- Which YouTube search problem do you have?
- Fixing the YouTube search box when it shows an error
- Fixing the YouTube app when search won't work on your phone
- Why your new YouTube video isn't in search results
- Why your YouTube channel isn't in search results
- Why your YouTube channel isn't at the top of search
- Searching for a video you can't remember on YouTube
- When YouTube search is still not working
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube search is not working, refresh the page, sign in, update your browser or app, turn off ad blockers and clear the cache. If your own new video or channel is missing from results, YouTube's help says it can take a few days to appear. After that, search by video ID or channel ID.
When someone says YouTube search isn't working, they usually mean one of two very different things. Either the search box itself is broken: nothing loads, you get an error, or the results page stays empty. Or the search works but a video or channel they expect to find isn't showing up.
YouTube's help centre has a clear article for the second case, and only general troubleshooting for the first. I'll be upfront about that and cover both, because creators and business owners run into the second one every time they upload something new.
Which YouTube search problem do you have?
| What you see | Where to look on this page |
|---|---|
| Search bar won't load results or shows an error | The general fixes for the YouTube search box |
| Your own new video or channel isn't in results | The section on new videos and channels |
| Your channel shows, but not near the top | The section on why a channel ranks lower |
| You can't find a video you watched before | Use your history and the exact title, below |
Fixing the YouTube search box when it shows an error
YouTube's help for the Something went wrong message is the closest official match for a search that won't load. It lists these steps, in this order:
- Refresh the page.
- Sign in to YouTube. Signed-out users may be blocked from some content.
- Use the latest version of a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox or Safari), or update the YouTube app.
- Allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers.
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Check that your DNS servers are the ones you intended and that no third-party app changed them.
- Restart the device.
Then try your search again. If it works in a different browser or in the app but not in your usual browser, the browser's extensions or saved data are the likely cause. YouTube suggests trying an incognito window with extensions switched off to check.
Fixing the YouTube app when search won't work on your phone
YouTube's help doesn't have a page just for the search bar on a phone, so use its general steps for the app. Update the YouTube app, close and reopen it, restart the device, and try the search again. On Android you can also clear the app's cache through Settings, Apps, YouTube, Storage, Clear cache. On an iPhone, YouTube's help says to offload the app in Settings, General, iPhone Storage, then reinstall it. My page on why the YouTube home page can be blank is worth a look if the whole app looks empty rather than just search.
Why your new YouTube video isn't in search results
Here's the case YouTube's help covers. It says that a new channel or video, an updated video, or a changed handle or channel name can take a few days to appear in search results. So if you uploaded yesterday and can't find the video, the first answer is to wait.
If it still doesn't appear after a few days, YouTube's help gives these steps for a video:
- Search for the exact video ID.
- Use the search filters to narrow the results.
- Improve your video tags.
- Check YouTube Studio for errors on any of your videos.
Why your YouTube channel isn't in search results
For a channel, the steps are shorter. After a few days of waiting, search using your channel ID rather than your handle or channel name, then use the filter option at the top of the results to show only channels. If your handle has changed recently, that alone can explain why the old name finds nothing.
Why your YouTube channel isn't at the top of search
This is the one that surprises business owners. YouTube's help explains that results are ranked by relevance, based on how well titles, descriptions and the content of the video match the search. Rankings also reflect which videos people have engaged with most for that search in the past. It lists four reasons your channel may not show at the top:
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- Your handle or channel name is commonly used in video titles.
- Your channel name is a common one.
- Your channel is new.
- Your channel name may not suit all audiences.
In other words, a search for a very general name competes with every video that uses those words. A distinctive name, clear titles and descriptions that say what the video covers all help. If you want to see how viewers move from one video to another once they've found you, my page on turning off autoplay on YouTube explains a setting that shapes what plays next.
Searching for a video you can't remember on YouTube
If you want to find something you've watched before, your own watch history is the quickest place to look, and a search using the exact title or a distinctive phrase beats a general one. Adding the channel name helps when many videos share a title. YouTube's help doesn't give a separate step-by-step for this, so these are simple habits rather than official fixes.
When YouTube search is still not working
If a few days have passed and the steps above haven't helped, send feedback from the app or site: your profile icon, then Help and feedback, then Send feedback, straight after the problem. For a creator, check Studio for errors on your videos, since YouTube's help names that as the last step. It's also worth checking whether the issue happens on another device. If it does, the problem is likely on YouTube's side, and waiting a short while is a fair answer.
Frequently asked questions
Why is YouTube search not working?
YouTube's help doesn't have a page about the search box alone, but its general fixes are to refresh, sign in, update your browser or app, turn off ad blockers, clear cache and cookies, check DNS and restart your device.
How long does a new YouTube video take to show in search?
YouTube's help says a new video, an updated video or a changed handle or channel name can take a few days to appear in search results.
Why can't I find my YouTube channel when I search for it?
Wait a few days if it's new or renamed. Then search using your channel ID and use the filter to show only channels, as YouTube's help suggests.
Why is my channel not at the top of YouTube search?
YouTube's help says common names, a new channel or a name that may not suit all audiences can all affect where a channel ranks.
Can an ad blocker break YouTube search?
YouTube's help says to allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers when you see the Something went wrong message, so it's worth testing.
