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The Complete Guide on How to Fix "Update your App" on Vanced

As an avid Android user who relies on Vanced for my daily ad-free YouTube fix, I was dismayed when the popular mod app suddenly started showing the annoying "Update your app" error.

Vanced transformed the YouTube experience for millions of users since its launch in 2018. But after Google pressed legal charges, further development and updates for the app ceased indefinitely.

This guide will explore what exactly Vanced is, why the "Update your app" error creeps up, and how you can bypass it to continue using Vanced uninterrupted on your Android device.

Let‘s get started!

A Brief History of Vanced and Why It Became Indispensable

For the uninitiated, Vanced is a modified version of the YouTube app for Android with some incredibly useful addons:

  • Ad blocking – Enjoy YouTube completely ad-free
  • Background play – Listen to music/podcasts while using other apps
  • Picture-in-picture – Floating video window for multitasking
  • Dark mode – Saves battery life on AMOLED screens
  • SponsorBlock – Automatically skip sponsor segments
  • Return of dislike counts – See how many dislikes a video has

Thanks to these features, Vanced quickly rose to fame after its initial release in 2018, attracting millions of users. At its peak, it was installed on over 10 million Android devices globally.

I still remember the excitement when Vanced first arrived on the scene. YouTube ads had become unbearable, and background play was sorely missed after it was removed from the main app.

Vanced provided the ad-free experience users craved without paying a dime. It became my go-to YouTube client for the last 3 years. I even made tutorials back then on how to install Vanced Manager and get Vanced running on Android.

Unfortunately, in March 2022 Google‘s legal team sent a cease and desist letter to Vanced developers. They were forced to shut down immediately, pulling the app from public access.

This came as a shock to scores of users like myself who had grown dependent on Vanced for daily YouTube consumption. Suddenly we were stuck dealing with annoying issues like the "Update your app" error.

Why Does the "Update Your App" Error Appear on Vanced?

When you launch Vanced and see the message "Update your app", it signifies an issue with Vanced‘s data.

This happens because YouTube periodically discontinues certain versions of Vanced by blocking connections from those app versions. They carry out such discontinuations almost annually to curb modded clients like Vanced.

Recently, a lot of users have reported the error after YouTube discontinued the 15.xx.xx and certain 16.xx.xx versions of Vanced.

Some common situations where you may encounter this error are:

  • Outdated Vanced version – The version you have installed is too old and has been discontinued.
  • Connection blocking – YouTube has blocked connectivity for your current Vanced version.
  • MicroG issues – Problems with the signature spoofing module required by Vanced.

Under normal circumstances, this issue is fixed by simply updating Vanced to the latest version. But with development halted, the app can sadly no longer be updated.

Next, let‘s go over some proven methods to get around this roadblock and continue using Vanced.

Clearing App Data to Temporarily Fix "Update Your App"

The easiest workaround I‘ve found for the "Update your app" error is to simply clear Vanced‘s cache and app data. Here are the steps to try it:

  1. Open Settings and go to Apps & Notifications.

  2. Tap on ‘See all apps‘ and find Vanced in the list.

  3. Tap on Storage, then select Clear Cache followed by Clear Data.

How to clear cache and data for Vanced

  1. Launch Vanced again and the error should now be gone!

Clearing data forces Vanced to reinitialize itself, essentially tricking the app into connecting successfully instead of getting blocked.

However, there‘s a catch with this method:

  • You‘ll have to clear data every single time you want to use Vanced. This can get very tedious.

  • Your Vanced settings will reset each time so you have to reconfigure it regularly.

Still, it‘s a quick fix that works when you absolutely need to get Vanced running in a pinch. Continue using this method until you can install an updated version from elsewhere.

Pro Tip: To save your Vanced settings, backup the app data before clearing. Then restore the backup after reopening Vanced.

Downloading Latest Vanced Version from Reliable Sources

Since Vanced is no longer officially maintained, your best bet is to install the latest available version you can find on third-party websites. This gives you the most up-to-date Vanced build with the highest chance of avoiding any blocking or discontinuation issues.

Where to safely download latest Vanced APK

While you won‘t find Vanced on the Play Store anymore, many reliable third-party sites still host its APK files. Here are some trusted sources:

  • Vanced Manager: Get links to latest Vanced APK – Non-root, Root

  • APKMirror: Reputable app library – Vanced, MicroG

  • Techbigs: Direct downloads for Vanced APKs – Link

The latest version at the time of writing is v17.03.38 which resolves a lot of the discontinuation issues faced in previous builds. I recommend installing this if you‘re comfortable sideloading APKs.

Alternatively, you can use the Vanced Manager app to handle installing the Vanced APK along with the required MicroG module for logging in. The benefit of using a manager app is it also handles auto-updates in the future.

Note: Updating Vanced or MicroG independently without the manager tends to cause login and crashing issues in my experience. So use the manager or update both APKs together.

The caveat is that while using the latest build may get Vanced working again, the relief will only be temporary. As soon as another discontinuation wave hits, you‘ll likely see the error again. But this method at least buys you a few weeks or months of uninterrupted Vanced usage.

Downgrading to Older Versions of Vanced

If updating to the newest release still causes problems, another option is to try downgrading Vanced to an older version that hasn‘t yet been discontinued.

Based on reports from other users, some older versions that continue to work reliably are:

  • v16.06.38 – Works on Android 11 and below.
  • v15.43.32 – Works best for Android 10 and below.

These are still prone to eventual blocking, but remain active as of now. Here are a few sources to download older Vanced APKs when needed:

The trade-off with using outdated versions is you lose access to the newest features and fixes. But if you want the basic Vanced experience, older variants serve the purpose until they too get discontinued.

Downgrading Vanced along with MicroG to matching versions is key for stability when going this route. Refer to their version history on APKMirror to identify compatible releases.

Expert Tip: Use an APK Combiner Tool

As an Android modding expert, I recommend using a tool like APK Combiner if you choose to install Vanced manually outside the manager.

This allows you to easily combine the separate Vanced APK and MicroG APK into a single file. Just upload both APKs, merge them, and you get a combined Vanced package that is much easier to install and manage.

APK Combiner Tool

The integrated Vanced APK with MicroG baked in avoids most signature issues that cause crashes. This little tweak enhances longevity and is my preferred approach for sideloading.

Alternative Open Source Apps to Replace Vanced

While the methods above can help resurrect Vanced temporarily, there‘s no guarantee how long they will continue working in the future.

If you are looking for a more permanent ad-free YouTube solution, here are some recommended open source projects similar to Vanced:

1. NewPipe

NewPipe is a lightweight alternative with no need to log in or use Google services. Key features:

  • Download videos in different quality formats.
  • Picture-in-picture and pop-up modes.
  • Search and play audio only.
  • Subscriptions support.
  • Channel filtering and playlists.

Downsides: No likes/dislikes, comments or casting.

Get NewPipe on F-Droid

2. YouTube Revanced

This is an active fork of Vanced that receives frequent updates. It offers all original Vanced features and more.

Additional features:

  • Video downloads
  • Collections support
  • Return YouTube Dislikes chrome extension built-in
  • Regular updates and bug fixes

Limitation: Requires root access

Get Revanced on GitHub

3. SkyTube

SkyTube focuses on privacy, allowing YouTube use without ads or tracking. Has material design and support for subscriptions.

Extra features:

  • Casting support
  • Popup mode
  • 4K/HDR video downloads
  • Channel filtering
  • Dark theme

Downside: Lesser customization options

Download SkyTube on F-Droid

4. LibreTube

LibreTube is an open-source YouTube client aiming to protect user‘s privacy.

Useful features:

  • Downloads videos in different formats
  • No ads, algorithms or tracking
  • Supports subscriptions and playlists
  • Multiple languages support

Limitations: No commenting or casting capabilities

Get LibreTube on F-Droid

I recommend testing out a few of these apps to find the ideal ad-free YouTube experience that works for you. While not exactly like Vanced, they are great open source alternatives.

Conclusion

Vanced profoundly transformed how millions consumed YouTube on Android by removing annoying ads, unlocking background play, and bringing countless customizations.

Although further development has ceased after Google‘s legal intervention, Vanced still remains functional for many users with the techniques shared in this guide.

Clearing app data, sideloading latest or older versions, and switching to alternative open source mods are your best approaches to troubleshoot and bypass the "Update your app" error. This will allow you to keep enjoying an ad-free Vanced experience for as long as possible.

Hopefully these tips help extend the life of Vanced on your device. Let me know if have any other questions in the comments!