While the main NewPipe app now requires newer Android versions, there is a dedicated Legacy fork for KitKat users. It allows for background play and video downloads.
If you search the internet for a "YouTube APK for Android 4.4.2," you will find many third-party websites promising a working download. You must approach these with caution. The Last Compatible Official Version
You need to find a version of YouTube released around 2017-2019, which was before Google forced the stricter API updates.
The official YouTube app requires a certain level of Android compatibility, and as the years passed, this compatibility threshold increased. Users with devices running on Android 4.4.2 found themselves unable to update or even install the latest version of the YouTube app from the Google Play Store. This limitation led to a search for alternative methods to access YouTube on their devices.
The official app is essentially dead for KitKat users. 2. Best Working Alternatives (Third-Party Clients)
For Android 4.4.2 users, the best solution is often not the official app, but an open-source alternative called .
Some advanced users try to bypass this by rooting their device and editing the build.prop file or using an app data editor to trick the app into thinking it is a newer version (e.g., changing the version string to a modern release). While this trick worked for a long time, server-side changes have rendered it mostly obsolete or highly unstable. The Best Working Alternatives for Android 4.4.2