YouTube videos not playing even though your internet is working fine? This common issue can show black screens, endless loading, or error messages while other apps work perfectly.
Here are 9 proven solutions to fix YouTube playback problems on Android, iPhone, and computers.
Quick Fixes (Start Here)
1. Check YouTube Server Status
- Visit downdetector.com/status/youtube
- Check Twitter for #YouTubeDown hashtag
- If servers are down → wait for Google to fix (usually 1-2 hours)
2. Restart YouTube App
- Close YouTube completely from recent apps
- Wait 15 seconds
- Open YouTube again
- Try playing different video
3. Switch Video Quality
- Tap video → Settings gear icon → Quality
- Change to lower quality (480p or 360p)
- If plays → internet speed issue
- Gradually increase quality to find optimal setting
App-Specific Solutions
4. Clear YouTube Cache and Data
Android:
- Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage
- Clear Cache first, test videos
- If still not working → Clear Data (will sign you out)
iPhone:
- Delete YouTube app
- Reinstall from App Store
- Sign back in
5. Update YouTube App
- Android: Play Store → YouTube → Update
- iPhone: App Store → YouTube → Update
- Restart phone after update
6. Disable Hardware Acceleration (Android)
- YouTube app → Profile → Settings → General
- Turn OFF “Enable stats for nerds” if enabled
- Or try YouTube Vanced (if available) with hardware acceleration disabled
Network and Connection Fixes
7. Switch Between WiFi and Mobile Data
- Turn OFF WiFi → test with mobile data
- Turn OFF mobile data → test with WiFi
- If one works → problem with specific connection
- Reset network settings for problematic connection
8. Change DNS Settings
Android WiFi:
- WiFi Settings → Advanced → IP Settings → Static
- DNS 1: 8.8.8.8
- DNS 2: 8.8.4.4
- Save and reconnect
iPhone WiFi:
- WiFi Settings → Configure DNS → Manual
- Add: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
9. Disable VPN/Proxy
- Turn OFF any VPN apps temporarily
- Disable proxy settings in WiFi advanced options
- Test YouTube without VPN
- Some VPNs block YouTube or cause slow loading
Browser-Specific Fixes (Desktop)
10. Clear Browser Cache
Chrome:
- Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Clear browsing data
- Select “All time” → Clear data
Firefox:
- Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Clear recent history
11. Disable Browser Extensions
- Turn OFF ad blockers temporarily
- Disable all extensions
- Test YouTube in incognito/private mode
- Re-enable extensions one by one to find culprit
12. Update Browser
- Chrome: Settings → About Chrome → Update
- Firefox: Help → About Firefox → Update
Advanced Solutions
13. Reset YouTube App Preferences
Android:
- Settings → Apps → YouTube → Advanced → Open by default
- Clear defaults
- Set YouTube as default for video links again
14. Check Date and Time Settings
- Incorrect date/time can cause YouTube errors
- Settings → Date & Time → Set automatically
- Restart device after fixing
15. Factory Reset Router
- Unplug router for 30 seconds
- Plug back in and wait for full startup
- Test YouTube after router restarts
- Contact ISP if still not working
Device-Specific Solutions
Android Phones:
- Disable battery optimization for YouTube
- Settings → Battery → App optimization → YouTube → Don’t optimize
iPhones:
- Enable background app refresh for YouTube
- Settings → General → Background App Refresh → YouTube ON
Smart TVs:
- Update YouTube app from TV app store
- Clear TV cache (varies by brand)
- Reset TV to factory settings if needed
Alternative Solutions
If YouTube Still Won’t Work:
- Use YouTube in web browser instead of app
- Try YouTube Music for audio content
- Use NewPipe (Android alternative)
- Download videos using YouTube Premium offline feature
Temporary Workarounds:
- Use mobile data if WiFi doesn’t work
- Watch at lower quality (360p/480p)
- Try different browser on computer
- Use YouTube TV app if available
Prevention Tips
Keep YouTube Working:
- Update app regularly
- Keep device storage above 1GB free
- Restart YouTube app weekly
- Use stable internet connection
- Don’t use modified YouTube apps
Optimize Playback:
- Set auto-quality based on connection
- Enable “Limit mobile data usage” in YouTube settings
- Download videos for offline viewing when on good WiFi
When to Contact Support
Contact YouTube Support if:
- Account-specific issues (videos work on other accounts)
- Persistent errors after trying all fixes
- Premium features not working
- Content restrictions seem incorrect
Most YouTube playback issues are temporary and resolve with app restart or cache clearing. Network problems and server issues are the most common causes.