YouTube App Keeps Crashing? Fixes for Android and iPhone

An app that closes itself while you're mid-video is irritating, and it tends to happen at the worst time, like when you're about to show a client a tutorial. Crashing is a different problem from buffering or a video that won't play, because the whole app shuts down.

This page is for the YouTube app on a phone or tablet. I've used YouTube's help and Google Play's help for an app that isn't working, because between them they cover Android and iPhone. The order matters, so I've kept it as the help pages give it.

Quick checks when the YouTube app keeps crashing

1. Close the YouTube app completely and open it again.
2. Update the YouTube app to the latest version.
3. Restart your phone or tablet.
4. Play a video again.

YouTube's help for Android says exactly that: update the app, close and reopen it, restart the device, then replay the video. Do the restart even if it seems too basic, since Google Play's own guide for an app that isn't working starts with a restart.

Updating Android and the YouTube app after crashes

Google Play's help puts updates early in its list. Restart the phone first, then check for Android updates in Settings under System, Advanced, System update. On some phones it's under About phone or About tablet, then Software update. After that, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, tap Manage apps and devices, and under Updates available update YouTube. Google's help says to restart again after each step to see whether the problem has gone.

Force stopping the YouTube app on Android

If the crashing carries on, Google Play's help says to force stop the app from your phone's Settings app. Go to Settings, then Apps, then YouTube, and choose Force stop. Open the app again afterwards. Phone makers label things differently, and Google's guide notes that settings can vary by phone, so if you can't find the option, check your manufacturer's support page.

Clearing the YouTube app cache after repeated crashes

The next step in Google's list is to clear the app's cache and data. YouTube's own steps for the cache on Android are Settings, Apps or Applications, YouTube, Storage, then Clear cache. Try the cache first, because Google Play's help calls clearing it temporary, since cached data builds up again, and it's less drastic than clearing everything. My guide on signing out of YouTube is handy to read first if you have more than one account on the phone, because clearing app data can mean signing in again.

Fixing the YouTube app crashing on iPhone and iPad

An iPhone has no clear cache option, so YouTube's help says to offload the app. Here are the steps:

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Tap iPhone Storage (iPad Storage on an iPad).
3. Find YouTube and tap it.
4. Tap Offload App and confirm.
5. When it finishes, tap Reinstall App.
6. Open YouTube and try a video.

Syncing the date and time when the YouTube app crashes on Android

It's an odd one, but it's in Google Play's list. The help says to sync the device with Google's servers: in Settings go to System, then Date and time, turn off Automatic time zone and Automatic date and time, set the date and time to wrong values, and then turn both settings back on. It's a fix for apps that misbehave generally, not something specific to YouTube, and I'd leave it until the earlier steps have failed.

Uninstalling and reinstalling the YouTube app

When nothing else works, remove the app and put it back. YouTube's help lists reinstalling for playback trouble, and Google Play's guide describes it as press and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Delete App and confirm. That erases any data saved in the app, and you can reinstall it afterwards from the store. Sign back in with your Google Account when you reopen it.

The YouTube app version no longer supported message

Sometimes the cause is an out-of-date app. On Android phones and tablets, YouTube's help explains that a certain message means your version of the app is no longer supported. You can update through the Google Play Store, or use m.youtube.com in a mobile browser, or update your Android operating system if the app won't update. On an older phone that's stuck on an old Android version, the mobile browser may be the only way to carry on watching.

Telling YouTube about a crashing app

If the app is still crashing after all of this, send feedback from inside it: tap your profile icon, choose Help and feedback, then Send feedback, right after the problem. Google Play's help also says that if only one app has problems, you should contact that app's developer. If you can't update any apps, it says to contact Google Play. If you manage a channel from a phone, you can use the mobile browser version of YouTube in the meantime. My checklist on what to check when YouTube isn't working covers the other kinds of failure.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the YouTube app keep crashing on my phone?

YouTube's help lists an out-of-date app, a stuck cache or a device that needs a restart. Update the app, close and reopen it, restart the phone and replay the video.

How do I stop the YouTube app crashing on Android?

Follow Google Play's order: restart, update Android and the app, force stop the app, then clear the cache and data, and uninstall and reinstall if needed.

How do I fix the YouTube app crashing on iPhone?

YouTube's help says to offload the app in Settings, General, iPhone Storage, then tap Reinstall App. Update the app and restart the phone too.

Will reinstalling YouTube delete my videos?

Google Play's help says uninstalling erases data saved in the app, but your account stays online. Sign back in with your Google Account after you reinstall.

What if the app says it's no longer supported?

YouTube's help says to update the app through Google Play, use m.youtube.com in a mobile browser, or update your Android operating system.