Google Ends Support for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Affecting YouTube and Other Apps

Google has discontinued Google Play Services support for Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the operating system released in 2015. The change means the YouTube app no longer works on devices running Android 6, prompting users to switch to the web version, and other services such as Gmail and Maps may also lose functionality.

The cutoff requires Android 7.0 (API level 24) or newer to receive Play Services updates. Owners of older smartphones and tablets, particularly in Poland where the news was highlighted, are advised to upgrade their devices or rely on browser‑based alternatives as older hardware becomes increasingly insecure and limited.

The end of support follows an 11‑year lifespan for Marshmallow, during which it was the longest‑supported Android version. Google notes that only a small fraction of users remain on this version, as most have migrated to newer releases.