If YouTube keeps crashing, close and reopen the app or browser, restart your device, then update YouTube before clearing cache or reinstalling it. Replay the same video after each change so you can tell which step helped, and stop once the problem is fixed.
The short version
- Start with closing YouTube, restarting the device and checking for updates.
- On Android, clear cache before choosing a data reset that removes app data.
- In a browser, check extensions and remove YouTube site data if needed.
- For buffering, lower video quality or try another connection.
- On a TV, restart the device before repairing the app or considering a factory reset.
| Method | What it does | Estimated time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reopen and restart | Restarts the app and device | A few minutes | YouTube freezes or closes |
| Check for updates | Finds app and system updates | Under a minute to check | The crash returns after restarting |
| Clear Android cache | Removes temporary app files | A few minutes | The Android app keeps failing |
| Reinstall the mobile app | Downloads the app again | A few minutes | Restarting and updating failed |
| Check the browser | Checks extensions and site data | A few minutes per check | Only the website crashes |
| Change quality or connection | Checks playback conditions | A few minutes | The video stalls but YouTube stays open |
| Repair the TV app | Restarts or repairs TV playback | A few minutes for the restart | A TV or streaming device crashes |
| Send feedback | Reports the unresolved problem | A few minutes to submit | The supported repairs failed |
The estimates cover checking settings and completing the stated actions. Downloading and installing app or system updates can take longer, so the update row estimates only the check.
Close YouTube and restart your device
Start with the app that stopped responding rather than changing several settings at once. Close YouTube, open it again and replay the video; if it fails again, restart your device and try once more.
On Android with gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom, hold and release to show recent apps. Find YouTube and swipe its preview upward, then open it again from your app screen.
On iPhone X and later, swipe up from the bottom and pause to show open apps. Find YouTube and swipe up on its preview; on iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and earlier, or iPod touch, double-click Home first, then swipe up on YouTube's preview.
On a computer, close and reopen your browser, then reload YouTube. If Chrome keeps crashing, close other tabs and quit unused programs before reopening the video, because a shortage of memory can stop a page loading.
Update YouTube and check device compatibility
Update the Android app
On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile picture and choose Manage apps & device. Open Updates available, find YouTube and tap Update, then reopen the app when installation finishes.
Update the iPhone and iPad app
On iOS 26 and later, open App Store and tap your account photo or My Account button. Choose App Updates and tap Update beside YouTube; on iOS 18, open the same account screen, scroll down to the available updates and tap Update beside YouTube.
On iPad, the current App Store path also uses your account photo, App Updates and Update. If no app update is available and crashes continue, check for an iPhone or iPad software update rather than repeatedly checking the same app listing.
Check compatibility and system updates
Downloading YouTube on Android requires Android 9.0 or later. The current Apple listing requires iOS 17.0 or later, or iPadOS 17.0 or later, although YouTube's download help still lists iOS 14; on iOS 14 through 16, check the App Store on that device for what it actually offers before deleting a working installation.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > Software Update to check what is available. If your iPhone or iPad cannot install a supported YouTube app, try m.youtube.com in its browser.
If an Android update is needed, check your phone's Settings for system update controls. On Pixel, open System > Software update; other documented layouts use System > Advanced > System update or About phone > Software update, so follow the available instructions for your phone.
If your Android version cannot run a supported YouTube app, use m.youtube.com in your mobile browser. Check the device's available software updates before deleting an older installation that you may be unable to download again.
Clear YouTube cache and data on Android
On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > YouTube > Storage & cache and choose Clear cache. An older layout still documented by YouTube uses Apps and notifications > See all apps > YouTube > Storage and cache > Clear cache in Settings, so use the labels your phone shows and replay the video afterward.
Clearing cache deletes temporary files, and the app may open more slowly the next time. On Samsung Galaxy, open Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear cache rather than selecting the broader data reset by mistake.
If the app still crashes, consider Clear storage, called Clear data on some phones, from YouTube's storage controls. This permanently removes the app's local data, so keep your sign-in details ready and read the confirmation before continuing.
Use the cache reset first if you want the less disruptive option. Clearing local app storage is different from deleting your Google Account, and it should not be used as a way to close that account.
Reinstall YouTube on a phone or tablet
Reinstall after the restart and update checks have failed, and check compatibility before removing the app. Deleting an app can remove its saved data, so be ready to restore the settings or sign-in you need afterward.
On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon and choose Manage apps & devices > Manage. Select YouTube and tap Uninstall, then search for the official YouTube app in Google Play and tap Install.
Some preinstalled Android system apps cannot be deleted. If YouTube has no Uninstall option, leave it installed and return to the update and cache checks rather than trying to remove system components.
On iPhone, touch and hold YouTube on the Home Screen, choose Remove App > Delete App and tap Delete to confirm. Search for YouTube in App Store to download it again; removing only its Home Screen icon leaves the app installed and does not carry out this repair.
In App Library, touch and hold YouTube. If Delete App appears directly, as documented for iOS 26, tap it, then Delete. If Remove App appears first, tap it, choose Delete App, then confirm Delete.
Fix YouTube crashing in a desktop browser
Update the browser and check extensions
Use an updated browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari for YouTube. In desktop Chrome, open More > Help > About Google Chrome to check for updates, then choose Relaunch if it appears.
In Chrome, open More > New Incognito window and try the video with all extensions disabled. To manage them, use More > Extensions > Manage extensions; check each extension's Details if you have previously allowed it to run in Incognito.
If YouTube works during that check, return to the normal window and turn extensions off. Re-enable them one at a time and replay the video after each change to narrow down which extension brings the problem back.
For the signed-out part of the check, follow the steps for watching YouTube without logging in. Use a public video and remember that some content requires sign-in, so a sign-in request alone does not establish a browser crash.
Remove YouTube website data
If the browser still fails, remove YouTube's stored website data. Deleting cookies can sign you out of websites and remove saved preferences, so have your account details ready before confirming the deletion.
In Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies and select See all site data and permissions. Search for youtube.com, choose Delete beside the site and confirm with Delete.
In Firefox, visit YouTube and open its site information panel beside the address bar. Choose Clear cookies and site data, then return to the video.
In Safari on Mac, open Safari > Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data. Select YouTube's website entry and click Remove, then reopen YouTube and check playback.
Handle a work or school browser
On a managed device, your administrator can control installed extensions and restrict Incognito browsing. An available Incognito window is not automatically an extension-free check, because individual extensions can be allowed to run there.
Carry out only the updates and extension changes your organization permits. If those controls are unavailable, ask the administrator to review the problem and describe which video failed, whether the browser closed and which permitted checks succeeded.
If the page stays open but videos are filtered, check the steps for turning off Restricted Mode on YouTube. A school or workplace administrator may control that setting, so ask them about an enforced restriction rather than treating it as evidence that reinstalling YouTube is needed.
Lower video quality and try another connection
Use these checks when the video stops or buffers while the app stays open. Start by lowering the selected quality and replaying the video, then try a different connection if the interruptions continue.
On a computer or TV, open the video's Settings, select Quality and choose a lower available resolution. On mobile, open Settings > Quality in the player and choose Data saver, or use Auto to let quality adjust to your viewing conditions.
To change the mobile app's quality preference, tap your profile picture and open Settings > Video quality preferences. Choose Auto or Data saver separately for mobile networks and Wi-Fi; Data saver uses lower picture quality and may start playback faster.
If you are using mobile data, connect to Wi-Fi and replay the same video. If you are already on Wi-Fi, try mobile data instead, remembering that your plan's data charges may apply.
Repair YouTube on a TV or streaming device
On a TV or streaming device, press the remote's Home button and reopen YouTube. If playback still fails, disconnect the TV or streaming device's power cable, wait at least 30 seconds and reconnect it, then replay the video after it starts.
For a game console, use its restart controls first. Before unplugging a PlayStation, shut it down fully and wait until its power indicator is off.
Check the device's app store for a YouTube update and its system settings for a software update. If other streaming apps also fail, use the device maker's troubleshooting support rather than repeatedly resetting only YouTube.
Roku and Fire TV
On Roku, press Home and open Settings > System > Power > System restart. Skip Power if that submenu is absent; afterward, highlight YouTube on the Home screen, press Star and select Check for Updates.
On Fire TV, open Settings > My Fire TV or Device & Software and choose Restart. For YouTube's app files, open Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > YouTube and choose Clear Cache first.
Clear Data removes saved app data and can require you to sign in again, so have your account details ready. Consider Clear Data only if YouTube still fails after clearing its cache.
Samsung TV
On newer Samsung TV menus, open Apps, scroll to App Settings and select YouTube to find its repair options. On older menus, open Apps and select the settings cog instead; choose Reinstall when available, especially if Delete is unavailable.
If you delete YouTube, return to the app search, find it and choose Install again. Keep your login details ready because reinstalling can sign you out; check TV software under Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now, opening All Settings first if your TV uses that layout.
Apple TV
On Apple TV, press TV twice quickly, move to YouTube and swipe up on the clickpad or touch surface to force quit it. Reopen the app, then search for YouTube in App Store and select Update if that option is offered.
For tvOS updates, open Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software. Select Download and Install if an update is available, and keep Apple TV connected to power while it updates.
Unsupported devices and resets
If YouTube says your device no longer meets its latest requirements, check for a firmware update before giving up on the app. An update can sometimes restore access; otherwise, use a supported device or try youtube.com if your TV has a browser.
Keep a Roku factory reset, Samsung Reset Smart Hub or Apple TV Reset and Update for last. Roku and Apple TV factory resets erase settings, while resetting Smart Hub signs you out of your Samsung account and apps, so gather your account details before considering any of them.
Report a crash that survives the repairs
After completing the relevant checks, report a recurring crash rather than repeating data resets. Describe the device, the video, when YouTube closes and which repair steps you already completed so the report gives useful context.
In the YouTube mobile app, tap your profile picture, open Settings and choose Send feedback. Describe the issue, choose whether to include screenshots and logs, then tap the send icon at the top right; if your layout uses Help and feedback, look there for Send feedback.
If the app closes before you can reach that screen, sign in to YouTube in a browser and use your profile picture > Send feedback. The YouTube feedback instructions explain the browser submission controls so you can finish the report there.
Stay with the current app or browser repairs rather than switching to YouTube Go or removing Android System WebView updates. For an app that keeps failing, the supported next step is to contact its developer after the restart, update, cache and reinstall checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does YouTube keep crashing as soon as I open it?
There is no single cause established by that symptom, so start by closing and reopening YouTube, restarting the device and updating the app. On Android, clear cache next; save clearing storage or reinstalling for later because those steps can remove local app data.
Will clearing YouTube data delete my account?
No, clearing app storage removes local app data rather than deleting your Google Account. Account deletion is a separate action in Google Account settings, and Clear cache is the option to use first when you want to remove temporary files.
What should I do if YouTube crashes only in Chrome?
Update Chrome and check the video in Incognito with extensions disabled. If that works, check extensions individually in your normal window; if it does not, try removing youtube.com site data and compare playback in another updated browser.
Why does my TV say YouTube is no longer available?
The device does not meet YouTube's latest requirements, so the installed app cannot keep working as it is. A firmware update sometimes restores access; if none helps, use another supported device or YouTube in a TV browser when available.
Is buffering the same as YouTube crashing?
A video that stalls while the app stays open calls for the playback checks first. Lower the quality or change connections and replay it; if the app closes or stops responding, work through restarting, updating and the repair steps for your device.