YouTube Not Working on Chrome? Fixes for Your Browser

If YouTube works on your phone but not in Chrome on your laptop, you can be fairly sure the cause is something in the browser rather than YouTube itself. That's good news, because a browser has only so many things that can go wrong, and Google publishes help for each.

I use Chrome for most of my work, including YouTube Studio, so a broken YouTube tab is a real nuisance. Here's the order that Google's Chrome help and YouTube's help give, with the quickest tests first.

Test YouTube in a Chrome Incognito window first

Chrome's help for videos that won't play starts by asking you to open the site in an Incognito window. An Incognito window runs without your extensions, so if YouTube works there, the cause is an extension, your cached files or your cookies. If it fails there too, skip to the update and settings steps further down.

YouTube's own help says the same: try an incognito window with all extensions turned off.

Finding the Chrome extension that breaks YouTube

When YouTube works in Incognito but not in your normal window, Chrome's help says to turn off all your extensions, then turn them back on one at a time, reloading the page after each one. When the video stops working again, you've found the culprit. Select Remove to get rid of it. YouTube's help specifically names ad blockers as something to check, and for the Something went wrong message it says to allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers.

Clearing the Chrome cache and cookies for YouTube

1. Open Chrome on your computer.
2. At the top right, click the More icon (three dots), then Delete browsing data.
3. Choose a time range, such as the last hour or all time.
4. Tick cookies and other site data, and any other items you want to delete.
5. Click the button to delete the data.

Chrome's help warns that clearing data can erase some site settings. It also says that clearing cookies while you're signed in to Chrome won't sign you out of your Google Account. My page on signing out of YouTube helps if you need to sign in again afterwards.

Updating Chrome when YouTube won't play

An old browser can cause trouble with newer features. YouTube's help says you can still watch videos in an out-of-date browser, but newer features might not work, and that it recommends Chrome over the old Internet Explorer, which it no longer supports. To update, Chrome's help says to open the More menu and select the update option if one appears, then relaunch Chrome and reload the page. If no update option appears, Chrome is already up to date.

Turning on JavaScript in Chrome for YouTube

Videos need JavaScript to run. Chrome's help gives this path: Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings, then JavaScript, and make sure sites are allowed to use it. Reload the YouTube page afterwards. It's rarely the cause, but it takes ten seconds to check, and it's one of the five fixes Chrome lists.

Turning off hardware acceleration in Chrome for YouTube

If YouTube shows a green screen or freezes while the sound carries on, YouTube's help has a specific fix:

1. Click More (three dots) at the top right of Chrome.
2. Select Settings, then Advanced, then System.
3. Turn off Use hardware acceleration when available.
4. Reload YouTube.

Menu names move around between Chrome versions, so if you don't see Advanced, look for System in the settings sidebar. The same YouTube article says to update your graphics driver: on Windows, from your computer maker's website, and on a Mac, through System Preferences and Software Update. It also suggests trying a different browser, and if the video plays there, you know the problem is with your first one.

Resetting your modem and router for a stuck YouTube page

Chrome's help ends its list with this: turn off your computer, unplug the modem and any separate router, and wait about a minute. Plug them back in, wait for the lights to settle, turn your computer back on and reload the page. YouTube's help adds that you should check your DNS servers are the ones you meant to use and that no third-party app has changed them.

Resetting Chrome settings as a last step for YouTube

Chrome's help lists resetting Chrome settings to their original defaults as a fix for videos that won't play. Its menu path differs by operating system, so use the Settings search box in Chrome and look for reset settings. Try the other steps first, since a reset changes your settings back to the defaults. If you use several Google accounts in Chrome, my guide to switching accounts on YouTube may help once you're back in.

What to do if YouTube still isn't working in Chrome

• Try YouTube in another browser to confirm it's Chrome that's the problem.
• Try the YouTube app on your phone to confirm YouTube itself is up.
• Send feedback from YouTube: your profile icon, Help and feedback, Send feedback.
• Restart your computer and try again.

If YouTube fails in every browser and on every device, the issue may be your internet connection or YouTube, so test the connection and wait a little. My checklist for when YouTube isn't working covers the other kinds of failure.

Frequently asked questions

Why is YouTube not working on Chrome but works on other browsers?

Chrome's help points to extensions, cache and cookies, an old version or settings. Test in an Incognito window first, then work through the other steps.

How do I turn off hardware acceleration in Chrome?

Click More, then Settings, Advanced, System, and turn off Use hardware acceleration when available. YouTube's help suggests this for a green screen with working sound.

Will clearing Chrome cookies sign me out of my Google Account?

Chrome's help says clearing cookies while you're signed in to Chrome won't sign you out of your Google Account.

Do I need to update Chrome for YouTube to work?

YouTube's help says you can still watch in an old browser, but newer features may not work. Chrome's help says to check the More menu for an update and relaunch.

Should I reset Chrome to fix YouTube?

It's the fourth fix in Chrome's list for videos that won't play. Try Incognito, extensions, an update and cache clearing first.