YouTube Go GONE this August! What happens to Android Go users now?

YouTube Go is gone in August 2022! The lightweight version of the YouTube app that introduced for affordable Android Go smartphones back in 2016. Those already using the YouTube Go app are now advised to either access YouTube via the web browser, or install the main YouTube app from Google Play Store. The Go app was essentially a stripped own version of the main YouTube app.

The YouTube Go app sacrificed several features from the main app to make it easy to run on low-end phones. The Go version app prevented the ability to comment, post, create content, and use dark theme on the app. Back in 2016, the app was introduced for users in areas where several factors such as connectivity, data prices, and low-end devices, affected the overall user experience.

YouTube Go to go away in August

While the YouTube Go app is going away, the YouTube app is now promised to work better for such low-end devices with compromised connectivity issues.

“YouTube has invested in improvements to the main YouTube app that make it perform better in these environments, while also delivering a better user experience which is inclusive of our entire community. Specifically, we have improved performance for entry-level devices or those that watch YouTube on slower networks. We’re also building out additional user controls that help to decrease mobile data usage for viewers with limited data - so stay tuned for more updates,” says a YouTube spokesperson.

YouTube Go is still going to be around until August and that should give enough time for people to either upgrade to the main app, or move to a better phone to get the full YouTube experience in a much better way.

It now remains to be seen whether Google pulls off the plug on Android Go, the more watered down version of the Android for affordable smartphone. Android Go is used by a couple of entry-level smartphones that offers a well-optimised user experience. However, most modern day affordable Android phones are powerful enough to run the newest and most powerful version of Android easily.