Out of the box it can play audio in the background, and now that extensions are available you can block ads as well. You don’t really need constantly updating 3rd party clients or questionable firewalls anymore if you just want usable youtube on a phone.
I’ve been using it for years; just download and install the apk from the website like any other side-loaded app. Yes it modifies the original youtube app, replacing it. I’ve never had an issue with the main app updating and breaking anything. Updates to revanced have to be applied manually the same way as the original install, but I’ve been super lazy and gone several years at a time without updating at all and I’ve never had an issue.
I used to run the original vanced app the same way; rarely if ever updating. It just hasn’t been necessary. Hell, the only reason I’m not still using original vanced app is because the device it was installed on has a broken screen.
Revanced is essentially the same app as the original youtube app with all premium functionality; but with adblock, sponsor block, and a huge host of toggles to show/hide almost every part of the UI or modify the apps behaviour (things like fixed quality settings instead of just ‘auto’ or a default playback speed).
Thanks for the detailed reply. So does the underlying YouTube app never receive app store updates? I’m surprised it went years without some sort of connection issue.
I just had to go check and see, but yes the app still receives google play updates. My YouTube app last updated 5 days ago according to google play. It’s listed as ‘installed by X-Plore’ (the file manager/browser app I use and installed the apk from) in Androids app manager though, instead of being listed as installed by google play.
I’ve just never received an update that’s broken the app, or it’s hacked functionality. I download and install updated vanced apks when I happen to feel like it, which is very very few and far between.
Thanks