YouTube Vanced Features: What Made the App Popular
YouTube Vanced features such as ad blocking, background playback, SponsorBlock, and the AMOLED dark theme made it the most downloaded modified YouTube app on Android. This page breaks down each feature the discontinued app offered.
Feature breakdown
🎵 Background Playback
Videos kept playing with the screen off or while other apps were open. Normally this requires YouTube Premium, which made it one of the most requested features.
🚫 Ad Blocking
Video ads, banner ads, and interstitial advertisements were removed from the viewing experience.
🌙 AMOLED Dark Theme
A true black theme built for AMOLED displays. Black pixels switch off entirely, which saves battery and is easier on the eyes at night.
⏭️ SponsorBlock
Sponsored segments inside videos were skipped automatically, based on community-submitted timestamps.
👎 Return YouTube Dislike
Dislike counts stayed visible after YouTube removed them from public view.
⚙️ Playback Controls
Default resolution, playback speed, and codec preferences could be overridden. Users forced maximum quality or set their own defaults.
📱 Picture-in-Picture
Videos played in a floating window over other apps, even on devices that did not officially support PiP for YouTube.
👆 Swipe Controls
Swiping on the video player adjusted brightness and volume directly.
📺 Cast Support
Videos could be cast to Chromecast and other compatible devices from the modified app.
🔓 No Root Required
The app worked on non-rooted devices, with the MicroG companion handling Google account features.
Where YouTube Vanced Features Live Today
| Feature | ReVanced | NewPipe | LibreTube | YouTube Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background playback | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad blocking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SponsorBlock | ✓ | ✗ (Tubular fork only) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Google account | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| AMOLED theme | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Return YT Dislike | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |