- What a stuttering YouTube video usually tells you
- Testing whether your connection can keep up with YouTube's picture quality
- Using Stats for Nerds to see why YouTube stutters
- Switching networks to clear YouTube stuttering
- Restarting the YouTube app or your device to stop stuttering
- Browser extensions that make YouTube stutter on a computer
- Stopping YouTube stuttering on a smart television
- Audio stuttering on YouTube
- Sending YouTube feedback about stuttering
- Frequently asked questions
If YouTube is stuttering, run a speed test and compare it with YouTube's recommended speed for your resolution, then lower the quality. Next try a different network, restart the app, turn off ad blocker extensions, and on a TV unplug the device for 30 seconds.
There's a particular kind of YouTube problem that's hard to describe. The video plays, but it jerks along in tiny bursts, the sound skips, or the picture catches every second or so. It isn't frozen and it isn't showing a spinning circle, it's just stuttering.
I see this a lot when people record screen shares or watch training videos for work. The good news is that YouTube's help pages point to a short list of likely causes, and most of them come down to whether your connection can keep up with the quality you've chosen. I've put the steps in the order that saves you most time.
What a stuttering YouTube video usually tells you
YouTube doesn't have a page with the word stuttering in it, so I've gone to its playback troubleshooting guides, which cover choppy and interrupted playback along with error messages. The messages it lists include:
- An error has occurred.
- Playback error. Tap to retry.
- Connection to server lost.
- Something went wrong. Tap to retry.
Stuttering often shows up without any message at all, so start with the quickest check: is it your connection, or your device?
Testing whether your connection can keep up with YouTube's picture quality
YouTube's help says to restart your internet connection and then run a speed test, to make sure your internet can support the video resolution you've selected. It also warns that several devices on one network can reduce the speed your device gets. A phone streaming on the sofa, a laptop on a call and a TV in the next room can all be competing.
It gives a table of recommended sustained speeds for each resolution:
| Video resolution | Recommended sustained speed |
|---|---|
| 4K | 20 Mbps |
| HD 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| HD 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| SD 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
| SD 360p | 0.7 Mbps |
Compare your speed test result to the row for the quality you're watching. If your connection falls short, drop to a lower resolution and the stutter often disappears. YouTube suggests changing the quality of your video to improve your experience. If the picture looks soft rather than jerky once you've lowered it, my page on why YouTube looks blurry on a phone explains that side of things.
Using Stats for Nerds to see why YouTube stutters
If you like seeing what's going on, YouTube's help points to Stats for Nerds. It's a panel that shows more information about how your video is being played back. You won't need it for most fixes, but it's a handy way to see the resolution YouTube is delivering and whether the video is struggling to load, rather than guessing.
Switching networks to clear YouTube stuttering
YouTube's first buffering step is simple and surprisingly useful. Change your internet connection and replay the video. If you're on mobile data, connect to Wi-Fi. If you're on Wi-Fi, try your mobile network instead (data rates may apply).
If the video plays smoothly on one and stutters on the other, you've found the problem, and it isn't YouTube or your phone.
Restarting the YouTube app or your device to stop stuttering
It sounds too basic, but YouTube lists it for a reason. Close the YouTube app, or reboot the device, and try again. YouTube also says you can uninstall and reinstall the app. Updating helps too: its help says to try the newest version of the YouTube app and, if you can, update your device's firmware and system software.
On Android you can clear the app's cache as well. Open Settings, tap Apps and notifications, then See all apps, choose YouTube, tap Storage and cache, then Clear cache, and replay your video.
Browser extensions that make YouTube stutter on a computer
On a computer, check your extensions. YouTube's help says to look at whether browser extensions that block ads are affecting playback. A quick test is to open YouTube in an incognito window with every extension turned off. If the stutter vanishes, one of your extensions is the culprit, and you can switch them back on one at a time.
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It also says to close most of your open tabs, keep only the one you're using for YouTube, update your browser and restart your computer. A browser with dozens of tabs open has plenty to juggle.
When the error says something went wrong and to refresh
If you see the message Something went wrong. Refresh or try again later, YouTube's help gives a longer checklist:
- Sign in to YouTube, as some features may not work as expected when you're signed out.
- Use the latest version of a compatible browser, such as Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
- Allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers.
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Check your DNS servers are the ones you meant to use, and that no third-party application has changed them. You'll find this in your network settings.
- Restart your device, then return to YouTube and replay the video.
Stopping YouTube stuttering on a smart television
The television has its own best fix, according to YouTube's help. It calls power cycling often the most effective way to resolve playback issues on a TV. Unplug your device's power cable from the outlet, wait at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
After that, check the YouTube app for updates in your TV's app store. Most smart TVs and streaming devices update apps by themselves, but it only takes a moment to look. If a video stutters only on the TV, try the same video on your phone. If it plays well there, the problem is on the TV or its Wi-Fi signal rather than with YouTube. My overview of why YouTube might not be working also covers TV problems.
Audio stuttering on YouTube
If it's the sound that's breaking up rather than the picture, YouTube's help for audio issues is short and sensible. Make sure the sound or volume is turned on for your browser or device, check your device's sound settings, and restart your browser or device.
Sending YouTube feedback about stuttering
If you've tried everything above and the stutter hasn't stopped, tell YouTube. Its help says to go to your profile icon, then Help and feedback, then Send feedback, straight after the problem happens. Mention the device, the video and the connection you were on. That gives them something specific to investigate.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my YouTube video keep stuttering?
The most common cause in YouTube's help is a connection that can't keep up with the quality you chose. Run a speed test and compare it to the speeds YouTube recommends for each resolution.
What internet speed does YouTube recommend?
YouTube's help lists 20 Mbps for 4K, 5 Mbps for HD 1080p, 2.5 Mbps for HD 720p, 1.1 Mbps for SD 480p and 0.7 Mbps for SD 360p.
Can browser extensions cause YouTube to stutter?
Yes. YouTube's help says ad blocking extensions can affect playback. Try an incognito window with extensions disabled to test.
How do I fix YouTube stuttering on my TV?
Unplug the device's power cable, wait at least 30 seconds and plug it back in. YouTube's help calls this often the most effective fix, then check for app updates.
Does changing the video quality help?
Often, yes. If your connection is slower than the speed recommended for the resolution you're watching, lowering the quality can give smoother playback.
