YouTube Go? More like YouTube Stop as lightweight app will be killed off

Google launched YouTube Go back in 2016, targeting low-end devices and people in areas with poor or pricey connectivity. The app was pretty handy for the time, offering offline downloads at various quality levels, a small install size, and the nifty ability to locally share videos without using data.

Unfortunately, Google has announced on its website (h/t: 9to5Google) that the YouTube Go app will be discontinued from August 2022. The Mountain View company said it initially launched YouTube Go for locations with less than adequate connectivity, higher data prices, and low-end devices.

Google explained that it’s brought many improvements to the main YouTube app to improve the experience in these markets:

Specifically, we have improved performance for entry-level devices or those that watch YouTube on slower networks.

Google added that it’s also developing features to help reduce mobile data usage for users with limited mobile data. There’s no timeline on these features coming to the YouTube app, though.

The search company further justified the move by noting that the main YouTube app offers a better experience and “features that aren’t available on YouTube Go that many have asked for.” These features include a dark mode and the ability to comment/post/create content.

Here’s hoping Google continues to optimize the main YouTube app and also adopts YouTube Go’s cool local video sharing capability. Nevertheless, this turn of events does make us wonder whether any other Google Go apps (e.g. Maps Go, Assistant Go) could be on the chopping block as well.