diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index 810d4f652..00e7a8574 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -288,8 +288,8 @@ dependencies {
 
 /** Debugging **/
     // Memory leak detection
-    implementation "com.squareup.leakcanary:leakcanary-object-watcher-android:${leakCanaryVersion}"
-    implementation "com.squareup.leakcanary:plumber-android:${leakCanaryVersion}"
+    debugImplementation "com.squareup.leakcanary:leakcanary-object-watcher-android:${leakCanaryVersion}"
+    debugImplementation "com.squareup.leakcanary:plumber-android:${leakCanaryVersion}"
     debugImplementation "com.squareup.leakcanary:leakcanary-android-core:${leakCanaryVersion}"
     // Debug bridge for Android
     debugImplementation "com.facebook.stetho:stetho:${stethoVersion}"
diff --git a/app/src/debug/java/org/schabi/newpipe/DebugApp.kt b/app/src/debug/java/org/schabi/newpipe/DebugApp.kt
index e5b308821..70b9ec280 100644
--- a/app/src/debug/java/org/schabi/newpipe/DebugApp.kt
+++ b/app/src/debug/java/org/schabi/newpipe/DebugApp.kt
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package org.schabi.newpipe
 import androidx.preference.PreferenceManager
 import com.facebook.stetho.Stetho
 import com.facebook.stetho.okhttp3.StethoInterceptor
-import leakcanary.AppWatcher
 import leakcanary.LeakCanary
 import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
 import org.schabi.newpipe.extractor.downloader.Downloader
@@ -13,8 +12,6 @@ class DebugApp : App() {
         super.onCreate()
         initStetho()
 
-        // Give each object 10 seconds to be GC'ed, before LeakCanary gets nosy on it
-        AppWatcher.manualInstall(this, retainedDelayMillis = 10000)
         LeakCanary.config = LeakCanary.config.copy(
             dumpHeap = PreferenceManager
                 .getDefaultSharedPreferences(this).getBoolean(
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/BaseFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/BaseFragment.java
index e6478144b..19a99009b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/BaseFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/BaseFragment.java
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import androidx.fragment.app.FragmentManager;
 
 import icepick.Icepick;
 import icepick.State;
-import leakcanary.AppWatcher;
 
 public abstract class BaseFragment extends Fragment {
     protected final String TAG = getClass().getSimpleName() + "@" + Integer.toHexString(hashCode());
@@ -77,14 +76,6 @@ public abstract class BaseFragment extends Fragment {
     protected void onRestoreInstanceState(@NonNull final Bundle savedInstanceState) {
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public void onDestroy() {
-        super.onDestroy();
-
-        AppWatcher.INSTANCE.getObjectWatcher().expectWeaklyReachable(
-                this, "Watch for leaks from destroyed fragments.");
-    }
-
     /*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // Init
     //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/PlayerService.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/PlayerService.java
index d81301205..ad6c9405d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/PlayerService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/PlayerService.java
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import android.util.Log;
 import org.schabi.newpipe.player.mediasession.MediaSessionPlayerUi;
 import org.schabi.newpipe.util.ThemeHelper;
 
+import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
+
 
 /**
  * One service for all players.
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ public final class PlayerService extends Service {
 
     private Player player;
 
-    private final IBinder mBinder = new PlayerService.LocalBinder();
+    private final IBinder mBinder = new PlayerService.LocalBinder(this);
 
 
     /*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -134,14 +136,19 @@ public final class PlayerService extends Service {
         return mBinder;
     }
 
-    public class LocalBinder extends Binder {
+    public static class LocalBinder extends Binder {
+        private final WeakReference<PlayerService> playerService;
+
+        LocalBinder(final PlayerService playerService) {
+            this.playerService = new WeakReference<>(playerService);
+        }
 
         public PlayerService getService() {
-            return PlayerService.this;
+            return playerService.get();
         }
 
         public Player getPlayer() {
-            return PlayerService.this.player;
+            return playerService.get().player;
         }
     }
 }