK of the older YouTube version you want to install.
  • Use ADB to install the APK:

    adb install -r -d /path/to/your/youtube.apk

  • Ensure the file name matches what you specify in the command4.

Disabling and Clearing Data

While this method does not downgrade the app to a specific version, it can help manage the app's behavior and free up space.

• Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube.
• Clear the cache and data.
• Force-stop the app.
• Disable the app to prevent it from running in the background and consuming resources2.

Important Considerations

• System App Limitation: Since YouTube is a preinstalled system app on most Android devices, it cannot be fully uninstalled without rooting your device. The above methods either revert to the factory version or use workarounds to manage the app24.

By following these steps, you can either revert to the factory version of YouTube or use more advanced methods involving ADB commands to install a specific older version.