- Telling a frozen YouTube video from a buffering one
- Skipping past the spot where a YouTube video freezes
- Fixing a frozen YouTube page in your browser
- When the picture freezes but the sound carries on
- Fixing a frozen YouTube app on your phone
- Fixing YouTube freezing on a smart TV
- Why YouTube freezes at the same moment every time
- What to do if YouTube keeps freezing after all this
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube keeps freezing, fast-forward a couple of scenes, then close and reopen the app or browser. On a computer, close extra tabs and try turning off hardware acceleration in Chrome. On a TV, unplug the device for at least 30 seconds.
A frozen YouTube video is different from a buffering one. Buffering shows a spinning circle and you know it's waiting for data. Freezing is when the picture just stops, sometimes with the sound carrying on, sometimes with the whole page or app locking up.
That difference matters, because the fixes aren't quite the same. I've split this page by what freezes, using YouTube's and Google's own help, so you can go straight to your case.
Telling a frozen YouTube video from a buffering one
| What happens | Most likely area to check |
|---|---|
| The picture stops but the sound carries on | Browser, graphics driver or hardware acceleration |
| A film or video sticks at one point | Skip ahead, then reopen the app |
| The whole page or app locks up | Tabs, browser, device restart |
| It stops, then restarts after a spinner | Connection speed (see my page on buffering) |
Skipping past the spot where a YouTube video freezes
YouTube's help has a simple first move for a video that gets stuck: fast-forward a couple of scenes on the timeline. If that doesn't get things moving, close and reopen the app, check for app updates and play the video again. It's worth doing before anything more involved.
Fixing a frozen YouTube page in your browser
For computers, YouTube's help gives a short list. Work down it in order:
- Update your computer.
- Close and reopen your web browser.
- Close most open tabs, keeping just the one you're using for YouTube.
- Update your browser.
- Use Google Chrome if you aren't already.
- Restart your computer.
Lots of open tabs is the one I'd check first, because a browser with dozens of tabs open can struggle, and YouTube's list singles it out. The same help pages say to check whether browser extensions that block ads are affecting video playback, or to try an incognito window with extensions turned off.
When the picture freezes but the sound carries on
YouTube has a separate help article for a green screen in the video player while the sound still plays. Even if yours is frozen rather than green, the same fixes are worth a go, in the order YouTube gives them:
- Try a different browser. If the video plays there, the problem is likely with your first browser.
- In Chrome, open More (three dots), then Settings, then Advanced, then System, and turn off the setting called Use hardware acceleration when available.
- Update your graphics driver. On a Windows computer, download the latest driver from your computer maker's website. On a Mac, open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences, click Software Update and install what's available.
Other browsers have their own settings for hardware acceleration, so check that browser's help. If you turn it off in Chrome, reload the YouTube page afterwards and see if the video runs.
Fixing a frozen YouTube app on your phone
For phones, YouTube's pages give the same simple routine: update the YouTube app, close and reopen it, restart the phone, then replay the video. On Android you can also clear the app's cache through Settings, Apps, YouTube, Storage, Clear cache. On an iPhone or iPad, YouTube's help says to offload the app in Settings, General, iPhone Storage, then reinstall it. My page on turning off autoplay on YouTube is handy if a frozen app seems to start something new before you've finished.
Fixing YouTube freezing on a smart TV
On a TV, YouTube's help says to power cycle the device by unplugging the power cable, waiting at least 30 seconds and plugging it back in. It describes this as often the most effective fix. After that come the app steps: quit and reopen the app, sign out and back in, and update the system software. If the TV's own menus freeze as well as YouTube, the manufacturer's support site is the place to look.
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Why YouTube freezes at the same moment every time
If it always stops at the same spot in the same video, try a different video first. When other videos play fine, the issue is more likely to be with that one clip than with your device. If you made the video yourself, re-upload only if you've found a real fault in the file, and use my guide to uploading a video to YouTube as a checklist when you do.
What to do if YouTube keeps freezing after all this
- Try the same video on a different supported device, as YouTube's help suggests.
- Sign out of YouTube and sign back in.
- Uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app.
- Send feedback from the app: your profile icon, Help and feedback, Send feedback, right after it freezes.
If the video only freezes on one device, whether that's your laptop, phone or TV, take it to that device's maker. If it freezes everywhere, look at your internet connection, and give YouTube the details through the feedback option so someone can look at it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my YouTube video freeze but the sound keeps playing?
YouTube's help for a green or stuck picture with working sound says to try a different browser, turn off hardware acceleration in Chrome and update your graphics driver.
How do I turn off hardware acceleration in Chrome?
Open More, then Settings, Advanced, System, and turn off Use hardware acceleration when available. Menu names can vary between Chrome versions.
What should I do if a YouTube video gets stuck?
YouTube's help says to fast-forward a couple of scenes on the timeline. If that fails, close and reopen the app, check for updates and replay the video.
Can too many tabs make YouTube freeze?
YouTube's help for computers says to close most open tabs except the one you use for YouTube, so it's worth doing.
How do I fix YouTube freezing on my TV?
Unplug the TV or streaming device, wait at least 30 seconds, plug it back in, and reopen the app. YouTube's help calls this often the most effective fix.
