ABDULHAMEED IDRIS ADEDAMOLA

July 01, 2026

How to Update a YouTube Channel Link in an Existing Android App Using Kotlin

Author: Engineer Abdulhameed Idris Adedamola

Introduction

One of the most common maintenance tasks in Android application development is updating external links after deployment. Businesses frequently change their official websites, YouTube channels, or social media accounts, and mobile applications must also be updated to reflect those changes.

In this tutorial, we will update the YouTube channel link inside an existing Android application built with Kotlin without rebuilding the entire application.

Scenario:
The client migrated to a new YouTube channel and requested that the application open the new channel whenever users tap the YouTube icon.

Step 1: Open the Android Project

Launch Android Studio and open the existing project. Allow Gradle to finish syncing before making any modifications.

Step 2: Locate the Home Activity

Initially, it was assumed that the YouTube link might be stored inside the Home Activity. The Home Activity looked similar to this:


findViewById<View>(R.id.btnAbout).setOnClickListener {
    startActivity(Intent(this, AboutActivity::class.java))
}

This tells us that clicking the About button simply opens another Activity. Therefore, the YouTube URL is not stored inside HomeActivity.

Step 3: Open AboutActivity.kt

Inside AboutActivity.kt, the following code was found:


youtube.setOnClickListener {
    openLink("https://www.youtube.com/@olurotimiawofisan7941")
}

Whenever users tap the YouTube icon, the application calls the openLink() function.

Step 4: Replace the Old URL

Before


youtube.setOnClickListener {
    openLink("https://www.youtube.com/@olurotimiawofisan7941")
}

After


youtube.setOnClickListener {
    openLink("https://www.youtube.com/@hierarchymediaentertainmentTV")
}

Only one line of code needed to be changed.

Step 5: Understanding openLink()

The application uses a helper function:


private fun openLink(url: String) {
    val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(url))
    startActivity(intent)
}

This function:

Receives a URL.
Creates an Android Intent.
Launches the YouTube app or browser.

The same function can also be reused for Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), websites, and many other external links.

Step 6: Save the Project

Save the project after making the modification. Android Studio automatically detects the change.

Step 7: Wait for Gradle Synchronization

If Android Studio displays "Gradle project sync in progress...", wait until the synchronization completes before building the application.

Step 8: Build the APK

Navigate to:


Build
    ↓
Build APK(s)


Build
    ↓
Generate App Bundle(s) / APK(s)

depending on your Android Studio version.

Step 9: Test the Application

Install the generated APK.

Open the application and navigate to:


About Us
      ↓
YouTube Icon

Verify that the new YouTube channel opens correctly.

Lessons Learned

Always back up your Android project before making changes.
Understand how Activities interact before editing code.
Locate the correct Activity instead of guessing.
Keep reusable helper functions like openLink().
Always rebuild and test after every update.
Small maintenance tasks can significantly improve user experience.

Conclusion

This exercise demonstrates that maintaining an Android application is often much simpler than rebuilding it. By understanding the application's structure, we successfully located the correct Activity, updated the YouTube URL, rebuilt the application, and verified the changes.

Software development does not end after deployment. Continuous maintenance keeps applications accurate, functional, and valuable to users.

Search This Blog