How to Fix YouTube Video Not Playing (10 Quick Solutions)

You are excited to watch a YouTube Video but it won't load. The screen keeps buffering, the play button doesn't work or the video just shows a black screen.

Annoying, right? Many users face this problem daily.

Don't Worry, Whether you are using desktop, mobile, PC, tablet or Smart TV, the solutions are easy. The problem is caused by glitches, slow internet connection or outdated apps. In this post we will share 10 quick and easy ways to fix your youtube videos and after that they will start working again.

Why Would Not YouTube Videos Play?

Before we know the solutions, let's understand why Youtube videos stop working. Here are the most common reasons:

1- Slow or Unstable Internet Connection

YouTube needs a strong connection to play videos. If your WiFi or Mobile data is weak, video may buffer or not work at all.

2- Browser Issues

Cache files and extensions can cause sometimes some error, when you are watching YouTube on Chrome, Firefox or edge.

3- Outdated Youtube App

Of course, If you are using on old version YouTube app, then it can lead to compatability issues, causing videos to freeze or crash.

4- Youtube Server Problems

Sometimes Youtube server maybe down in your country or globally. And this is not a problem which is made by us.

5- Device Glitches

Your tablet, desktop or phones may have a temporary bug which prevents videos from playing properly. Fix it by quick restart.

Now, you know the reason, let's know the 10 quick fixes.

10 Quick Fixes to Get YouTube Working Again

1- Restart your Device

If YouTube is not working, then the first solution is to quick restart it. Whether its Phone, PC, Desktop or Smart TV, restart refreshes the device and clears background errors.

• How to do it:

• For Phones/ Tablets, Press and Hold the Power Button then tap on "Restart".

• For PCs: Click "Start" - "Power" - "Restart".

• For Smart TV's: Turn it Off for 30 sec and then on it again.

2- Check Your Internet Connection

If your Internet is slow or disconnected, then YouTube may not work properly.

• How to Check it:

• Open a website in your Device, if it is slow then your Internet is the problem.

• Use SpeedTest.net to check your speed.

• Try switching to Wi-Fi instead of Mobile Data (or vice-versa).

3- Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

If you are using Chrome, Firefox or Edge. Stored cache files can block youtube videos.

• How to clear cache:

• Open your browser and go to Settings - Privacy & Security - Clear Browsing Data.

• Select "Cached Images and Files" and "Cookies" then "Clear Data".

4- Update the Youtube App

If your Youtube app is outdated then your Videos may not load. Make it work again by updating it.

• How to Update it:

• On Play Store, Search Youtube and then Update it.

• On iPhone - go to App Store - Search Youtube - Tap on Update

5- Disable Browsers Extensions

VPNs and ad blocker can stop YouTube from working properly.

• How to disable extensions:

• In chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar.

• Disable any ad blocker, privacy blocker or VPN extensions.

6- Try Incognito Mode

Watching Youtube in Incognito Mode can bypass some issues.

• How to do it:

• Open Chrome - Click the three dots - Select new incognito window.

• Open Youtube and check if the youtube video plays.

7- Lower the Video Quality

If your Internet is slow, then YouTube may sruggle to load high quality videos. So, it is recommended to play the video in low quality.

• How to Lower Quality:

• Click the settings icon on the YouTube Video.

• Select Quality 240p, 360p or 480p

8- Check If YouTube is down

Sometimes it's not our fault but Youtube's server may crash globally.

• How to Check:

• Visit Downdetector to see if Youtube is down.

• If it's down then wait sometimes until YouTube fixes it.

9- Reinstall the Youtube App

If updating the app and other ideas didn't work, then uninstall the YouTube app from your device and then reinstall it.

• How to Reinstall:

• Android: Go to Setting - Apps - Youtube - Uninstall. Now install it from Play Store.

• iPhone: Press and Hold the Youtube App, tap remove app, then install it again from the App store.

10- Contact Youtube Support

If the above ideas didn't work, then get help from Youtube Support. They may help you and your videos can play instantly.

• How to Contact:

• Visit YouTube Help Center and search for your issue.

• You can also tweet @TeamYouTube on twitter for help.

Conclusion-

If YouTube videos are not playing then it may be frustrating, but most problems are easy to solve.

Slow Internet, browser platforms or outdated app are the main culprits.

Restarting your device, updating the app, clear the cache or changing video quality can solve the issue instantly.

If the problem continues, Check Youtube's server status or contact YouTube Support. We hope this guide helped you. If you still face issues, drop comment below, we'll try to solve.

Now, Enjoy your YouTube Video without any error.