- Match the message to the fix when YouTube videos won't play
- Fixing the YouTube Something went wrong message
- The YouTube Error loading the page message
- Checking your internet speed when YouTube videos stop playing
- When a YouTube video gets stuck partway through
- YouTube age restrictions and Restricted Mode
- YouTube videos that play but have no sound
- Restarting and updating when YouTube videos won't play
- Reporting a YouTube video that still won't play
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube videos are not playing, refresh the page, sign in, update your browser or app, turn off ad blockers and clear the cache and cookies. YouTube's help also says to check your connection and DNS settings, then restart the device. The message on screen tells you which step to try first.
A video that won't start can look like a dozen different problems: a black box, a grey spinning circle, a message about something going wrong, or a video that plays with no picture. The fix depends on which one you're seeing, so I've organised this page by what's on your screen rather than by device.
If you watch tutorials for work, or you check your own uploads after publishing, it's worth knowing which message points to which fix. Everything here follows YouTube's help centre, and I've said where its help is short on detail.
Match the message to the fix when YouTube videos won't play
| What you see | What YouTube's help says to try |
|---|---|
| Something went wrong. Refresh or try again later. | Refresh, sign in, update the browser or app, allow ads, clear cache and cookies, check DNS, restart |
| Error loading the page, please try again. | Select Reload or refresh the browser, then try later |
| Video plays but there's no sound | Check volume, device sound settings, restart |
| Video keeps stopping partway | Check speed, lower the quality, fast-forward past the stuck spot |
| Age or restriction message | The video may be age-restricted, or Restricted Mode may be on |
Fixing the YouTube Something went wrong message
YouTube's help lists these steps for the Something went wrong message, in this order:
- Refresh the page.
- Sign in to YouTube. Signed-out viewers can be blocked from some content.
- Use the latest version of a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox or Safari), or update the YouTube app.
- Allow ads on YouTube and turn off any ad blockers.
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Confirm your DNS servers are the ones you meant to use and that no third-party app changed them.
- Restart the device.
The DNS step is one most people haven't heard of. DNS is the address book your connection uses to find websites, and YouTube's help says to check that nothing has changed it without you knowing, such as an app that adds a security or privacy filter. If you didn't set it up yourself, the safest option is to switch off whichever app might have changed it and try again.
The YouTube Error loading the page message
YouTube's help explains that during rare service interruptions it can load a minimal watch page, and some interactive features may be missing. The message to look for is Error loading the page, please try again. Select Reload in the message, or use the refresh button in your browser. If that doesn't work, YouTube says to try again later. This one usually isn't about your device, so waiting is a fair answer.
Checking your internet speed when YouTube videos stop playing
Playback that starts and then stops is often a speed issue. YouTube's help says to restart your internet connection and run a speed test, and it notes that using several devices on the same network can reduce the speed your device gets. If your connection can't sustain the resolution, lower the quality in the player settings. YouTube's help says HD 720p needs about 2.5 Mbps sustained and SD 360p about 0.7 Mbps, so a lower setting can make a real difference.
If you mostly see a blurry picture rather than a stalled one, my page on why YouTube looks blurry on a phone goes through that side of it.
When a YouTube video gets stuck partway through
YouTube's help has a specific tip for a video that gets stuck: fast-forward a couple of scenes on the timeline. If that doesn't help, close and reopen the app, check for app updates and play it again. Stuck videos are different from videos that never start, and this quick skip often gets things moving.
YouTube age restrictions and Restricted Mode
YouTube's help names two reasons you might not be able to play a video: it may be age-restricted because it isn't suitable for viewers under 18, or Restricted Mode may be switched on. Its page doesn't give a fix for either. If Restricted Mode is on and you didn't set it, my guide on turning off Restricted Mode on YouTube explains why it can be locked. For age checks, there's also my guide to verifying your age on YouTube.
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YouTube videos that play but have no sound
If the picture works but you can hear nothing, YouTube's no-sound article gives three steps: make sure sound is on for your browser or device, check your device's sound settings, and restart your browser or device. It sounds basic, but a muted browser tab is a very common cause.
Restarting and updating when YouTube videos won't play
- Close and reopen the YouTube app, or the browser.
- Update the YouTube app and your device's software.
- Restart the phone, computer or TV. On a TV, YouTube says unplugging for at least 30 seconds is often the most effective fix.
- In a browser, try an incognito window with all extensions switched off to rule out an ad blocker.
- Uninstall and reinstall the app if nothing else works.
Reporting a YouTube video that still won't play
If every step fails, send feedback from inside the app so YouTube can see the problem. Tap your profile icon, choose Help and feedback, then Send feedback, right after the video fails. If the same video plays on a different supported device, the problem sits with the first device or its connection.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't YouTube videos play on my phone or computer?
The common causes in YouTube's help are a weak connection, an out-of-date app or browser, an ad blocker, a full cache, changed DNS settings or being signed out. Work through the steps in order.
What does Something went wrong mean on YouTube?
It's a general playback error. YouTube's help says to refresh, sign in, update your browser or app, allow ads, clear the cache and cookies, check DNS and restart the device.
Why does a YouTube video show a green screen?
YouTube's help has a separate green-screen article for a green picture with working sound, and suggests trying a different browser. Turning off hardware acceleration in Chrome and updating your graphics driver are also listed.
What is the Error loading the page message?
YouTube's help says it can load a minimal watch page during rare service interruptions. Select Reload or refresh the browser, and try later if it persists.
Could Restricted Mode stop a video playing?
Yes. YouTube's help says a video may not play because it's age-restricted or because Restricted Mode is on.
