Elain Brown Tech 03.21.2022 00:Mar AM EDT

YouTube Vanced Shutdown Theories: Will the Ad-Blocking App Return?

Vanced YouTube app has previously suspended its operation after the cease and desist order by Google.

As reported by The Verge, the team has removed all of the downloadable links for the Vanced app and will be discontinued.

Vanced has become such a popular app in the market and has reached a wide audience based only on their user experience. The suspension of the app definitely shocked its audience. As a result, numerous theories about its pullout in the market have emerged, and here are a few.

Vanced has been discontinued. In the coming days, the download links on the website will be taken down. We know this is not something you wanted to hear but it's something we need to do. Thank you all for supporting us over the years.
— Vanced Official (@YTVanced) March 13, 2022

Vanced Cease & Desist Order From Google

One of the theories behind the abrupt shutdown of Vanced is believed to be the cease and desist order given by Google because of using YouTube. The team confirmed this to be true. The legal reason behind halting Vanced is that the app was infringing the logo and branding of the original YouTube app.

Everyone can see that the logo Vanced made and the original YT logo look totally similar. Another legal reason that they breached is using the logo without prior permission from Google, the owner company of YouTube.

In addition, to the cease and desist order they received, Vanced is also asked to remove all the distribution of the links to download the Vanced app.

Vanced Providing Illegal Features

Vanced users heavily suspect that the features in the Vanced app are mostly illegal which is why it was suspended. The team clarified that the only feature in the Vance app that is considered to be illegal is the video downloader feature. However, Vanced never added a download feature in the app. This theory is definitely possible since the feature has never existed in the first place.

Vanced Developers Residing in Russia

The whole world is now experiencing extremely destructive political turmoil in Eastern Europe. With that, Vance users believe that some of the app developers are Russian since Google has been actively participating in imposing sanctions on Russia for its militarized operations in Ukraine.

Vance's team clarified that this theory is far from the truth. Vanced stated that none of its developers lives in Russia or Ukraine, nor do any of its developers have affiliations with those two countries.

Vanced NFT Theory

Vanced fans also suspected that one of the reasons for the shutdown is that the team developed an NFT. Some Vanced users believe the cease and desist order was given by Google due to the team profiting from the app to earn money from NFT.

However, the team clarified that the NFT was made as a joke and as a hobby project which was only made public because of its huge success. Vanced also added that the NFT was never sold at the end.

Vanced YouTube Ad-Blocking

Vanced users are convinced that the app was taken down due to the piracy nature of the app. In particular, users believe it to be the ad-blocking YouTube feature in the app that Google does not like.

Numerous users are under the impression that YouTube only earns heavily due to the advertisements in their platform. However, Vanced added that YouTube also earns from merchandise and YouTube Premium subscriptions.

On the other hand, the Vanced team stated that the YouTube ad blocking is not the reason they were given the cease and desist letter. Numerous applications have been launched to block ads on YouTube.

It would have been mentioned in the C&D letter that Vanced received that blocking advertisements is illegal and in violation of the terms of service for YouTube, as well. However, the terms of service for YouTube do not even mention that ad-blocking is prohibited.

Will Vanced Return?

It is highly doubtful that Vanced will ever return. Vanced has already bid farewell to its users and its website has posted referral links to similar softwares Brave and Adguard.

What will happen to the Vanced app now? It will still work for the time being, but in about two years, it may become too outdated to ever function.