Why Is YouTube Not Working? Here Is How to Fix It 2023: 15 Different Methods

Last Updated on: January 9, 2023 by | Fact Checked

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In this post, you are going to know Why Is Youtube Not Working & how to fix this problem.

With a huge audience and devices supported by YouTube, it is the largest video-sharing platform in the world. Although it is immensely popular, users still encounter issues from time to time.

YouTube needs to fix a lot of issues, such as black screens, constant buffering, and playback errors. Despite this, there is no need to be concerned if YouTube doesn’t work on your device.

Why Is YouTube Not Working

To fix many of its nagging issues, I have come up with 15 different fixes in this article. Let’s get started.

Why Is Youtube Not Working?: 15 Methods to Fix

Here I have discussed 15 ways to deal with a variety of YouTube issues. You can easily resolve them on your own by following the steps presented below.

On top of that, I have also provided step-by-step explanations of the problems and how to fix them. Here’s to finding the right solution for you, without further ado.

1. Check if YouTube is Down

Check your region’s YouTube status before searching for solutions.

As a result of high-volume network congestion, YouTube and many other online platforms have been experiencing outages recently. As a result, if YouTube doesn’t work all of a sudden, then it’s probably down for everyone.

2. Clear Cache, Cookies, and Data

Clogged app data or expired cookies can sometimes prevent YouTube from operating properly. These issues can be resolved by clearing cache data and cookies. Click here to learn how.

  1.  You can paste chrome://settings/clearBrowserData into the Chrome URL bar and hit enter to clear browser data on your desktop. Then change the Time Range to “All time” after selecting cache and cookies. Click “Clear data” to complete the process.
  2.  Open the YouTube app by tapping and holding it and selecting “App Info”. Select Storage from the menu, and then delete both the cache and data.
  3.  iOS users cannot manually clear the cache, but they can remove the app and re-install it again to start over.

3. Inspect Extensions

Some Chrome extensions may be blocking YouTube on your computer if it isn’t working. Follow these steps to determine if you need to update your extensions.

  1. If you open Chrome and press the shortcut key “Ctrl + Shift + N” (Cmd+Shift+N for Mac), an incognito window will be opened. Open YouTube and check if it works. If it does, then some dubious extensions are definitely causing issues.
  2. In the URL bar, paste chrome://extensions/ and hit enter to remove such extensions. Here, uninstall all the extensions you are not familiar with. You should also disable all the extensions you can to identify the culprit.

4. Update Chrome and YouTube App

Your older version of Google Chrome or YouTube app may not be fully compatible with the new build. You can usually solve most of the issues by updating the app.

  1. On the desktop, open Chrome and type chrome://settings/help into the address bar. Make sure the latest update is installed immediately.
  2. Install the YouTube app from your respective app store on your Android or iOS device. Hopefully, this will resolve your issue.

5. Check Site Settings

  1. Make sure Javascript is enabled by typing chrome://settings/content/javascript into the Chrome URL bar. In order for YouTube to work, Javascript should be enabled on a desktop computer.
  2. You can enable the sound settings by entering chrome://settings/content/sound in the address bar. YouTube will now play audio.

6. Check Proxy Settings

In some cases, even after removing shady extensions, some modifications remain unless they are reversed manually.

The proxy setting is one of those that extensions modify, resulting in websites not being accessible. To restore them, follow these steps.

  1. Paste chrome://settings/system in the address bar and hit enter. On the proxy settings page, click “Disable.”. Open YouTube and see if it works.

7. Update Graphics Driver

It is very likely that your outdated graphics driver is causing the black screen or green screen while you’re playing YouTube videos. Follow this guide for help.

  1. Windows PC users can open a small Run window by pressing the “Windows” and “R” keys at the same time. Hit the Enter key and type devmgmt.msc.
  2. You will see the Device Manager window. You can expand “Display Adapters” by double-clicking it. You can update your drivers here by right-clicking on each submenu.
  3. Finally, click “Search automatically… ” and the latest graphics driver will be downloaded from the Internet automatically. Be sure to keep your PC online. Restart your computer after this, and YouTube should work this time.

8. Control Hardware Acceleration

For playing YouTube at its best quality, hardware acceleration is a great feature. Disabling your machine, however, will be a better choice if your machine is old.

YouTube can be played smoothly without stuttering or throttling. It is recommended that you enable hardware acceleration if you have a powerful computer. Chrome’s dedicated settings can be found by going to chrome://settings/system.

9. Update Date, Time, and Region

Sometimes YouTube doesn’t work and shows the loading sign because the timezone, date, or region is set incorrectly on the device. Simply sync the time to the correct values and you will be able to access YouTube again.

You will find time-related settings on the Settings page of your device. Restart your device after making the changes, and YouTube should work without issue this time.

10. Uninstall Unknown Apps

The proper functioning of YouTube can also be interfered with by rogue apps, such as Chrome extensions. Removing unknown apps is the best way to resolve this issue.

  1. By pressing the Windows key and the R key simultaneously on a Windows PC, open the Run window. Type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter.
  2. Then, uninstall any apps that you don’t use frequently.
  3. Chrome also allows you to find harmful applications. Then click on the “Find” button after adding chrome://settings/cleanup to the address bar. Uninstalling the apps is then possible.

11. Restore DNS

A domain name server is a directory of domain names and their IP addresses for the internet, similar to a phone book.

In some cases, the DNS is altered on PCs, resulting in the website not functioning. Changes at the system level can make YouTube and the Internet inaccessible. Here are the steps for re-establishing the DNS on a Windows PC.

  1. Once again, enter “cmd” in the Run window.
  2. You need to type ipconfig /flushdns here. Your DNS settings will be restored to the defaults.

You can paste the following command into the Terminal window by going to Applications * Utilities * Terminal on macOS. After entering your Mac login password, the DNS cache will be successfully flushed.

12. Reset Network Settings

You can enable the airplane mode on your Android or iOS device if YouTube is not working.

Turn off the airplane mode after a few minutes and check that YouTube is still working. You may have to reset your network settings altogether if this is the case.

  1. You can perform this action on Android by going to Settings -> Reset Options -> Reset WiFi, Mobile, and Bluetooth. Tap the “Reset Settings” button when you’re done.
  2. You can do this on iOS by going to Settings -> General -> Reset and selecting “Reset Network Settings”. Check if YouTube is working now by restarting your phone.

13. Update Operating System

The majority of issues on devices can be resolved with OS updates, although it might seem unlikely. Manufacturers of mobile devices routinely release cumulative updates aimed at fixing various types of bugs.

Additionally, fresh installations and security patches are installed during the process.  You should update your smartphone or PC right now if there is a pending update. Your YouTube issues may be resolved.

14. Use a VPN

It is extremely likely that YouTube has been blocked at your school or college if it is not working. By tunneling the network to a different country, a VPN can help you access YouTube in such cases.

Use a VPN - Why Is Youtube Not Working 

VPN can also help you evade geographical restrictions if YouTube is blocked in your country. Browse our list of free VPNs for YouTube.

15. Make sure you have Internet Access

The problem may lie with your ISP if none of the methods worked. In addition to providing access to the internet, ISPs can also block access to certain websites.

WIFI

For YouTube, you should contact your ISP to request that the restriction be lifted.

Quick links:

Conclusion: Why Is Youtube Not Working 2023?

I have now covered how to resolve YouTube issues if YouTube is not working properly. The range of topics includes issues from basic to advanced to help you find a solution.

I have mentioned various ways to fix YouTube issues, whether it keeps buffering or appears black. This concludes our discussion. Please let me know if I was able to help you by commenting below

Andy Thompson

Andy Thompson has been a freelance writer for a long while. She is a senior SEO and content marketing analyst at Digiexe, a digital marketing agency specializing in content and data-driven SEO. She has more than seven years of experience in digital marketing & affiliate marketing too. She likes sharing her knowledge in a wide range of domains ranging from ecommerce, startups, social media marketing, making money online, affiliate marketing to human capital management, and much more. She has been writing for several authoritative SEO, Make Money Online & digital marketing blogs like: ImageStation, & Newsmartwave

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