YouTube ReVanced: Login without MicroG using Sandboxed Play Services

Fundamental_Physics

Hi everyone,

I'd like to use the YouTube ReVanced application, mainly for some additional features that I find very useful compared to the official app, such as SponsorBlock.

To manage my channel subscriptions, I need to log in with my Google account within the ReVanced app. From what I've gathered reading online, logging into the Google account with ReVanced is typically handled by installing MicroG (often Vanced MicroG or similar).

My question is this: given that on GrapheneOS it's possible to install Google Play Services in sandbox mode, is there a way to make YouTube ReVanced use the sandboxed services for Google account authentication, thus avoiding the installation and use of MicroG?

Essentially, I'd like to know if it's possible to leverage the infrastructure of the Play Services already present in my GrapheneOS profile to log in to ReVanced, instead of having to resort to MicroG.

Has anyone already tried a similar setup or knows if this configuration is technically feasible?

n3t_admin

the patcher points to the microG package name by default, which is different from your typical Play Services. The easiest solution might be to unselect the microG patch in the Vanced Manager. YouTube will still be pointing at the regular Play Services and signing in will log you into YouTube. Do note, that you will be logged in globally in that same profile in any Google app with that account.

Fundamental_Physics

n3t_admin
Unfortunately, it doesn't work. I tried disabling the "GmsCore Support" patch, that is MicroG, in the patch list, but the patched YouTube app fails to launch without it. Even enabling only a single patch, such as SponsorBlock, does not allow YouTube to function.

It appears that GmsCore support is required to run the patched app in a non-root environment (https://github.com/ReVanced/GmsCore). However, I can't tell whether this dependency still applies in GrapheneOS, given that GrapheneOS includes Sandboxed Play Services. This was the core of my original question.

TrustExecutor

Maybe you want to use the official app and the accompanying features, but if you want to check it out there is a nice NewPipe fork with integrated Sponsorblock called PipePipe that worksreally good.

Fundamental_Physics

TrustExecutor

I didn't know about PipePipe, I'll try it later, thanks!

From your experience, does it suffer from frequent service interruptions or playback problems?

whiskeywalrus

Grayjay, pipepipe, libretube etc all have sponsorblock, adblock and are much more private.

Fundamental_Physics

whiskeywalrus
I'm well aware of these YouTube frontends, I've actually used NewPipe extensively before switching to LibreTube.

The issue with these types of apps is their tendency to break frequently, typically due to changes on Google's end. They've proven unreliable in my experience. My rationale for preferring something closer to the official YouTube app is to minimize the frequent service disruptions these alternatives face. Additionally, these frontends often have reduced streaming quality, limited functionality, and recurring playback issues compared to the official app.

I didn't know about PipePipe, I'll try it later, thanks!

twitheatrophonic

Fundamental_Physics me too. Tried 'em all settled with vanced with yt specific google account

TrustExecutor

Fundamental_Physics

Sometimes it breaks but it is not very often. It works for months then suddenly it breaks, and the devs are usually very quick to fix it. I use it as my main YT player and see no big issues with it.