Why Does YouTube Say Something Went Wrong? Fixes by Device

Few things are more irritating than a video that won't play and a grey box telling you only that something went wrong. It doesn't say what, or who's to blame. If you watch YouTube for training, product research or a quick how-to in the middle of a working day, a vague message like that can waste a good half hour. The trick is to stop guessing and work through the causes YouTube's own help centre names, starting with the quickest. I've put them in order below, by device, so you can stop as soon as it works.

This page is about that one message. If YouTube is misbehaving in other ways, my wider checklist for when YouTube isn't working at all is the better starting point.

Where the YouTube something went wrong message shows up

According to YouTube's help centre, the message you'll usually see reads something like Something went wrong, followed by an instruction to refresh or try again later. It appears in the player area, or in place of the whole page, whether you're on the website, in the phone app or on a TV app. A second, similar message, Error loading the page, has its own explanation further down.

YouTube's article on video errors lists the things that can trigger playback trouble in general. It's worth knowing them, because each one points to a different fix:

• A slow or unstable internet connection, or lots of other devices sharing the same network.
• A video resolution that's higher than your connection can support.
• YouTube not being allowed to use data in your device settings.
• Being signed out of YouTube.
• Browser extensions, ad blockers in particular.
• An out-of-date browser, app, firmware or system software.
• A third-party app changing your DNS settings.
• A short-lived service interruption on YouTube's side.

Fix the YouTube something went wrong message in a web browser

YouTube's help centre gives a specific list for the Something went wrong, refresh or try again later version. Try each step, then play the video again before moving on to the next.

1. Refresh the page.
2. Sign in to YouTube if you aren't already.
3. Use the latest version of a compatible browser. The help centre names Chrome, Firefox and Safari.
4. Allow ads on YouTube and turn off any ad blocker.
5. Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
6. Check that your DNS servers are the ones you chose, and that no third-party app has quietly changed them.
7. Restart your device, go back to YouTube and replay the video.

The ad blocker step catches out more small-business owners than anything else, because so many of us install one without a second thought. If you'd rather not switch it off permanently, YouTube also suggests opening the video in an incognito or private window with all your extensions turned off. If it plays there, you've found your culprit and can re-enable extensions one by one.

For clearing the cache, YouTube's help article walks through Chrome like this: open Chrome, select the More icon at the top right, choose Delete browsing data, pick a time range, tick Cookies and other site data, then select Delete data. Other browsers have their own routes, so check that browser's support pages. Expect to sign in again to some sites afterwards.

Getting past the YouTube something went wrong error on your phone or tablet

The app versions of the error usually come down to the app or the phone rather than your account. YouTube's article for Android, iPhone and iPad devices suggests the following, again in order:

1. Check the connection. Restart your Wi-Fi or router, then try the video on mobile data instead, or the other way round.
2. Confirm that YouTube is allowed to use mobile data in your device settings.
3. Close the YouTube app completely, or restart your phone.
4. Update the YouTube app. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, choose Manage apps and device, then Updates available.
5. If the error keeps coming back, uninstall the app and reinstall it.

Menus vary by app version, so if a label on your screen looks slightly different, look for the closest match.

When the YouTube error message appears on a smart TV or streaming stick

TV apps are fussier than phones, but the fix is usually simpler. YouTube's help centre calls one step the most effective for TV and streaming devices:

1. Turn the device off and unplug it from the wall.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
3. Open the YouTube app and try the video again.
4. If that hasn't worked, check the device's app store for a YouTube update. Smart TVs and streaming devices often update on their own, but you can check by hand.

On Android TV, the help centre explains that apps normally update automatically, and shows how to switch automatic updates back on if you turned them off: Home, Apps, the Google Play Store, Settings, then Auto-Update Apps. If the app tells you the device no longer meets the latest requirements, that's a separate, permanent problem. The help centre says you may still be able to reach YouTube through the TV's web browser, or a firmware upgrade might bring the app back, which is a question for the manufacturer.

Is the YouTube error down to YouTube itself?

Sometimes the answer's yes. YouTube's help centre says that during rare service interruptions it may load a stripped-down version of the watch page, without Like, Share, Download, the description or comments, along with the message Error loading the page. YouTube's advice is to reload the page, or wait and try again later.

A quick way to tell the difference: open the same video on a second device on a different connection, such as your phone on mobile data. If it plays there, the fault's with your first device or network. If it fails everywhere, give it a while before you start changing settings, since there's nothing at your end to change.

Other YouTube error messages that look similar but mean something else

It's easy to lump every grey error box together. YouTube's help pages treat these as separate problems:

What the message says	What YouTube's help centre says	What to try
Something went wrong. Refresh or try again later	Usually connection, browser, extension, sign-in or DNS trouble	The browser list above
Error loading the page	A rare YouTube service interruption	Reload, or wait and try later
The following content is not available on this app	A third-party app, an outdated YouTube app, an outdated Google Play Store, or an older device	Use the official app or the mobile site, then update
This video is not available on this device	A copyright claim or the owner's distribution settings may limit the device	Try another device

If your video is missing rather than erroring, my guide to why a YouTube video can show as unavailable covers private, regional and restricted videos.

YouTube error messages and the sign-in and restriction angle

Two quieter causes are worth a look. First, signed-out viewers can be blocked from some content, so sign in and retry. If you have more than one account, my walkthrough on signing out of YouTube will help you make sure you're on the right one. Second, the help centre notes that some videos are age-restricted even when they don't break any policy, and that Restricted Mode being on can stop a video playing. My guide to turning off Restricted Mode on YouTube explains who controls that setting.

If your own channel's viewers report the YouTube error message

If you run a channel or you embed videos in your marketing, a viewer telling you that something went wrong is worth taking seriously, but don't assume your upload's at fault. Ask which device and browser they used, whether they were signed in and whether they have an ad blocker running. The causes YouTube lists are almost all on the viewer's side, so a short note in your video's description or a pinned comment that mentions refreshing and signing in can save you a lot of back and forth.

When to stop and contact YouTube about the error message

If you've worked through the browser steps, the app steps and the device restart, and the message still appears on every device and network, the cause is probably beyond your control. YouTube's help centre has a Help Community where you can describe the problem, and the help pages offer a way to send YouTube debug information. Include the device, the app or browser version and when it started. Please don't buy or install anything on the strength of a pop-up that claims to fix the error; only follow steps from YouTube's own help centre.

Frequently asked questions

Why does YouTube keep saying something went wrong?

According to YouTube's help centre, common causes are an unstable connection, being signed out, an ad blocker or other extension, an out-of-date browser or app, changed DNS settings, or a short service interruption. Work through the fixes in order.

How do I fix YouTube something went wrong on my TV?

YouTube's help centre says to unplug the device, wait at least 30 seconds, plug it back in and try again. It calls this often the most effective fix. Then check the app store for a YouTube update.

Does an ad blocker cause the YouTube something went wrong message?

It can. YouTube's help centre tells you to allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers when you see this message, and suggests testing in an incognito window with extensions disabled.

Is YouTube down when I see Error loading the page?

It may be. YouTube's help centre says this appears during rare service interruptions, when a stripped-back watch page loads. Reload the page or try again later.

Should I reinstall the YouTube app?

Only after the simpler steps. YouTube lists uninstalling and reinstalling the app as a fix for stubborn app errors, once updating and restarting haven't worked.