YouTube is an on-the-go app for anything from entertainment to education to motivation. It is the largest media platform in the world, with billions of users and billions of videos on board; both numbers are growing exponentially.
If you are an avid YouTube user, you would know how it feels when YouTube suddenly stops working. It is certainly not a sight that many people would like to behold. Here are some possible ways to fix the issue.
Also Read- How to Fix WhatsApp Not Responding Error on Android
1.) Check if YouTube is Down
If you are facing trouble loading or streaming videos on YouTube, one of the possible reasons is that the servers are down or affected. You can check out DownDetector to find out if servers or outages are the reason YouTube is not working on your phone. If everything seems fine, somethingโs probably wrong on your end.
2.) Restart the Phone
This is the mother of all fixes, as it fixes most network or software-related problems. Since you are battling YouTube not working on Android issues, you can use this feature in your favor.
Power down your phone, idle it for a few minutes and restart it. It should take no more than a few minutes to verify whether YouTube has started working on your phone.
3.) Verify System Time
Setting an incorrect time or date can cause apps like YouTube and Google Maps to struggle. Check the time on your phone and match it with another clock to verify if it is right. If not, use the following method to fix it.
- Go to Settings on your phone.
- Proceed to System >> Date & Time.
- Toggle to enable to โUse network-provided timeโ and โUse network-provided time zoneโ.
- Check if the YouTube app is working now or not.
4.) Check Your Internet Connection
There are several reasons to check your internet connection. First, if you are using Wi-Fi, you could be too far from the modem/router, and reduced network strength can cause the app to not load videos right away.
There could be some issues with the ISP, so always verify them by loading other apps and websites. If the internet is working properly, it is likely the app and not your internet connection at fault.
If you are using mobile data, check the network strength and whether you have enough data to stream videos on YouTube. Your carrier may support loading a few websites, sending WhatsApp texts, and more even after overflowing the data quota available each day, but it may not support streaming videos on YouTube. Thus, check the data available.
5.) Use YouTube Web
If you are fed up with the YouTube app on your phone as it doesnโt work or hangs a lot, you can use YouTubeโs website. By logging in using the same account on Android, you are using the YouTube app on its website with no changes in recommendations and searches. You will lose some minor features, but thatโs pretty much it. You will at least be able to play videos on YouTube with ease.
6.) Clear YouTube App Cache
If the problem is localized to the YouTube app, as everything else is working properly, clear the app cache to fix the problem. Hereโs how you can do it.
- Firstly, open Settings on your Android device.
- Proceed to Apps > YouTube > Storage & Cache.
- Press the button that says โClear Cacheโ.
- Restart the YouTube app and check if this method worked or not.
- Backย to the Storage section, tapโClear Storageโ and verify again.
7.) Update the App
If you are using an outdated version of the YouTube app, you will probably encounter some issues, including YouTube not working on Android. A quick update can save the day. Hereโs how to do it.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for YouTube and if thereโs an โUpdateโ button, tap on it.
8.) Use YouTube Vanced
YouTube Vanced is a bricked version of YouTube that gets rid of all the ads and pop-ups. You wonโt see any ads no matter what and gain features like PiP mode, background play, and dark mode, to name a few.
However, it comes with a slight installation process as you must download YouTube Manager first, followed by MicroG and YouTube Vanced, to use the app fully.ย
9.) Reinstall Youtube App
If nothing seems to be working from there, try uninstalling and reinstalling the YouTube app. This will commence a new instance for the YouTube app, and you may be able to use the app without a hitch.
Closing Words
These are some of the troubleshooting methods you can use to fix the YouTube issue that is not working on Android. Hopefully, you will fix the issue on your device the right way.