YouTube Go, Google’s alternative to the regular YouTube app for Android users with limited data or a slow connection will shut down in August. Google is inviting users to switch to youtube.com or the main YouTube app, as the latter is now better optimized for low-end devices and slower networks.
“We have improved performance for entry-level devices or those that watch YouTube on slower networks,” Google said about the main YouTube app. “We’re also building out additional user controls that help to decrease mobile data usage for viewers with limited data.”
Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!
"*" indicates required fields
YouTube Go was originally launched in 2016, and it was designed for the ground for Android users who need to control their data. The app lets users preview videos before watching them, and it also supports downloading videos to a phone’s internal memory or SD card. However, users still needed to reconnect their device to a mobile or Wi-Fi network periodically to enjoy downloaded videos.
Google made YouTube Go available in over 130 countries worldwide, but markets such as the US and Europe where fast cellular networks are widely available didn’t have access to it. Anyway, YouTube Go users who liked the ability to download YouTube videos will soon need to pay for YouTube Premium to enjoy the same capability in the main YouTube app.
“The main YouTube app provides a better overall user experience as well as offers features that aren’t available on YouTube Go that many have asked for – such as the ability to comment, post, create content, and use dark theme,” Google also highlighted today.