These Android Phones Are Losing YouTube App Access In 2026
Google has ended support for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, meaning users on these devices will lose access to the native YouTube app. Users are encouraged to access services via mobile browsers or upgrade their hardware.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing issue of digital obsolescence and the security risks associated with using outdated operating systems.
Wongsakorn Napaeng/Getty Images Some Android users have been perfectly fine coasting on Android 6.0 Marshmallow for over a decade now. But all that came to an end in July 2026 when Google dropped an important layer of support for these aging Android smartphones. The official minimum operating system required for Google Play services is now Android 7.0 Nougat. The most immediate and noticeable side-effect of that is that the YouTube app isn't going to work for those of you running Android 6.0 anymore.
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