Since YouTube officially hid the public dislike counter at the end of 2021, millions of users have been faced with the inability to quickly assess the quality of content. This problem is especially acute for owners of mobile devices based on the operating system Android, where the functionality of the official application is strictly limited by Google policies. The absence of a visible indicator of a negative reaction deprives viewers of an important filter that allows them to filter out false information, unsuccessful tutorials or outright clickbait even before watching.
Despite the decision of the video hosting administration, technically savvy users have found workarounds to return this function. Returning the dislike counter is possible through installing third-party clients, using special browser extensions in mobile mode, or using scripts for advanced users with rights Root. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the current methods available at the moment, evaluate their security and ease of use in the Android ecosystem.
It is important to understand that any method that is not a native function of the official application requires certain manipulations with the system or installation of software from unverified sources. We will look at both the simplest solutions for the average user, and complex technical methods for enthusiasts who want to gain complete control over the interface of their video player without compromise.
Why was the counter hidden and can it be returned
YouTube’s official position states that hiding dislikes was necessary to protect content authors from coordinated attacks and bullying. However, for the community this was the loss of an important marker of quality. You can return the counter, but not through the settings of the application itself, since the server simply stops providing this data in the standard response for the official client. Solutions lie in intercepting requests or using alternative APIs.
Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to simply update the application or change the region in the account settings. This is a misconception. The only working mechanism is the use of third-party software, which either modifies the interface on the fly, or pulls up data through independent aggregator services, such as Return YouTube Dislike.
⚠️ Attention: Using modified versions of the official YouTube application (the so-called “clients”) can lead to temporary account blocking or inability to log in. Google is actively fighting against unauthorized access to the API.
There are several categories of tools to solve this problem. The first ones work at the browser level and do not require the installation of unnecessary apps, the second ones replace the standard player, and the third ones are embedded deep into the system. The choice of a specific method depends on your technical literacy and willingness to risk the security of the device.
Using mobile browsers and extensions
The safest and easiest way to see the number of dislikes is to stop using the native application in favor of a mobile browser. Modern browsers for Android, such as Kiwi Browser, Lemur or Yandex with add-on support, allow you to install extensions designed for desktop versions of Chrome.
The setup process is as follows: first you need to install a browser that supports extensions from the Google Play Store. Then in the browser settings you need to activate the add-on mode and go to the Chrome Web Store. Here you will find the official extension Return YouTube Dislike, which works stably and is regularly updated by the developers.
- 🌐 Install the Kiwi Browser browser from the official application store.
- 🧩 Open the browser menu and go to the “Extensions” section.
- 🔍 Search for "Return YouTube Dislike" and click the "Add" button.
- ▶️ Open YouTube through this browser and log in to your account.
After installing the extension, a counter will appear under each video automatically. The advantage of this method is that you are not violating the terms of use of the main application, since you are working in a sandboxed browser environment. However, it is worth considering that the mobile version of the YouTube website may work a little slower than the native application, especially on older smartphones.
For ease of use, create a shortcut to the YouTube page on the home screen. In the browser menu, select “Add to Home Screen”, and the site will open as a separate application without an address bar.
Alternative YouTube clients for Android
For those who are not ready to put up with the limitations of the mobile web version, there are alternative clients. These are independent applications that use the same video stream as the official YouTube, but have their own interface and advanced functionality. The most popular solution in this niche is the project YouTube ReVanced.
ReVanced - this is not a ready-made application that you can simply download, but a platform for patching. You will need to download the original YouTube APK file of a certain version and process it through the ReVanced manager, selecting the necessary modules, including “Dislike Returner”. This method allows you to get an interface almost identical to the original, but with returned dislikes and without unnecessary water.
| Client name | Installation complexity | Presence of advertising | Requires Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube ReVanced | High (needs patching) | No | No (works without Root) |
| NewPipe | Low (ready APK) | No | No |
| LibreTube | Average (via F-Droid) | No | No |
| Grayjay | Average | Customizable | No |
Other popular clients, such as NewPipe or LibreTube, also have built-in support for displaying dislikes, as their philosophy is focused on privacy and open source. These apps don't require you to sign in to a Google account to view, which is a plus for privacy, but a minus for syncing history and subscriptions.
⚠️ Attention: Download APK files of alternative clients only from official repositories on GitHub or through the store F-Droid. Files from third-party forums may contain malicious code.
Where can I find official ReVanced sources?
The official project website has moved to the revanced.app domain. Avoid sites with similar names, as they often distribute malicious mods with stolen data. Always check the digital signature of the application after installation.
Configuration via ADB and system modifications
For advanced users who have access to a computer and understand the basics of Android debugging, there is a method for implementing a dislike counter without installing third-party browsers or clients. This method involves using a tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to change system flags or install modified system applications.
The essence of the method is to force the system to trust certificates that allow you to intercept traffic and replace server responses, or install a modified version of YouTube in the system partition /system/priv-app. This requires unlocking the bootloader and being root, which may void the device's warranty.
adb shell pm grant com.android.vending android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES
adb install -r YouTubeDislikes.apk
Using the command line allows for flexible settings, but a single character error can cause the application to stop running. In addition, after each major Android update, such modifications may fail, requiring the procedure to be repeated.
This path is chosen by those who want to have dislikes in the official application, without changing the icon and interface. However, the stability of such a solution is always lower than that of individual client applications, since it depends on the internal structure of the original YouTube.
The method using ADB and system installation is only suitable for experienced users. For most smartphone owners, it is safer and easier to use a browser with extensions or the ReVanced client.
Compatibility issues and Android versions
Not all methods work equally well on different versions of the operating system. Owners of devices running older versions of Android (below 10) may encounter the fact that modern browsers simply do not support the necessary extensions. At the same time, the latest Android 14 and 15 have tightened security rules that block the installation of applications from unknown sources without additional confirmation.
Particular attention should be paid to the processor architecture. Some modified YouTube clients are released only for architecture arm64-v8a. If you have an old budget device with a 32-bit processor, installing this version will fail with a package parsing error. Always check the system requirements before downloading files.
- 📱 On Android 11+, you must give permission to install applications for each source separately.
- ⚙️ ReVanced Manager requires Android 8.0 and higher.
- 🔋 Running browser extensions in the background can increase battery consumption by up to 10-15%.
- 🛡️ Antiviruses may falsely detect patched APK files due to a changed signature.
It is also worth considering that the YouTube interface is constantly changing. What worked a month ago may require module updates today. Developers of extensions and clients usually respond promptly to API changes, but a small lag between a YouTube update and the release of a fix is inevitable.
⚠️ Attention: Application interfaces and methods for circumventing restrictions are often changed by YouTube developers. If one of the methods stops working, check the official support channels of the tool you have chosen for up-to-date information.
☑️ Check before installing mods
Data security and privacy account
The main fear of users when installing third-party software is the theft of Google account data. It is important to distinguish between types of threats. Browser extensions running in a sandboxed browser process only have access to YouTube tabs and cannot read your banking or email passwords unless they are entered on fake pages.
Third-party clients that require account login (like ReVanced) use official OAuth authorization mechanisms. This means that you enter your username and password on the Google page, and the application receives only an access token with limited rights. Direct password interception in such cases is almost impossible if you downloaded the application from a reliable source.
However, using modified software always carries risks. Attackers can create a copy of a popular client, insert a spyware module into it, and post it on a popular forum. Always check file hashes (SHA-256) if provided by the developers and compare them with the downloaded file.
For maximum security, it is recommended to create a separate Google account for use in third-party clients, without linking payment instruments and personal correspondence to it. This will minimize the damage in a hypothetical case of compromise.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to log into your main Google account in the ReVanced application?
In general, yes, if you downloaded the application from the official GitHub project. The login mechanism uses standard Google security protocols. However, there is a risk of being blocked by YouTube for using an unofficial client, although in practice there have been no mass bans for this.
Why does the dislike counter show a dash or not load?
This can happen for three reasons: Return YouTube Dislike servers are temporarily overloaded, your Internet connection is blocking the request to the API, or the version of the extension/client is outdated and incompatible with the current version of YouTube. Try updating the application or wait a few minutes.
Is it possible to return dislikes to Smart TV from Android TV?
Yes, but the process is more complicated. This usually requires installing a modified version of the YouTube application for Android TV via a flash drive (ADB) or using an alternative player such as SmartTubeNext, which has built-in support for dislikes and ad blocking.
Does enabling dislikes affect the speed of the phone?
The impact is minimal. The extension or client makes one additional request to the third-party server when loading the video page. On modern smartphones this is not noticeable, but on very old devices with slow Internet, the list of comments and metrics may take 1-2 seconds longer to load.
Will YouTube delete my app if I install ReVanced?
No, YouTube does not have the rights to remotely delete applications from your device. However, Google Play Protect may flag such apps as dangerous when scanned. You can add the application to exceptions in the Play Protect settings to avoid constant notifications.