If you’re experiencing issues with YouTube, such as videos endlessly buffering or the app not loading, don’t worry. While it’s possible that YouTube is down for everyone, it’s more likely that the problem is on your end. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to get YouTube up and running again.
Step 1: Downdetector
Start by checking Downdetector, a website that crowdsources user reports to identify issues and outages. This can help you see if YouTube is down for everyone or just you. The site provides a map that shows where the reports are coming from, so you can see if the issue is localized to a particular region.
If Downdetector confirms that YouTube is down, the best thing to do is wait for the platform to come back online. YouTube’s team is usually quick to address and resolve any issues. You can also check YouTube’s official Twitter account for updates on any outages or problems.
If Downdetector shows no reports of issues with YouTube, the problem is likely on your end.
Step 2: How to Fix YouTube
2.1 Fix Youtube on the Desktop
If you’re using YouTube on a desktop browser, follow these steps to try to fix YouTube.
2.1.1 Is your browser up-to-date?
Keeping your browser up-to-date is essential for optimal YouTube performance. If you’re experiencing issues with YouTube, such as slow loading times or playback problems, updating your browser can often help. Here’s how to update your browser for the most popular browsers:
For Google Chrome users, start by pasting
chrome://settings/help into the URL bar and press Enter. This will check if your browser is up-to-date and prompt you to download the latest version if it’s not. Once the latest build downloads, simply click “Relaunch” to install the update.
For Firefox users, click on the hamburger menu in the top-right corner of the browser and select “Help” from the drop-down menu. Then, click “About Firefox” to check for updates. If an update is available, click “Restart to update Firefox” to install it.
For Safari users, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “App Store.” From there, click the “Updates” tab and check for any available updates for Safari. If an update is available, click “Update” to install it.
By keeping your browser up-to-date, you can ensure that you have the latest features and security updates, which can help with YouTube’s performance. So make sure to check for updates regularly to enjoy the best possible YouTube experience.
2.1.2 Clear the Cookies and Cache
Clearing your browser’s cookies and cache can help improve your YouTube experience by removing old data and temporary files that may be slowing down your browser. Here’s how to clear cookies and cache for the Chrome browser:
First, paste
chrome://settings/clearBrowserDatainto the URL bar and press Enter. This will open the Clear browsing data window. From there, select “All time” from the Time range dropdown to clear out all stored data.
Next, check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.” These are the two types of data that can affect YouTube performance the most. You may also want to consider checking other boxes such as “Browsing history” or “Download history” if you’re experiencing other issues with your browser.
Once you’ve selected the data you want to clear, click “Clear data” to remove it from your browser. This may take a few seconds or minutes depending on the amount of data you’re clearing.
By clearing your cookies and cache regularly, you can help improve your browser’s performance and make your YouTube experience smoother. So don’t hesitate to try this simple fix if you’re experiencing issues with the platform.
2.1.3 Disable Browser Extensions
Browser extensions can sometimes cause compatibility issues with YouTube, leading to slow loading times, playback problems, or other issues. If you suspect that an extension is causing problems with YouTube, disabling it can often help. Here’s how to disable extensions for the Chrome browser:
First, paste
chrome://extensions/into the URL bar and press Enter. This will open the Extensions page, where you can see all the extensions installed on your browser.
For each extension, toggle the slider to the left to disable it. After disabling each extension, try using YouTube again to see if the issue is resolved. If it is, keep the extension disabled and contact the developer to see if they can patch the issue.
If disabling the extensions doesn’t solve the problem, you can try disabling all of them at once by toggling the “Developer mode” switch in the top-right corner of the page and then selecting “Disable all.” This will disable all extensions at once, and you can then enable them one by one to see if any of them are causing issues with YouTube.
By disabling extensions that are causing problems with YouTube, you can help ensure a smoother browsing experience and better performance on the platform. So don’t hesitate to try this simple fix if you’re experiencing issues with YouTube.
2.1.4 Update Video Drivers
Outdated video drivers can cause issues playing videos on YouTube, such as slow loading times or playback problems. If you’re experiencing these issues, updating your video drivers can often help. Here’s how to update video drivers for Windows 10 or 11:
First, visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer, which is likely AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel. Download the latest drivers for your graphics card from their website.
Next, press the Windows key + X and click “Device Manager.” Double-click “Display adapters” to expand the section. Right-click your graphics card and select “Update driver.” Then, click “Search automatically for drivers” and follow the wizard through to install the latest driver.
For macOS users, simply ensure you’re using the latest operating system version. To do this, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.” Then, click “Software Update” to check for any available updates and install them if necessary.
By updating your video drivers, you can help ensure that your computer is optimized for YouTube performance. So make sure to check for updates regularly to enjoy the best possible YouTube experience.
2.1.5 Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection
Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and resolve internet connection problems. To access it, press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Then, follow these steps:
| Windows 10 users | "Update & Security" > "Troubleshoot" > "Additional troubleshooters" > "Internet Connections" > "Run the troubleshooter." |
| Windows 11 users | "System" > "Troubleshoot" > "Other troubleshooters" > "Internet Connections" > "Run." |
The troubleshooter will automatically detect and fix any issues with your internet connection. If it finds and resolves any problems, try accessing YouTube again to see if the issue has been resolved.
If the troubleshooter doesn’t find any issues or if the issue persists after running it, you can try resetting your modem or router. Unplug the device from the power source, wait a few seconds, and then plug it back in. This can often help resolve connectivity issues.
By troubleshooting your internet connection, you can help ensure that your connection is stable enough to stream YouTube videos without any problems. So don’t hesitate to try these simple fixes if you’re experiencing issues with the platform.
2.2 Fix Youtube on Your Phone
2.2.1 Update the Operating System
| Android users | open the Settings app and look for “Software update” or “System update.” It may be located in an “About phone” or “About device” section. If there’s a new version available, download and install it. |
| iOS users | Settings > General > Software update |
If there’s an update available, download and install it. This will ensure that your device is running the latest version of iOS, which can also help with YouTube performance.
2.2.2 Update the YouTube App
Keeping the YouTube app up-to-date is important for optimal performance, as new updates often include bug fixes and new features. Here’s how to update the YouTube app on Android and iOS devices:
| Android users | open the Play Store app and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner. Then, select “Manage apps and device” from the dropdown menu. Next, tap “Updates pending” to see if there are any updates available for your installed apps. If YouTube is on the list, tap “Update” next to it to download and install the latest version. |
| iOS users | open the App Store app and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Scroll down and look for “Available Updates.” If there’s an update available for YouTube, tap “Update” next to it to download and install the latest version. |
2.2.3 Clear the YouTube App Cache and Data
| Android users | Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage. Tap “Clear cache” and see if it fixes the problem. If not, return to the same screen and tap “Clear data.” This will remove all of the app’s data, including your login information and preferences. You’ll need to sign in again after clearing data. |
| iOS users | Go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage. Tap “Clear cache” and see if it fixes the problem. If not, return to the same screen and tap “Clear data.” This will remove all of the app’s data, including your login information and preferences. You’ll need to sign in again after clearing the data. |
2.2.4. Sync the Date and Time
| Android users | Go to Settings > General management > Date and time. Slide “Automatic date and time” to On. This will allow your device to automatically synchronize its date and time with the network, ensuring that it’s always correct. |
| iOS users | Go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Slide “Set Automatically” to On. This will allow your device to automatically set the date and time based on the network, ensuring that it’s always correct. |
2.2.5. Reset Your Internet Connection
| Android users | Go to Settings > Connections. For iOS users, open Control Center. First, turn on Flight mode and then turn it off again. This can often refresh your network settings and solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, try switching your connection method to Wi-Fi or your cellular network (whichever one you aren’t currently using.) If this doesn’t work, disable Bluetooth. If you’re still experiencing issues, you can try resetting your network connection entirely. On Android, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings. This will reset all of your network settings to their default values, so you’ll need to set them up again. |
| iOS users | Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will also reset your network settings to their default values, so you’ll need to set them up again. |
