NewTube APK

NewTube is an unofficial YouTube client for Android phones and tablets, built on the SmartTube engine. It adds background play, picture-in-picture, SponsorBlock, DeArrow, offline saving and sign-in with a code, without needing microG, GmsCore, root or a patched app.

Developer: aleixrodriala · License: MIT (open source) · Price: Free

Before you start: pick the right APK for your device from the release page (arm64-v8a for most phones from the last 8 years, armeabi-v7a for older 32-bit phones, universal if unsure, or x86 for emulators). To sign in, open the You tab in the app, tap the account row, tap Sign in, and follow the on-screen code with Continue with Google.

Screenshots

Key features

• Sign in with a code to load your subscriptions, history, playlists and Watch later, no microG or root needed
• Background playback with screen off, picture-in-picture, and a draggable mini-player
• Save videos for offline up to 1080p, or audio only, playing with no connection
• SponsorBlock skips sponsor segments, DeArrow swaps clickbait titles and thumbnails, Return YouTube Dislike shows estimated dislikes, no Shorts
• Cast to SmartTube on your TV via its Remote control code, or play straight to a Chromecast

Why isn’t NewTube on Google Play?

NewTube is published by its developer on GitHub only and distributed outside Google Play; it is not on F-Droid either.

Is NewTube safe?

NewTube is open source under the MIT license. From version 1.10.3 the APKs are built by GitHub Actions from the tagged source, with a build attestation you can verify using the gh command line tool, and each release lists a SHA-256 for every file plus a signing certificate fingerprint to check with apksigner. The developer states the app has no analytics, no crash reporting and no ad SDKs, though builds are not yet reproducible, so you are trusting the attestation and signature checks rather than a fully reproducible build. NewTube comes straight from its developer rather than through Google Play, so it hasn’t gone through Google’s app review. As with any app, check the permissions it asks for and install it if you’re comfortable with them.

How to install

1. Tap the download button above: the APK file downloads straight to your phone.
2. When Android asks, allow your browser to install unknown apps.
3. Open the file and tap Install.

FAQ

Is NewTube free?

Yes. It is open source under the MIT license, and the developer does not take donations; the README suggests supporting SmartTube instead, since NewTube is built on SmartTube's engine.

Do I need microG, GmsCore, root or ReVanced to use it?

No. NewTube signs in with a code the way a TV does, so it does not need Google Play Services, a stand-in for them, or root. It is not a patched version of the official YouTube app.

How is NewTube different from NewPipe, LibreTube or ReVanced?

NewPipe and LibreTube do not sign in to a Google account and keep subscriptions locally or on a Piped server. ReVanced patches the official app and needs GmsCore unless rooted. NewTube is built on SmartTube, so it uses your real Google account without any of that.

More free apps you won’t find on Google Play: Open Source Apps · Best Android apps not on the Google Play Store.