Easy Ways To Fix YouTube Not Work­ing On Android!

Is YouTube not working on your Android phone? Well, it is a common issue that many users face. There could be several reasons why YouTube might not be working on your phone. In this post, let us talk about the common ways to fix this issue and also understand why it happens in the first place. So, let’s begin.

Also read: How to Update WhatsApp Without Play Store?

Check Your Android Version

Before troubleshooting, ensure your Android version supports the latest YouTube app. Older versions (e.g., Android 10 or below) may face compatibility issues.

1. Go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version.
2. Note your version (e.g., Android 13, 14, or 15).
3. If outdated, update your OS (see “Update Your Android” below) or try alternative YouTube access methods (see “Alternative Ways to Access YouTube”).

YouTube Not Working On Android- How Can You Fix It?

The first thing to identify is whether YouTube is down from its server end or if there is something on our device that is stopping YouTube from working. Use this Down Detector to identify whether YouTube is experiencing any server downtime or not. If the status is fine and it shows “No problems at YouTube”, then the issue is definitely with your smartphone.

People often search for reasons behind YouTube not working on Android when the app suddenly stops loading.

Follow the below-mentioned steps to identify and fix the issue:

1. Reboot Your Android Smartphone if YouTube not work­ing on Android

Many problems related to your smartphone are actually fixable with a simple restart or reboot function. Understanding these problems will solve your issue of YouTube not work­ing on Android. This will close all the running applications and functions in your background, possibly solving the issue you are experiencing while playing YouTube. This will solve the issue of YouTube not work­ing on Android. Also, rebooting your device does not take more than a couple of minutes. Here is the step-by-step process-

Step 1– Press and hold the power button from your left or right side (depending on the smartphone model)

Step 2– Here, you will notice three different options: Switch Off, Restart, and Emergency mode. Click on Restart or reboot. You can also select power off, but for that, you will have to manually turn on the phone.

Step 3– After a few minutes, your phone’s screen will be back again. But if you have chosen the power off option, wait for some seconds and press the power button to restart your phone.

Step 4– After the phone restarts, open the YouTube app and try to play any video, you were trying to play earlier. This should work now.

Also Read: How To Play YouTube Videos In Background On Android & iOS?

2. Clear Cache on Your Android if YouTube not work­ing on Android

If restarting your phone does not succeed in fixing YouTube Not Work­ing on Android, you can try to clear the cache. Deleting cache files will delete the temporary data saved on your phone, and this can solve the problem.

Firstly,

Disable Battery Optimization for YouTube

Android’s battery optimisation may restrict YouTube’s background activity, causing playback issues.

1. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimisation.
2. Find YouTube in the list and set it to Don’t Optimise.
3. Restart YouTube and check if it works.

Steps to clear cache:

• Go to Settings from the drop-down menu of your notification bar or open the Settings app directly
• Select “Apps & Notifications” or “Apps” section in settings (depending on the smartphone make) and go to Application Manager, or scroll down until you find YouTube
• Click on YouTube and tap on “Storage & Cache”
• Then tap on “Clear Data/Storage” and “Clear Cache”

The cache files and data should be cleared by now. Now, try opening the YouTube app and playing any video. This should work now.

Also Read: Easy Ways To Download YouTube Videos On Jio Phone

3. Update Your Android when YouTube not work­ing on Android

Although there is no connection between YouTube Not Work­ing on Android with your outdated Android software, it can still cause some errors. And if your problem is due to the outdated operating system, then you can easily minimise it by going for an update.

1– Open the Settings app on your Android

2– Find System updates, possibly under the About Phone option

3– Then Download and install the updates if available

Updating your phone will take some time, so sit tight. And when your smartphone is done with the process, go back to YouTube and open that music video again on the YouTube app.

Also Read: How To Upload Music To YouTube Music Library!

4. Check Your Internet Connection

Another main thing you can do to solve your YouTube not work­ing on Android issue is by fixing your internet connection. Whenever you find these kinds of errors, do check your internet connection first by opening the settings menu from your notification bar. Check if your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.

Sometimes, though, connecting to the network isn’t enough. Even if your device is showing “connected,” you can reach the server due to internal internet problems. Try to search for something on Google and check if it’s working or not.

In case you are using a router, checking the LED lights on the router might help reduce internet problems.

To play YouTube, you only need a stable internet connection with a decent speed.

Try Android’s “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth” feature to fix connectivity issues:

1. Go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
2. Reconnect to your network and test YouTube.

Also Read: 7 Best Smartphone YouTubers Every Gadget Lover Should Follow!

5. Check Your Phone’s Time and Date

Your phone’s date and time settings have various impacts on the apps you are using, including WhatsApp and YouTube. Google’s server can find problems syncing your phone to YouTube not work­ing on Android if your date and time is not properly set. You can easily fix this manually by following the steps we have given below.

1– Open the Settings app

2– Click on “Date & time” if you can’t find this option, you can search for this in the settings search bar.

3– Then turn on the “Automatic Date & Time” option.

In case it does not solve your particular problem of YouTube not work­ing on Android, we have other solutions waiting for you below.

Also Read: How To Block Youtube Ads With A Simple URL Trick

6. Update Your YouTube App

Though an outdated YouTube app is probably not the culprit here, you can still try to fix it by updating YouTube from your Google Play store. This will take only a couple of minutes. So, let’s try following the steps below.

1– Open the Google Play store on your Android phone

2– Click on My Apps & Games

3 – Click on the Update button next to the YouTube app result and see if you can update it or not

4– If it is available for an update, try to update it as soon as possible.

If your app is already up to date, you can uninstall and then reinstall YouTube. Check now if it is working.

Alternative Ways to Access YouTube

If the YouTube app still doesn’t work, try these alternatives:

• YouTube Website: Open youtube.com in Chrome or Firefox.
• Progressive Web App (PWA): In Chrome, visit YouTube’s website, tap the three-dot menu > Install App to add YouTube to your home screen.
• Third-Party Apps: Apps like YouTube Vanced offer ad-free playback but come with risks. Only download from trusted sources and be cautious of security issues.

We hope the above-mentioned steps have fixed your issue with YouTube not working. In case nothing works, you can try the YouTube website and check if you can access it.

7. Clear Google Play Service Cache

It is one of the most effective ways of fixing YouTube not working on YouTube. When you delete the Google Play Service cache, it helps you fix the YouTube loading time. So, clearing the cache helps you improve the performance of your YouTube and other apps installed on the device. To clear the cache on the Google Play Service, you need to follow the below steps.

Launch settings on the device.

Click on Apps and Notifications

Click on Google Play Services

Tap on Storage -> Clear Cache

8. Update your Google Chrome or Other Web Browser App

If you are using Google Chrome to access your YouTube app and the app is not working properly, the reason could be your Google Chrome might have some issues. Moreover, other web browser apps might have the same issue. You can resolve the issue by updating Google Chrome. Here is how you can do it.

• Open the Google Chrome.
• You will see the three dots in the top right corner; click on them.
• Here are a few options that you will see. Choose the Help option.
• Now click on Google Chrome -> Install
• Here, you will see many instructions. You need to follow them.

9. Factory Reset Your Phone (Last Resort)

If none of the above solutions work, you might need to perform a factory reset. This will erase all data on your phone, so make sure to back up your files first.

• Go to Settings: Open your phone’s Settings app.
• System > Reset Options: Tap on System > Reset Options.
• Erase All Data: Tap Erase All Data (Factory Reset) and follow the on-screen instructions.

Also read: 5 Best Offline Media Player Apps For Android To Play Both Video And Music Files

Why is YouTube Not Working on Android?

When YouTube not working on Android, it can be due to various reasons, including app glitches or network issues. Here are some common reasons:

1. Poor Internet Connection: YouTube requires a stable internet connection to stream videos. If your connection is weak or unstable, the app might not work properly.
2. Outdated App: Using an outdated version of the YouTube app can cause glitches and crashes.
3. Cache and Data Issues: Over time, the app’s cache and data can become corrupted, leading to performance issues.
4. Device Compatibility: Older Android devices might struggle to run the latest version of the YouTube app.
5. Software Glitches: Sometimes, a simple software glitch can cause the app to stop working.
6. Account Issues: Problems with your Google account or YouTube subscription can also affect the app’s functionality.

Preventing YouTube Issues in the Future

To avoid YouTube not working problems in the future, follow these tips:

1. Keep Your Apps Updated: You can try updating the YouTube app and your Android operating system. However, reports of YouTube not working on Android have become more frequent after recent updates.
2. Clear Cache Regularly: Clear the YouTube app’s cache every few weeks to prevent performance issues.
3. Use a Stable Internet Connection: Always use a strong and stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
4. Avoid Overloading Your Phone: Close unused apps and clear storage space to keep your phone running smoothly.
5. Manage Permissions: Ensure YouTube has necessary permissions (e.g., storage, network) in Settings > Apps > YouTube > Permissions.
6. Use VPNs Cautiously: VPNs can bypass geo-restrictions but may slow down YouTube. Choose a reputable provider.
7. Monitor Storage: Keep at least 1-2 GB of free storage to avoid performance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions: YouTube Not Work­ing On Android!

1. Why is my YouTube not working on my Android?

YouTube might not work because of a weak internet connection, an old app version, or a small glitch. Try restarting your phone, updating YouTube, or clearing the app’s cache to fix it.

2. Why is my YouTube not working today?

If YouTube suddenly stops working, it might be due to a server issue or a problem with your internet. Check websites like Downdetector or official announcements to see if YouTube is down. If not, restart your phone, clear the app’s cache, or reinstall the app.

3. How do I reset YouTube on my Android?

To reset YouTube, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube.

• Tap Storage & Cache, then tap Clear Cache.
• If YouTube still doesn’t work, tap Clear Data (this resets the app).
• Restart your phone and open YouTube again.

4. Is YouTube down right now in India?

To check if YouTube is down, visit Downdetector or check Twitter. If others are facing the same issue, it might be a temporary problem. If not, try fixing your internet or restarting your device.

5. How do I refresh YouTube?

To refresh YouTube, close the app completely and then open it again. Swipe down the home screen to reload the content. If that doesn’t work, restart your phone or clear the cache from settings.

6. How do I fix YouTube not opening?

Try opening YouTube on different browsers like Chrome, Opera, Firefox etc. Open the latest updated YouTube app only. Clear app and phone cache. Find more solutions in this article

7. How do I reset YouTube on Android?

You can reset YouTube by deleting all the YouTube searches in Chrome History. Select ‘Delete all time’. Also, clear Cookies and cache. Do a hard refresh. This way, the YouTube algorithm would be rese

8. Why is YouTube crashing on my phone?

It is possible that YouTube is not directly crashing your phone, but your phone is running on low storage. So, while playing heavy apps with videos like YouTube, the phone is crashing.

9. Why are videos not working on my Android phone?

Videos may not be playing on your phone due to software glitches. Restart the phone to fix this issue.

10. Why does YouTube keep crashing?

Crashes may occur due to low storage, corrupted cache, or battery optimisation. Clear cache, free up space, or disable optimisation

11. How do I fix YouTube Premium sync issues?

Sign out of YouTube, clear cache/data, sign back in, and ensure Google Play Services is updated.

12. Why won’t YouTube play in the background?

Background play requires YouTube Premium. If subscribed, check battery optimisation settings or reinstall the app.

13. Do ad blockers affect YouTube?

Yes, some ad blockers can disrupt playback. Disable them temporarily or whitelist YouTube.

14. Why suddenly YouTube stopped working?

YouTube not working on Android could be due to poor internet connection, outdated software or due to account issues.

Conclusion

That’s all from our end on the YouTube not working on Android phone. We hope with this post, you now know how to troubleshoot the issue. So, go ahead, fix the issue and enjoy uninterrupted services. Do you have any other hack that worked for you? Do share in the comments section below.

Also share this with your friends and family who are facing a similar issue. If you have more queries about YouTube not working on your device, drop them in the comments. I would love to sort it out for you.

Also read: How to Troubleshoot No Audio on Your Laptop?

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