Why was YouTube Vanced so popular? as Google forces YouTube Vanced to shut down
3 min read
YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced, a popular alternative to YouTube that offered an ad-free experience for years, has been forced to close the project. Google has forced the creators to quit over legal issues on On March 13.
The app’s developers shared the news on Twitter. It was tweeted that Vanced has been discontinued. “The download links on the website will be taken down in the coming days. Thank you all for your support.”
Yet, the developers said existing versions of the software will continue to work for two years without being updated.
Vanced has been discontinued. In the coming days, the download links on the website will be taken down. We know this is not something you wanted to hear but it's something we need to do. Thank you all for supporting us over the years.
— Vanced Official (@YTVanced) March 13, 2022
How did YouTube Vanced become so popular, and what were its features?
The app was a very popular one among Android users for a variety of reasons. In comparison to the YouTube app, it was ad-free and preferred over the standard YouTube app, which places multiple ads at the beginning of a video and sometimes even in the middle.
Additionally, YouTube Vanced supported AMOLED display phones with a completely black theme, as well as other customizations that the official YouTube app did not support.
YouTube is monetized by advertisements, but Vanced users can block video ads on YouTube for free.
Its free premium features made it popular with tech-savvy Android users who sideloaded the third-party app to gain access to YouTube’s premium features.
It was not well received by some content creators because it removed advertisements from videos. With the removal of ads, monetized channels with modded versions of YouTube saw their revenue drop.
In addition, SponsorBlock was a feature of the app, which identified and skipped advertisements in videos. Developers have responded by adding an option that allows users to whitelist the ads of their favorite YouTubers.
An explanation of the shutdown’s legal basis
Vanced will have to change its logo (which is quite similar to YouTube’s) in response to Google’s cease-and-desist order. Similarly, any references to YouTube videos or the YouTube website must be removed.
YouTube Vanced was cited as operating in a legal gray area, which might be the case in some jurisdictions. Nonetheless, the app itself is illegal; it falls under copyright laws just like any other modded version of an original digital IP. The cease-and-desist order could only be sent when Google had this evidence.
so you tellin me vanced existed for years without issues then it dipped its toes into a pyramid scheme then got a C&D a month later?
— 🏳️🌈Dragonogon🏳️⚧️🐲 (@Dragonogon) March 14, 2022
yeah def no connection there yup nope totally https://t.co/Y14YgP8YFm
In light of Vanced’s recent NFT launch, many users have wondered whether Google’s legal order is related to the discontinuation announcement.
It is likely that Google’s attention was drawn to the third-party client last month after its developer released their own NFT.
They previously monetized their platform without advertising by referring users to Brave browser and adding Adguard extension.
ADS pic.twitter.com/5BzsMMrwnI
— Vanced Official (@YTVanced) November 26, 2021
Am sad but also grateful for your work… 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/v7PQrfnM9s
— Anima Valeska (@AnimaValeska) March 13, 2022
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
