The YouTube app is so handy!
Thanks to it, you can watch YouTube anywhere, anytime.
All you have to do is take your phone with you.
Until, one day… bummer. The app suddenly doesn’t work.
And it frustrates you that you can’t watch your favorite Youtuber on your Android phone.
Luckily, your suffering will now be over.
Keep reading to discover:
- 15 quick ways to fix your YouTube app.
- An easy way to bypass the YouTube app when it’s broken.
- The reasons why YouTube doesn’t allow you to watch specific videos.
- What is Vanced, and how you can use it when your YouTube app isn’t working.
- And so much more…
Why is the YouTube app not working on my Android device?
The YouTube app isn’t working on your Android because of your network speed or corrupted cache. Outdated software and time settings can also cause this issue. Restricted mode and geo-blocking can prevent you from watching certain videos as well. Lastly, you can also check if YouTube is down.
YouTube app not working on Android: 15 fixes
#1: Check if YouTube is down
Sometimes, you’re not the problem…
But YouTube itself.
Although very rare, YouTube does go down from time to time.
Usually, it’s just short down times in a specific area but…
In October 2018, YouTube went down for an hour and 2 minutes for everyone worldwide. And it happened again in November 2020, this time for 3 hours and 53 minutes.
So, to know if there’s an outage right now, check YouTube’s Twitter page for updates.
Or you can also use 3rd party down detectors just to be extra sure.
You may also be interested in: YouTube App Not Working On Vizio TV
#2: Restart your phone
Wouldn’t it be nice to have 1 solution for every problem?
Oh, wait. There is…
And that’s to restart your device.
This process won’t solve all of your problems but…
It’s the first-aid solution for all of them.
Why?
See, your phone is like a traffic jam.
Only the cars are the tasks that your phone is supposed to do.
When a car gets into an accident, the entire highway stops.
And the traffic jam gets worse and worse.
You could do nothing except wait for authorities to arrive and tow the car.
The same goes for your phone. Only waiting isn’t the only option…
A restart will also reset all tasks and processes, allowing them to get going again.
#3: Check your network
YouTube is a video-streaming application.
That’s an obvious fact, I know. But what this means is…
It requires a lot of internet speed to run.
How much, you ask?
| Speed | Resolution |
| 0.7 Mbps | SD 360p |
| 1.1 Mbps | SD 480p |
| 2.5 Mbps | HD 720p |
| 5 Mbps | HD 1080p |
| 20 Mbps | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Now, you might ask:
“Wait, I do pay for internet speed like those.”
Sure. But here’s the ugly truth:
Sometimes, you don’t get the network speed that you pay for.
There are a lot of factors that can contribute to this.
For example, do you know that everyday objects in your home can block your Wi-Fi?
Which ones?
- Other Wi-Fi.
- Baby monitors.
- Walls and ceilings.
- Infrared (IR) devices.
- Water-filled containers.
And many more.
So, if you’re unsure how much speed your Android is actually getting…
Perform a speed test.
#4: Clear cache and data
Have you ever heard of cache?
If you don’t know what that is, let me tell you.
Cached data is how your app knows you.
“Wait, my app knows me?”
Do you ever notice how YouTube recommends videos based on your history?
That’s because of the cache.
It’s a great application of technology, but…
The cache stored on your phone can become corrupted.
And, when it does, it can stop your YouTube from functioning properly.
So, it’s better to clear your cache every once in a while. And this is how you can do it:
- Go to your Settings menu.
- Head to Applications or App Management.
- Select App List.
- Tap YouTube.
- Press Storage Usage.
- Clear Cache and Clear Data.
#5: Reinstall YouTube
When clearing cache and data won’t work…
Clear everything.
How?
By uninstalling and reinstalling your YouTube app.
Don’t know how to? Simply follow these 6 quick steps:
- Long press the YouTube app.
- Select App Info.
- Press Uninstall.
- Next, head to the Google Play Store.
- Go to YouTube.
- Tap Install.
It’s that easy.
#6: Update YouTube
The next thing you should do?
Check if YouTube has an update available for your phone.
Why?
Usually, developers use updates to fix viewing glitches or errors.
And you know what? It won’t take you more than a couple of seconds to:
- Go to Google Play Store.
- Type and enter YouTube in the search bar.
- Press Update.
- Restart the app.
#7: Update your phone
When you try to open YouTube, do you get this error:
“YouTube is no longer available because this device doesn’t meet the latest requirements.”
If so, you need to update your phone.
For what reason?
YouTube updates its security standards constantly.
To secure your data, sometimes YouTube stops its service on older Android versions.
When this happens to you, you need to:
- Go to your Settings menu.
- Head to About This Phone, or simply About.
- Select Check For Updates.
- Press Install.
Note: Some manufacturers can sometimes no longer update your phone. Especially if it’s an older model.
#8: Change your time settings
Weirdly enough…
Do you know that your time and date settings can affect YouTube?
It does. How so?
You see, Google (who owns YouTube) syncs with your device for security reasons.
When your Android phone isn’t reflecting Google’s time, glitches occur.
Not just on YouTube, but on every Google app like the Play Store, Gmail, Google Drive, etc.
To prevent this, always set your time to update automatically.
This is how you can do so:
- Go to your Settings menu.
- Head to System.
- Press Date & Time.
- Enable Automatic Time Zone and Automatic Date & Time.
If looking for a video to tell you how to do this exactly, look no further:
#9: Switch to WiFi
Does your YouTube work properly…
Except for downloading videos?
If so, you should switch to WiFi.
Why?
Because YouTube wants to preserve your mobile data.
So, by default, it stops all downloads when you’re using data instead of your Wi-Fi network.
Pretty nice of them, right?
But what if you do want to download using your data? What should you do then?
Easy. You just need to:
- Open your YouTube app.
- Press your Account photo.
- Head to Settings.
- Go to Background & Download.
- Disable Download Over WiFi Only.
And you’re done.
#10: Use a browser
If you can’t solve the problem…
How about we bypass it?
Don’t worry. You’ll still be watching YouTube on your Android phone.
Just not using the app.
Let me explain…
Sometimes, your app just won’t work and there’s nothing you can do about it. Most likely, it’s because YouTube for Android is down.
So, in the meantime, why not use another app on your phone?
Specifically, your browser app.
Simply enter “youtube.com” on its address bar, and you’re good to go.
#11: Get a VPN
I was binge-watching videos the other day on YouTube when, suddenly, I got hit with this message:
“The uploader has not made this video available in your country.”
Believe it or not, this isn’t uncommon.
But there’s a way to get past this error message.
And that’s to use a VPN.
VPN can mask your IP address and make you seem like you’re in a different country to YouTube.
My recommendations? Any of these:
Warning: It may seem enticing, but don’t use a free VPN. At all.
Free VPNs are notoriously known to spread malware and track your data.
Don’t believe me? Then believe CSIRO, or the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
In a recent study by them, they found that:
- 2 out of 3 free VPNs track your data.
- Around 60% of free VPNs have viruses and malware.
- More than 80% don’t encrypt your data even though they promised to.
#12: Disable Restricted Mode
Do you want to watch something more…
Adult?
But YouTube isn’t letting you?
The reason behind this might be that Restricted Mode is turned on.
This mode disables any video across the platform with an adult rating.
While it’s useful for your kids…
You should turn this off when it’s your turn to watch.
To do this, simply:
- Open your YouTube app.
- Press your Account photo.
- Scroll down and select Restricted Mode.
- Toggle off Activate Restricted Mode.
#13: Use a 3rd-party app
Don’t you just hate ads? Especially when you’re sucked into whatever you’re watching?
As it turns out, there’s a way to watch YouTube without ads.
And, hey, it can also let you access YouTube if you have problems with the app.
What’s this fix, you ask?
Download a 3rd-party YouTube app.
Which one?
YouTube Vanced.
This app was built by volunteers who, like you, felt the stock YouTube app could be better.
How much better?
Here’s a list of features that YouTube Vanced has:
- Adblocking.
- Swipe control.
- AMOLED dark mode.
- Play in background mode.
- Disable comments and live chat.
Now, I know you’re wondering:
“Pretty cool. So, what’s the catch?”
Unfortunately, Google forced YouTube Vanced to be discontinued.
However, that only means the developers are forced to stop updating the app.
In the meantime, you can still download and use Vanced. Get it here.
#14: See if your subscription has expired
Did you pay for YouTube Premium?
Don’t worry. I once did too.
Why?
Because the features they promised were far too enticing. These features were:
- Ad-free videos.
- Background play.
- Download YouTube videos.
- Access to YouTube Music and YouTube Originals.
Here’s the thing:
When was the last time you paid for your subscription?
If you don’t know the answer, that’s okay.
After all, YouTube payment is automatic.
However, if you want to be extra sure…
Check your subscription status with these instructions:
- Open your YouTube app.
- Press your Account photo.
- Head to Paid Memberships.
- Check to see if you’re still subscribed.
#15: Ask for assistance
Do you know the most valuable lesson I picked up in life?
“Be willing to ask.”
In this case, you can always ask for assistance from Google themselves.