Minitube 3.4, released in May 2020, is a free, open-source YouTube client that offers a unique, minimalist approach to video browsing and playback. Unlike using YouTube in a browser, Minitube delivers an ad-free, distraction-free, and TV-like viewing experience that appeals to users who prefer simplicity, performance, and focus.
This version represents one of the final updates in the 3.x series, just before the software transitioned to a commercial subscription model in the 4.x line. Minitube 3.4 brings thoughtful enhancements to keyboard control, interface polish, and playback behavior—all while preserving the core design philosophy: minimalism, no login required, and no ads.
🔧 What’s New in Minitube 3.4
While not a radical overhaul, version 3.4 introduced several quality-of-life improvements and fixes that made the experience smoother and more responsive:
🎯 New Keyboard Shortcuts
- Number keys (0–9): Jump directly to a specific video in the playlist. For example, pressing “1” starts the first video, “2” the second, and so on.
- Left/Right Arrow Keys: Skip 10 seconds backward or forward during playback, offering finer control without needing a mouse.
🧑🎨 UI and Visual Improvements
- Updated icons: The icon set was refreshed for a cleaner and more modern appearance, making the interface feel more polished.
- Improved window behavior: On macOS, previous versions sometimes had layout glitches when maximizing the window. This update resolves those visual inconsistencies.
🎬 Playback & Compatibility Enhancements
- Fixes were made to improve the reliability of video playback, especially for videos that previously failed to load.
- Updated language translations ensure more accurate and complete interfaces for non-English speakers, notably in Polish and Japanese.
🌟 Key Features of the Minitube 3.x Series
Minitube 3.4 builds on the mature feature set of the 3.x family:
📺 Ad-Free YouTube Viewing
- You can search and play videos continuously without ever seeing an ad, pop-up, or login prompt.
- Videos auto-play in a sequence, much like a traditional TV channel or playlist.
📌 Offline Support (in Pro version)
- Videos can be downloaded for offline viewing. While this is a paid feature in the Pro version, many Linux builds offer it compiled in by default.
🔍 Search & Filter Options
- Search by keyword, channel name, or topic.
- Filter results by relevance, date, view count, duration, or video quality (e.g., HD).
💡 User-Friendly UI
- Minimalist interface with no web browser required.
- Fullscreen mode with auto-hiding playback controls.
- A “Compact Mode” that keeps a small always-on-top player on your screen.
🗂️ Playlist Features
- Automatically generates playlists based on your search or channel.
- Manually reorder or edit the playlist as you go.
- Resume playback where you left off.
🌍 Multilingual
- Available in over 30 languages, with frequent community updates.
💾 Platform Support
Minitube 3.4 was designed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is built with the Qt5 toolkit, making it native and lightweight across all platforms. On Linux, it’s available through many official package repositories (like Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, Fedora) and can also be compiled from source.
🏁 End of the Free Era
Minitube 3.4 represents the last major free version before the developer transitioned to Minitube 4.0, which launched in 2024 with a new Qt6 codebase and a €9.99/year subscription model.
While 4.x introduces modern improvements like better video stream handling and Qt6 graphics, Minitube 3.4 remains an attractive option for those who:
- Prefer free, offline desktop software.
- Use older hardware or operating systems.
- Want a no-frills YouTube player without ads or tracking.
- Don’t need newer YouTube features or login-dependent recommendations.
📌 Summary: Why Use Minitube 3.4 in 2025?
| Feature | Status in 3.4 |
|---|---|
| Ad-free experience | ✅ Fully supported |
| No login required | ✅ No Google account needed |
| Low system resources | ✅ Excellent performance on older PCs |
| Offline playback | ✅ (via Pro or Linux build) |
| Playlist and TV-style autoplay | ✅ Built-in |
| Updates & support | ❌ No longer maintained |
🧠 Final Thoughts
Minitube 3.4 is a sleek, no-nonsense way to watch YouTube videos. It removes distractions, protects your privacy, and simplifies your screen. While it won’t receive updates, it’s still a relevant choice for users who value simplicity, control, and speed in a desktop video app.
If you’re looking for a modern YouTube client without the baggage of a browser, Minitube 3.4 may be exactly what you need—just be aware of its limitations as development has moved on.