Whenever you watch a video online, there’s a good chance you’re viewing it on Youtube. However, there are times that the video-sharing platform may encounter some serious issues.
If you want to know why Youtube is not working on your device and how to fix it, we got you covered. This article will discuss why Youtube videos won’t play on some occasions and the best solutions for each problem.
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Reasons Why Youtube Isn’t Working
There are plenty of reasons why Youtube may have stopped working correctly on your device. You might be experiencing an Internet connectivity issue, or your Youtube app might need an update. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might also be experiencing technical issues on their end.
Sometimes it’s because Youtube itself is down, but such an issue is quite rare. On December 14, 2020, Google suffered a global outage, which has affected Youtube and the tech company’s other services for about 45 minutes.
There are also cases that it’s your web browser or app that is at fault. These are the types of issues that we will focus on.
Fixing Youtube on PC Web Browser
The way your web browser is set up can cause Youtube not to work correctly. Here is some troubleshooting method you can do to address such issues:
Update Google Chrome or Preferred Browser
Your browser might have missed a significant update, which could have caused Youtube not to work correctly. To update your Google Chrome browser:
- Click the three vertical dots icon on your browser located at the upper right corner of the page.
- Next, select Help and then click About Google Chrome.
- If there is an update available, click Install.
If it says that Google Chrome is up to date and there is a checkmark on the left, your browser has the latest update.
Check Extensions
Chrome extensions are mostly useful, but some can also damage your browser. To check if an extension is a culprit, try playing a Youtube video in incognito mode. If it plays in incognito but not in the default mode, then it’s time to clean your extensions.
Here’s how:
- Click the three vertical dots icon.
- Next, select More Tools and then click Extensions.
- Then, delete or disable extensions you suspect could be the cause of the problem.
Remove any extension related to Flash player or Youtube and try to play the video again after relaunching your browser.
Clear Cache and Cookies
If you have disabled the extensions in your web browser and still couldn’t play a Youtube video, you can try clearing its cache and cookies.
The error could result from a storage issue of your cache, which keeps resource files such as flash files, video, and audio. Or you might have allowed a cookie that interferes with Youtube’s functions. Here’s what you should do:
- Click the three verticals dots icon.
- Next, click More Tools and then choose Clear Browsing Data.
- Select the All-time option before clicking Clear Data
Turn on Javascript
You’re unable to watch Youtube videos because the JavaScript in your browser is not turned on. These are the steps to fix this issue:
- Click the three vertical dots icon.
- Then, select Settings before selecting the Advanced option located at the bottom of the page.
- Next, click Privacy and Security and then click Siste Settings.
- Under the Content option, click the JavaScript and choose Allowed (recommended).
Fixing Youtube App on iOS and Android
Youtube might also be faulty when played on your smartphone because of an issue with the App. The problem can also be caused by poor Internet connectivity and other device-related problems.
Below are some steps you can do to fix these issues:
Restart Your Device
The oldest trick in the troubleshooting book, restarting your device, often solves minor issues. Some apps that cause Youtube errors might be running in the background, and restarting your device can shut them down. To restart your device:
- Press and hold your smartphone’s power button
- When the restart option appears on the screen, tap it.
- Please wait for it to reboot before trying to play a Youtube video completely.
Make Sure Your Connected to the Internet
Check if your Internet connection is working. Sometimes you might be connected to a Wi-Fi network that doesn’t have Internet connectivity. Or your cellular network might be down for the moment. To check your Internet connectivity:
- On your smartphone’s home menu, click on Settings.
- Next, check if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Drag or tap the button next to it if you are not connected.
- If you’re using your cellular data, tap on the Mobile Network option. Next, click or drag the button next to Data Enabled.
- Try playing a video on your Youtube app or in your web browser.
If you can perform Internet-related tasks like searching on Google, but can’t play a Youtube video, then your connection is not at fault.
Properly Sync the Date and Time
Sometimes your device’s date and time settings aren’t appropriately synced with that of Google’s servers. The easiest way to fix this is to make sure your smartphone’s Automatic date and time option are always on. Here’s how you can activate it:
- On your smartphone’s home menu, tap on Settings, then System.
- Next, tap on the Date and Time section.
- Then, turn on the Automatic Date and Time option.
Update your Operating System
Your device might not have the latest version of its operating system, and it’s causing Youtube not to work correctly. To fix this, you should have your system update by following these steps:
- On your smartphone’s home screen, tap Settings.
- Next, tap on the System and then System Updates before tapping the About Phone option.
- Finally, tap on the Install Update or Download Update if it’s available. Some smartphone models have a Check Now button instead.
If this still doesn’t work, you can also clear the App’s data and cache. To do this, tap Settings > Apps > Youtube > Storage > Clear Data/ Clear Cache in that order.
You can also update the Youtube app by opening the Google Play Store or iPhone’s App Store. Next, tap on My apps and games before tapping the Update button next to the Youtube app.
Did Youtube Get Fixed?
If you have tried any of the solutions listed in this article, can you tell us which one’s worked for you? We hope that these suggestions have solved your problem, and you can now play Youtube videos on your device.