Browse Invidious from a terminal interface and select YouTube audio or video for playback.
Open source
24 alternativesVacuumTube
VacuumTube wraps YouTube Leanback for desktop use, with a built-in ad blocker and other interface enhancements.
About VacuumTube
VacuumTube is an unofficial Electron wrapper that runs YouTube Leanback, the console and Smart TV version of YouTube, as a standalone desktop application. It adds controller support and touch support, with settings located in YouTube settings and accessible with Ctrl+O or R3 on a controller.
It includes options for ad blocking, SponsorBlock, DeArrow, Return Dislikes, and display or playback adjustments such as hiding Shorts and unlocking resolution. Builds are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux; macOS builds are not signed and do not auto-update.
Key features
- Blocks video and feed ads
- Skips sponsored segments using community database
- Replaces titles and thumbnails via DeArrow database
- Shows rough dislike counts from community data
- Hides YouTube Shorts from the homepage
- Supports game controllers for navigation and playback
Best for: People who want to use the YouTube TV interface on a desktop with controller and touch input.
Good for
- Presents the official Leanback interface as a desktop app instead of requiring user-agent spoofing
- Includes controller and touch support for navigation and playback
- Provides built-in options for SponsorBlock, DeArrow, and Return Dislikes
Watch out for
- macOS builds are not signed and do not auto-update
- Wayland HDR on Linux can cause desaturated colors on unsupported platforms
VacuumTube at a glance
- Category
- Social & Communities › YouTube Tools
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- macOS, Windows
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
VacuumTube alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Watch YouTube Shorts through the normal desktop interface with this Chromium and Firefox extension.
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Hide selected parts of YouTube’s interface with toggles in this browser extension.
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yt-neuter provides uBlock filters for hiding unwanted YouTube interface elements.
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This cross-browser plugin hides selected YouTube interface features associated with extended viewing.
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YTSubConverter creates styled YouTube subtitles with formatting such as bold, italics, and color.
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24 alternativesPopular in YouTube Tools
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VacuumTube FAQ
What exactly is VacuumTube?
It is not a custom client; it wraps YouTube Leanback, an official interface, to make it usable as a standalone desktop application.
How do I open VacuumTube settings?
Settings are located in YouTube settings and can also be opened with Ctrl+O on a keyboard or R3 on a controller.
Do macOS builds auto-update?
No. The project notes macOS builds are not yet signed, so they do not auto-update and should be checked periodically.
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