Why are YouTube Videos Not Playing and How to Fix It?

| Updated on March 1, 2024 |
Fact checked by Manpreet Kaur Sandhu

Earlier we used to mostly depend on televisions for entertainment, but now there is YouTube, the complete package. As per Statista, 500 hours of content are uploaded every minute on YouTube, which includes songs, sports matches, full-length movies, news, and whatnot.

YouTube videos not playing

But how would you feel when you want to watch your favorite sitcom just to find that YouTube video loads but won’t play? 

No Worries, this guide will help you find out why are YouTube videos not playing and how to fix this issue.

Why are the YouTube Videos Not Playing?

You might have noticed that YouTube keeps crashing while using Several factors may lead to errors in playing YouTube videos, such as:

  • Poor Internet

    You know this, right? Slow internet will never let you play YouTube videos, especially high-quality ones. One way out is you can lower the quality of the videos or switch to a different internet connection. If connected to a wireless network, unplug your router and then plug it back in. 

  • Browser Issues

    Sometimes browsers can also cause YouTube videos to keep pausing. Try refreshing the page or if that doesn’t help, clear all the caches and history and check if the video starts playing. Another fix you can try is to update your browser to its latest version.

  • Device Issue

    This can also happen when the device you are using to play YouTube videos is going through some issues. A simple restart may make everything work fine again. If not, then try updating the required software.

  • App Problem

    If you are using the YouTube app and videos are not loading or playing, close the app and restart it after clearing the memory of your device. 

How to Fix YouTube App Won’t Play Videos?

You might have faced a “Something went wrong” error on YouTube, due to some technical fault. Sometimes a simple refresh or restart fixes the issues, but if the problem is something big, deeper troubleshooting has to be performed. 

Here are the solutions that may help if YouTube not playing videos:

Restart the Device

Most of the technical issues like YouTube videos not playing get resolved by a simple restart. The reason is, that this closes the app running in the background and provides more space for the videos to play smoothly. This may even work when YouTube is not working. After the device is restarted, open the YouTube app and check if the videos play or not.

Check the Internet

Connectivity issue is another reason you are not able to enjoy online videos on YouTube. So, keep a check on your internet connection when it goes down. Maybe the Wi-Fi got disconnected, the cellular network is not giving adequate strength or the internet is available but still, videos are not loading. 

So, firstly, check if you can use the internet by searching for something on Google. If you can do so, there is no issue with the internet. And, if you aren’t able to access the internet, there can be problems with the router. Restart the devices or switch to a different network, if possible. With a good internet connection, you can not only play but download YT videos without any software.

Clear the Caches and History

Next, you can try to clear the app cache and the entire data. Deleting the cache will remove the temporary data, and clear all the app data as well as the settings.

To do this, follow the given steps:

  • Go to the Settings of your device.
  • Open the Apps section.
    Open the Apps section
  • Open the YouTube app.
    Open the YouTube App 
  •  Next, tap on Storage usage.
    Tap on Storage usage 
  • Tap Clear Cache and check if it helps.
    Tap on Clear cache 

If you are facing, YouTube videos not playing on Chrome browser. Follow the below-mentioned steps to clear the cache on Chrome.

Go to: Open Google Chrome>> Menu icon (three vertical dots)>> History>> Clear browsing data>> Advanced>> Time range>> All time>> Clear data

Apart from this, if you want to clear the cache for the YouTube app using an iPhone, consider deleting the app, and reinstalling it again for smooth working. 

Update The OS

If YouTube is not working on Android, it can mean that the software of your device is not updated. You can get the update installed and then try to play a video. 

To do so:

Go to: Settings>> System Updates>> Update>> Install and download.

And if YouTube videos are not playing on the iPhone, consider updating the software.

To do so:

Go to: Settings>> General>> Software Update>> Update>> Install

Let the update get installed properly and reboot your device. Go to YouTube and check if the error got fixed.

Check System’s Settings

Yes, this can happen too if YouTube videos not working. The incorrect date and time settings can also lead to YouTube-related issues such as downloading private videos. Google servers may face problems in synchronizing if the settings are incorrect.

To Update:  

Go to: Settings>> Date and Time>> Toggle on Automatic Date and Time

Reinstall Adobe Flash Player

Most Windows users have benefited from uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe Flash Player. Also, if you haven’t installed Adobe Flash Player yet, you will not be able to play any private YouTube videos.

Restore Connection Settings

If the YouTube videos not playing problem is due to an internet connection, you can try resetting the connection settings as follows:

  • In the search bar of your desktop, type Internet Options; select the top result.
    Click on Internet Options
  • Click on the Advanced tab, select Restore Advanced settings, and then click on Apply.
    Click on Apply

What If YouTube Videos Still Not Playing?

If YouTube videos loading but not playing, and you have tried all the above solutions, it means the problem is not at your end and there can be an issue with YouTube itself.

  • To know if YouTube is going through an issue, you must try using a different device that is connected to a network. For instance, if you were playing videos on a computer through Wi-Fi, now you can try playing videos on your phone through your mobile network connection.
  • The next thing you can try is to check the server status of YouTube to ensure that it is working properly. For that, you can visit any of the websites like Downdetector. This site can tell you a lot about the current functionality of a particular website, you just need to search for the website. If the website shows that YouTube is having issues in your area, you just need to wait till they fix it.

So, if the next time, YouTube will not load videos, you know what to do, right?

Conclusion

YouTube’s videos won’t play on phones can be resolved with the help of the above-mentioned solutions in no matter of time. No matter whether you are using a phone or a PC, these troubleshooting steps will work effectively in both cases.

However, if nothing works, consider contacting YouTube customer support for better assistance. 

FAQ

How do I fix YouTube videos not playing?

To fix the video is not playing on YouTube by following some potential fixes like restarting the device, checking the internet, updating the app, and more. 

Why are YouTube Movies not Playing?

The reason for not playing YT movies on your device is your browser is not updated to the latest version. Also, try to clear the cache, set the video to lower quality, and restart your device.

Why are YouTube Videos not playing on my Tablet?

The prime reasons for YouTube not playing videos on your Tablet can be poor internet connection, cache storage, new updates, and system updates.

How do I clear my YouTube cache?

You can clear the cache when videos on YouTube are not playing, just follow simple instructions, Go to Settings>> Apps>> YouTube>> Storage usage>> Clear cache.

Sources


Janvi Panthri

Senior Writer, Editor


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