Widespread reports from both Android and iOS users detail an alarming trend with the YouTube app and by extension, YouTube Music app. Users cite severe battery drain and overheating issues, even when the app is running in the background. This problem seems to have surfaced earlier this month, affecting devices across different security patch levels and operating systems.
Initial assumptions among some Google Pixel users pegged the issue on the April security update. However, the emergence of similar complaints from other Android and iOS users shifted the focus towards a recent YouTube app update as the potential culprit. User experiences are consistent in their severity. Affected users say that their battery life, previously healthy after a replacement, drastically deteriorated following updates to YouTube and YouTube Music.
Others detail a shocking decline in battery life tied specifically to the YouTube app. A habitual practice of listening to downloaded videos with the screen off, formerly yielding 40% battery life after an 8-hour shift, now drains the phone to near-zero by lunchtime. No amount of common troubleshooting steps has come close to fixing the glitch, and multiple Reddit and community forum threads echo the same sentiment.
The issue seems to extend even further, as an iPhone 15 Pro user describes rapid, intense heating while using the updated iOS YouTube app. The phone’s battery life plummets alongside this drastic temperature spike. Other iOS users confirmed localized overheating and isolated the cause to be the YouTube app, as other video streaming platforms operate without similar effects.
Thankfully, some users report success after updating to the latest YouTube app version (19.15) on both Android and iOS. However, some of those still experiencing the problem after updating have found that a full reinstall of the YouTube app does seem to resolve the battery drain and overheating issues. For others haven’t received the update to v19.15 in the Play Store, you can grab the latest APK from APK Mirror and install it manually, if waiting isn’t in your DNA.
These battery drain and overheating issues are a significant concern for users relying on YouTube for entertainment and information. Hopefully, the latest updates or the reinstallation solution will provide widespread relief, enabling users to once again enjoy YouTube without the fear of a dead battery or an overheating phone.
Hillary Keverenge
2117 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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