YouTube Videos Not Playing or Buffering? Fixes for Phone, Computer and TV

Does this match what you see?

• Videos keep pausing to buffer or stay on a loading circle.
• The picture is blurry or quality keeps dropping.
• Videos won’t start, or stop partway through.
• Video plays but there’s no sound.
• YouTube on your TV won’t play videos.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on YouTube Help pages read directly from support.google.com. Menu names vary by phone, browser and TV model.

Why this happens: the possible causes

The causes YouTube’s troubleshooting pages point to, in the order they suggest checking them.

• Your connection is too slow for the qualityCheck this first

  YouTube lists sustained speeds for each quality, and notes that several devices on the same network can reduce your speed.

• App or browser problemsCheck this first

  YouTube suggests closing and reopening, updating, and clearing the cache or cookies.

• Ad blockers or extensionsPossible

  YouTube says to check whether ad blockers or other extensions interfere, and to allow ads on YouTube.

• You’re signed outPossible

  YouTube says signed-out users may be blocked from some videos.

• A temporary YouTube problemPossible

  YouTube says it may show a minimal watch page during rare service interruptions.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Video plays but there’s no sound

If the video’s volume button is off or there’s no sound, YouTube says to:

1. Make sure sound or volume is turned on in your browser or on your device (and in the YouTube player).
2. Check your device’s sound settings.
3. Restart your browser or device.

Our tip: if you use Bluetooth headphones or a speaker, check the sound isn’t going to a device you’ve forgotten is connected.

“Video paused. Continue watching?”

This isn’t a fault. YouTube says it pauses to protect your watch history and save data when no one may be watching. It appears when Autoplay is on and you’ve watched without interacting for:

• 30 minutes on mobile
• 60 minutes on a computer
• 180 minutes on a TV

Select Yes to keep watching. YouTube’s page doesn’t describe a way to switch the prompt off. Our tip: interacting with the player now and then (pausing, skipping or adjusting volume) resets the timer.

“Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot”

Some people see this on every video, even while signed in, often on a laptop browser while YouTube works on their phone. YouTube’s Help Center doesn’t have an official article on this message. In a YouTube Help Community thread, a Platinum Product Expert (an experienced volunteer, not YouTube staff) suggested:

1. Turn off any VPN and reload the video.
2. Turn off browser extensions that could interfere with YouTube (test in a private window with extensions off).
3. Try a different browser.

Our tip: if it only happens on one network (for example work, school or public Wi-Fi), try mobile data or another connection. We don’t cover ways to get download tools or scripts past this check.

Autoplay not working, or won’t turn off

• Turn it on or off: on a phone, use the Autoplay switch at the top of the player, or profile picture > Settings > Autoplay. On a computer, the switch is at the bottom of the player. On a TV app, Settings > Autoplay. When casting, expand the queue on your phone and turn it off there.
• It’s a per-device setting: YouTube says it can be on in the app and off on your computer.
• It stops by itself: YouTube says Autoplay stops after 30 minutes of inactivity on mobile data, and after 4 hours on Wi-Fi. Scrolling past the player or typing a comment or search also stops it.
• Can’t change it? YouTube says Autoplay is off by default for ages 13 to 17 (they can turn it on), and on supervised accounts a parent may have turned it off. See YouTube parental controls.

YouTube not playing on your TV

• Speed: YouTube recommends at least 7 Mbps for HD on a TV. Test the speed near the TV, keep the device in range of your router, and reduce other devices on the network.
• Quality: open Settings in the player, select Quality, and choose a lower setting if available.
• Restart the app: press Home, reopen YouTube and replay.
• Sign out and back in: from your profile, sign out, then sign in again from Settings (you may need a code).
• Power cycle: unplug the TV or device, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
• Update: install system updates from the device’s settings and check its app store for YouTube updates.
• Other ways to watch: cast from another device with Chromecast, or connect a laptop by HDMI.

Primetime Channels on your TV: YouTube says in the YouTube app, select Settings (bottom right) > Broadcast Delay > Decrease (fewer live spoilers) or Default (fewer interruptions).

Seeing an error message instead?

YouTube lists errors such as “Playback error. Tap to retry.”, “Connection to server lost.”, “Something went wrong. Tap to retry.” and “Something went wrong. Refresh or try again later.” See what each one means in our guide to YouTube errors, including error 400.

On Android, YouTube also lists “An error occurred. Please try again later.”, “Sorry, there was an error licensing this video.”, “This video requires payment.”, “We are experiencing problems with our servers.” and “Something went wrong.” Its fix for all of them: update the YouTube app, close and reopen it, restart your phone, then replay the video.

“An error occurred. Please try again later. (Playback ID: …)” on a computer

In a Google Chrome Help Community thread, a user saw this on every video in Chrome for months. Resetting the modem, reinstalling Windows and reinstalling Chrome didn’t help. What other users report fixed it (user reports, not official advice):

• Turning off Chrome extensions that change how YouTube works: open chrome://extensions and disable them one at a time. One user named the “Improve YouTube!” extension as the cause.
• Trying another browser, such as Firefox, where the same video played.

Our tip: start with the extensions check in the browser fixes above before reinstalling anything.

Black screen when you tap a video (iPhone or iPad)

In a YouTube Help Community thread, someone got only a black screen on every video on their iPad, even after restarting, signing out and in, clearing the cache and reinstalling. A community member (a volunteer, not YouTube staff) suggested:

• Check your device’s iOS version: an iPad stuck on an older version may not play YouTube properly. Update iOS if you can (Settings > General > Software Update).
• Watch in Safari or Chrome at youtube.com instead of the app.
• Turn off any ad blocker.
• Make sure YouTube isn’t restricted on your Wi-Fi network (common on work or school networks).

Our tip: test on mobile data. If videos play there, the Wi-Fi network is the cause.

If you see “Error loading the page, please try again.”, YouTube says it may be showing a minimal page during a rare service interruption. Reload or try again later.

“This video isn’t available in your country”

YouTube says video owners can choose to make their content available only in certain countries or regions, often for licensing reasons, and YouTube may also block specific content to comply with local laws.

Our note: this is a decision about the video, not a fault on your device, and we don’t give ways around these blocks. YouTube’s other services treat VPNs and location misrepresentation as against their rules (see YouTube Premium travel rules).

Video won’t play on an old phone or legacy app

YouTube says monetizing creators can choose to make a video available only on monetized platforms: youtube.com, the YouTube app, YouTube apps on TVs (such as Xbox, Android TV, PlayStation, Chromecast and Apple TV) and m.youtube.com on most smartphones. Those videos may not play on legacy apps on feature phones and older TVs, or the YouTube app that came preinstalled on iOS 5 and below.

YouTube also says that if a video has a copyright claim (including on its music), the claimant’s distribution setting applies instead of the creator’s.

Our note: if a video plays on youtube.com or the current YouTube app but not on an old device, this is likely why. Watch it on a supported app instead.

Movie stuck, or purchases missing

• Movie stuck: YouTube says to skip forward a couple of scenes on the timeline. If that doesn’t work, close and reopen the app, check for updates, and replay.
• Purchases missing from your library: you may be signed in to a Brand Account. Tap your profile picture, then the arrow next to your name, then tap your personal channel in the list.

How to know it worked

• Several different videos play from start to finish with sound.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Not sure if the app is down for everyone? Run the Is it down or just me? tests.
2. Try YouTube on a different device and network. YouTube suggests testing a different supported device.
3. Send feedback right after the problem happens: profile picture > Help & feedback > Send feedback.

Frequently asked questions