But for that one year, on that specific version of Android 7.1.1, the world was perfectly optimized. The colors were right, the notifications were smart, and the play button always worked.

If your device is rooted and you absolutely insist on using the official, native YouTube application, you can trick Google's servers into thinking your app is completely up to date.

When the Google Play Store cuts off access, many resourceful users turn to sideloading. Sideloading involves downloading an Android Package kit (APK) file from a third-party website and installing it manually. For Android 7.1.1, the final compatible versions of the official YouTube app generally hover around version 16.xx or 17.xx, depending on the specific build requirements.