If you’re having problems playing your YouTube video, try these troubleshooting steps to solve your issue. Some of the most common error messages are:
- An error has occurred.
- Playback error. Tap to retry.
- Connection to server lost.
- This video is unavailable.
- Something went wrong. Tap to Retry.
- Please check your network connection (Retry).
- This content isn’t available
Check your internet speed
- Restart your internet connection.
- Run an internet speed test to make sure your internet can support the selected video resolution. You can also change the quality of your video to improve your experience. Note: Using multiple devices on the same network may reduce the speed that your device gets.
- Check the YouTube video’s resolution and the recommended speed needed to play the video. The table below shows the approximate speeds recommended to play each video resolution.
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- If you're interested in seeing more info on how your videos are played back, check out Stats for Nerds.
Make sure you’re signed into YouTube.
In order to protect the YouTube community, we may prevent signed-out users from accessing YouTube videos when they’re attempting to download material for offline use.
If you are a researcher trying to access YouTube data for your academic research, you can apply to YouTube’s researcher program. You can learn more about the process and available data here.
Restart the YouTube app or reboot your device
Try closing the YouTube app or rebooting your device. You can also uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app.
Update your browser and check your extensions
Update the YouTube app
Check your data usage
Make sure you’ve turned on data usage for YouTube:
- Go to your device Settings.
- Tap Cellular.
- Under the "Cellular data" section, go to YouTube.
- Next to YouTube, tap the button so it's on
Other types of errors
“Something went wrong. Refresh or try again later.” error message- Sign in to YouTube. Some features may not work correctly if you're not signed in.
- Make sure you’re using the latest version of a compatible browser, like Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
- Allow ads on YouTube and turn off ad blockers. For an ad-free experience, YouTube Premium allows you to enjoy videos without interruptions while supporting creators.
- Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
- Confirm that you're using your preferred DNS servers and that no third-party applications have modified them. Go to your network settings or preferences to check your DNS settings.
- Restart your device. Once the device restarts, return to the YouTube app and try replaying your video.
Green or black screen in the video player
- Use a different browser to watch the video.
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
If that doesn’t work, try these troubleshooting tips.
Audio issues
If you can’t hear audio from a YouTube video, try to:
- Make sure the sound/volume is turned on for your browser or device.
- Check your device’s sound settings.
- Restart your browser or device.
Age-restricted content
Issues downloading videos
Account error issues
Issues with YouTube Paid Products
If the above steps don’t work and you:
- Bought a movie or TV show on YouTube, OR
- Are an active paid member of Youtube Music, YouTube Premium, or YouTube TV