- Why is YouTube so slow for you right now?
- Lower the YouTube video quality to make it load faster
- Check your internet speed and your home network
- Update the YouTube app to speed things up
- Clear the cache and sort out the browser
- When YouTube is slow on a smart TV or streaming device
- A slow YouTube versus a YouTube that's broken
- Slow YouTube playback for a business or training video
- When to take a slow YouTube problem to the help community
- Frequently asked questions
YouTube is usually slow because of your connection, a video quality that's set too high, an out-of-date app or browser, or a cluttered cache. Lower the quality, restart your router, update the app, clear the cache and try an incognito window without extensions.
When YouTube is slow, you notice straight away: thumbnails take ages to appear, a video sits on a blurry start screen, or everything feels like wading through mud. It's maddening if you're trying to watch a quick explainer between meetings. The cause is rarely YouTube itself. It's usually something about the connection, the picture quality that's been chosen, or the app or browser being used. YouTube's help centre covers most of it, so I've gathered the checks into the order that saves most time.
This is about slow loading and laggy performance. If your issue is a video that pauses by itself because the Autoplay prompt appeared, see my guide to turning off Autoplay on YouTube instead.
Why is YouTube so slow for you right now?
YouTube adjusts the stream to suit your situation, which means several things can slow it down at once. The help article on changing video quality names four factors: your internet speed, the size of the player or screen, the quality of the original upload, and your browser. Some browsers don't support newer formats or quality options, which can leave you with fewer choices.
The troubleshooting article for video errors adds to that list: other devices sharing your network, a video resolution that's too high for your connection, YouTube being blocked from using data on your phone, and outdated software. Keep those in mind as you go through the fixes, because each one matches a step below.
Lower the YouTube video quality to make it load faster
This is the quickest win, and it takes seconds. Higher quality needs a faster connection. YouTube's help centre lists the sustained speeds it recommends:
| Video quality | Recommended sustained speed |
|---|---|
| 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
| 360p | 0.7 Mbps |
On an Android phone or tablet, the help centre describes four options: Auto, which it recommends because it adjusts to your conditions; Higher picture quality, which looks better but may mean videos take longer to start or buffer more often; Data saver, which gives lower picture quality but lets videos start faster; and Advanced, which lets you pick a resolution yourself. To change it for the video you're watching, tap Settings (the gear) in the player, tap Quality and choose an option. On a TV, the route's Settings in the player, then Quality.
To change the default instead, the Android steps are: tap your profile picture, tap Settings, then Video quality preferences. There you can set one quality for mobile networks and another for Wi-Fi, which is handy if you don't want a data-hungry setting when you're out.
Check your internet speed and your home network
- Restart your internet connection by switching the router or modem off and on.
- Run a speed test and compare the result with the table above.
- Pause big downloads and streams on other devices, since other devices using the same network can slow YouTube down.
- Move closer to the router, or try the other connection on your phone.
- Confirm in your device settings that YouTube is allowed to use data.
If you work from home and the whole house shares one broadband line, the video call upstairs may be the real reason YouTube is slow downstairs.
Update the YouTube app to speed things up
Old apps are a known cause of trouble, and YouTube's help centre lists updating the app among its standard steps. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, tap Manage apps and device, then Updates available, and either update everything or find YouTube in the list. The help article says you may need to restart your device to finish the update. On Apple TV, the steps are to open the App Store, search for YouTube and select Update, and if that option doesn't appear the app's already current. On iPhone and iPad, use the App Store as you would for any app.
If your phone is old, the help centre has a warning worth knowing: some older devices can't run the current YouTube app, and older versions stop working over time. The fallback it gives is to watch in a mobile browser instead.
Clear the cache and sort out the browser
On a computer, a bloated browser is the usual reason YouTube drags. YouTube's list for browser trouble goes like this:
- Update your browser to its latest version.
- Close extra tabs so fewer things compete for memory.
- Clear the browser's cache and cookies. In Chrome that's the More icon, Delete browsing data, a time range, Cookies and other site data, then Delete data.
- Test in an incognito window with extensions turned off. Ad blockers are the best-known culprit.
- Restart the browser, then the computer.
YouTube's cache article adds a useful note: after you clear the cache, some sites may load more slowly at first because images and other content have to download again. So don't panic if the first visit feels sluggish.
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If quality options are missing, the help centre says some browsers can't use the newer formats. It lists Chrome on any system, Microsoft Edge, Safari on macOS 10.10 or newer, and Firefox on Windows 7 or newer or macOS 10.10 or newer as browsers that support the higher-quality formats.
When YouTube is slow on a smart TV or streaming device
TV apps often slow down because they've been running for weeks. YouTube's help centre says power cycling often solves it: unplug the device, wait at least 30 seconds and plug it back in. Then check for a YouTube update in the TV's app store. For the unusual case where the device no longer meets the latest requirements, the help centre says you may still be able to use YouTube through the device's web browser.
A slow YouTube versus a YouTube that's broken
It's worth separating slow from broken. If YouTube loads but crawls, work through this page. If it fails with an error, my guides on what to do when YouTube isn't working and the something went wrong message are a better fit. YouTube's help centre also says there can be rare service interruptions on its own side, which are temporary and out of your hands.
Slow YouTube playback for a business or training video
If you share YouTube videos with customers or staff, keep in mind that their connection isn't yours. A short video starts faster than a long one, and viewers on weaker connections can pick a lower resolution. It's kind to mention that in an email that links to a training video. The viewing experience is partly in your hands, even if the connection isn't.
When to take a slow YouTube problem to the help community
If YouTube's slow on every device and every network, even after the steps above, it may be out of your hands. Post in the YouTube Help Community with the device, app or browser version and your connection type, and wait for YouTube's response. If YouTube is fine but everything else online is slow too, the issue is with your broadband provider, not YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
Why is YouTube so slow on my phone?
According to YouTube's help centre, common causes are a weak connection, a video quality that's set too high, YouTube not being allowed to use data, or an out-of-date app. Try Auto or Data saver quality and update the app.
Does lowering video quality make YouTube faster?
It can. YouTube's help centre says Data saver gives lower picture quality but lets videos start faster, while higher picture quality may take longer to start or buffer more often.
How fast does my internet need to be for YouTube?
YouTube's help centre recommends sustained speeds of 0.7 Mbps for 360p, 1.1 Mbps for 480p, 2.5 Mbps for 720p, 5 Mbps for 1080p and 20 Mbps for 4K.
Can clearing the cache make YouTube faster?
It can fix loading problems, and YouTube's help centre lists it as a standard step. The cache article notes that sites may load more slowly just after clearing, because content has to download again.
Why is YouTube slow on my TV?
YouTube's help centre says to unplug the device, wait at least 30 seconds, plug it back in and check for an app update. Apps and devices that are out of date can struggle.
