You, the user, become an archaeologist. You search for "YouTube APK Android 6.0.1" on APKMirror or APKPure. You find the archives.
Version 17.39.38 (November 2022) is the final official build that still parses on your device. You sideload it. The installation completes successfully. You open the app, and for a moment, time travel is real.
The final version of YouTube that supported Android 6.0.1 is YouTube v17.29.34 (released around late 2021 / early 2022). youtube apk android 6.0.1
Installation steps:
⚠️ Warning: Do not download YouTube APKs from random websites. Many contain malware or adware designed for old Android versions. You, the user, become an archaeologist
You must install an older version of YouTube that was the last to support Marshmallow.
To get YouTube functioning on Android 6.0.1, a user must: Installation steps:
Alternative approach: Use YouTube ReVanced or NewPipe (lightweight clients that still support API 23).
Google regularly updates YouTube with new features (Shorts, live chat, new player controls). These updates require newer system libraries and security patches that Android 6.0.1 simply doesn’t have.
As of late 2023 / early 2024, the minimum required Android version for the official YouTube app is Android 8.0 (Oreo) or higher. If you try to install the latest APK on Marshmallow, you will get a "Parse Error" or "App not installed."
If you have TWRP installed, you can flash a "Youtube Installer" zip from Magisk modules, but that is outside the scope of this basic guide.