YouTube has moved heavily toward VP9 and AV1 codecs to save bandwidth.
As of May 2026, Google has officially ended support for Android 5.1.1 Lollipop in its latest YouTube app versions. Let’s break down the timeline:
So, can you run the YouTube app on Android 5.1.1 today? app youtube android 5.1.1
Yes, but only with an older version. You cannot download the “latest” YouTube from the Play Store on a Lollipop device. The Play Store will either show “Your device isn’t compatible with this version” or offer a deprecated, buggy build that may crash over time.
Published: May 2026
In the fast-paced world of mobile technology, Android operating systems evolve rapidly. However, millions of devices worldwide still run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop—a stable, beloved version released between 2014 and 2015. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 4, Moto G (1st gen), and various budget tablets continue to serve their owners faithfully.
But a pressing question echoes across forums and support threads: Does the official YouTube app still work on Android 5.1.1? And if it does, how do you install it, optimize it, and troubleshoot the inevitable “connection issues” or “app not installed” errors? YouTube has moved heavily toward VP9 and AV1
In this deep-dive article, we will explore everything you need to know about the YouTube app for Android 5.1.1, including version history, performance tweaks, security risks, and the best third-party alternatives to keep you watching videos smoothly.
This version utilized the "Hamburger Menu" (three horizontal lines) in the top left, standard for Google apps of that era. It housed access to: So, can you run the YouTube app on Android 5