YSK: a few ways to watch YouTube videos without using youtube.com ( kbin.social )

  • Invidious: an alternative front-end that is open-source and privacy-respecting. Here are a list of open instances. If you are reasonably familiar with docker/self-hosting you can also host it yourself, but be aware it's somewhat resource- and maintenance-heavy.
  • yt-dlp: this is a nice command-line program that allows you to download YouTube videos by link; also works with Peertube links. For Windows/Mac users apparently the program is available as well, but please follow their instructions. If you also have mpv installed, you can call mpv <http://youtube.link> to directly stream a video.
  • NewPipe: this app on F-droid.org allows you to watch YouTube videos (and Soundcloud/Bandcamp but somewhat glitchy) with an experience very much akin to the YouTube app itself.

Please feel free to share other alternatives.

Tiritibambix ,
@Tiritibambix@lemmy.ml avatar

Desktop : Freetube

Android : Revanced

Rooki ,
@Rooki@lemmy.world avatar

Revanced is sometimes only available for rooted phones!

Tiritibambix ,
@Tiritibambix@lemmy.ml avatar

Considering you have to patch yourself the app with their tool and the tool doesn’t need root access, I’ve never had this problem.

off_apparition ,

I have an unrooted phone and I’m using revanced

Rooki ,
@Rooki@lemmy.world avatar

Can you tell me what phone you use? Old or new? It could be that i use a pixel phone too ;(

off_apparition ,

I have a Samsung Galaxy S9. It’s not really the newest phone out there. There might be issues with the youtube apk version that you’re trying to patch. On the Revanced Github it says that most patches are only available for version 18.19.35

Rooki ,
@Rooki@lemmy.world avatar

Yeah i got that but i think pixel just simply does not allow that.

flat ,
@flat@reddthat.com avatar

poketubefreetubeinvuedious

Alpagu ,
@Alpagu@lemmy.world avatar

I tried now. Newpipe is excellent.

SparkIT ,
@SparkIT@kbin.social avatar

I'm using SmartTube on my TvBox and live in fear it will stop working xD

There's also a component for foobar2000 (yes, I'm GenX) called Youtube Source. You can search content, add results to foobar playlists and see the video (embedded in the skin or on a different window). Sometimes the video doesn't load but restarting foobar it's usually enough.

blunderworld ,

Good list, but just want to add my 2 cents about invidious. Ive been having a hard time with their instances lately… May be related to Google trying to shut them down, but I dont know for sure. The video player refuses to load, no matter which instance I select.

Could just be a me problem, but worth keeping in mind if others face similar issues. Ive been having much better luck with Peertube instances lately.

august_senpai ,

There is also Piped, which is like Invidious. On Android you can use LibreTube which uses Piped as its backend, so you never connect directly to YouTube.

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