Yes, for basic viewing. If you use the phone as a dedicated music player or a kid's movie device, installing YouTube v17.09.37 works perfectly. You can watch cat videos, lectures, and music videos without a problem.
No, for power users. If you rely on YouTube for live streaming, comments, Shorts, or community posts, the old app will drive you insane. It is slow, missing features, and will eventually stop working entirely when Google flips the next server-side switch.
Google’s backend is constantly evolving. The YouTube Android 5 version (17.32.36) uses the v3 YouTube Data API, which Google promised to support through December 2026. youtube android 5 version
However, some features like login OAuth may break earlier. Historically, Google phased out Android 4.4 KitKat support in 2021 by invalidating its authentication tokens. A similar cutoff for Lollipop is expected by mid-2027.
In plain terms: You have roughly one more year of reliable service on Android 5. After that, expect constant "Please update your OS" popups and eventual sign-in failures. Yes, for basic viewing
Step 1: Uninstall the current YouTube app.
Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Uninstall ALL updates (or Uninstall entirely). You want it to revert to the factory version, then we will overwrite it.
Step 2: Disable Auto-Update in Play Store. Open Google Play Store > Tap the hamburger menu (3 lines) > Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps > Do not auto-update apps. This is vital. No, for power users
Step 3: Download the correct APK.
Open your browser and go to www.apkmirror.com. Search for "YouTube" and filter by "Version 17.09.37". Ensure you download the variant that says nodpi or 160dpi (universal). Do not download the "bundle" - download the .apk file.
Step 4: Install the APK.
Open your downloads folder, tap the YouTube_17.09.37.apk, tap "Install," and then "Open."
Step 5: Sign in (with caution). You can sign in with your Google account. Note: You may see a "This account action requires a secure connection" error if your Android 5 ROM lacks security patches. If that happens, try using the browser version (see below).