Updating apps is essential for keeping them safe and getting new features. Usually, apps will update themselves if the auto-update setting is enabled, or you can also update them manually from the Play Store. Sometimes when you open the app, you will get a notification that the app needs to be updated. The app doesn’t update when you try to do this. The same thing happens to YouTube for many Android users.
When they try to update YouTube it starts downloading but not loading. They get Error 501 or Error 901 when trying to update YouTube app. Some even see errors like ‘Cannot load YouTube’. Try again.’
This is a known issue and many users have reported it on Google forums. If you are also encountering the error, here is how to fix the YouTube app not installing or updating.
1. Reboot Phone
As always, your first step should be to restart your phone. If other apps are also not downloading, restart your router as well if your phone is connected to Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, turn on airplane mode for a while and then turn it off.
2. Check and Update Operating System
Over time, Google ends support for previous versions of the Android operating system. And when that happens, you cannot update some apps on your phone. This is because your Android version is not compatible with the updated version of YouTube.
In 2018, Google ended support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. So, if your phone is running on Android 4.0 or lower, you will face issues while updating apps along with YouTube app. To check your Android version, open Settings > About. The Android version will appear there.
You should check if an update is available for your phone. For this, go to Settings > System > Software update. If there are no updates and your phone is running on a lower Android version, it’s time to buy a new phone. However, before doing this, you can check the alternatives mentioned at the end of the article to use YouTube on your current phone.
If your Android version is above the minimum requirement, check below methods to fix YouTube app not installing or updating issue.
3. Remove SD Card
If your phone has an SD card installed and supports it, try removing the card for a while and then update YouTube. You should also try changing the default storage setting from SD card to Phone storage. You’ll find it in Settings > Storage.
4. Clear Cache
The next step to fix the problem is to clear the cache for three apps, YouTube, Google Play Store, and Google Play Services. You should start by clearing the cache. If the problem persists, only then clear the data.
Deleting the data on YouTube will remove the downloaded videos and reset the settings in the app to their original values. But clearing data for Play Store and Play Services does not delete any data. Only the settings in the Play Store are reset to their original values.
To clear cache and data, follow these steps:
Stage 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and go to App & notifications or Apps.
Step 2: Under All apps, tap YouTube. Tap on Storage for YouTube.
Stage 3: Tap on Clear cache. Try updating the application. If the problem persists, tap on Clear data or storage.
Step 4: Restart the phone. Check if the problem is resolved.
Step 5: If you are still unable to download or update YouTube, repeat the above steps to clear cache and data for Play Store and Play Services.
5. Uninstall YouTube
Try uninstalling YouTube from your phone. If the app comes pre-installed on your phone, you will only be able to uninstall its updates and not completely. But don’t worry. This will work too.
You can uninstall YouTube in two ways. First, open Play Store and search for YouTube. Tap Uninstall. After uninstalling, restart the phone. Then update or install YouTube again from Play Store.
In the second method, open Settings on your phone and go to Apps. Tap YouTube. If you see the Uninstall button, tap on it. Otherwise, tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select Uninstall updates. Then install it again.
6. Uninstall Updates for Play Store
Similar to uninstalling YouTube, you should uninstall Play Store updates. Doing so will restore the Play Store to its factory version thus eliminating any issues if any. By doing this your apps or any personal data will not be removed from your phone. However, you will lose any customizations you have made in the settings you have made in the Play Store app.
Launch Settings on your phone to uninstall Google Play Store updates. Open apps and tap Google Play Store. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select Uninstall updates. Restart your phone. Wait 2-3 minutes for Play Store to update in the background. Then try to load YouTube.
7. Reset App Preferences
Sometimes, a certain setting changes on your phone that restricts some apps from updating. To fix this, you have to clear app preferences. Before you take the step, find out what happens by resetting app preferences on Android.
To reset app preferences, open Settings and go to Apps. Open the All apps section. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select Reset app preferences.
Alternative Methods of Using YouTube
If the YouTube app fails to install or update on your phone, there are several alternatives to access YouTube from your phone.
Install YouTube Using APK
For this, you need to download the APK for the YouTube app from a reliable source like APKMirror.com. You can try to download the latest version of YouTube first. If that doesn’t work, try installing an older version supported by your phone’s Android operating system.
Fly: SHAREit, Xender etc. You can even share APKs using file sharing apps.
Use the Mobile Version of YouTube
If the YouTube app is not updated, you can watch YouTube videos using its mobile version. To do this, visit m.youtube.com from your mobile browser.
Try YouTube Go
Google has a lightweight version of the YouTube app that goes by the name YouTube Go. It is designed to work on devices with low RAM and in areas with poor internet connection. You should try to install. Find out how it differs from the regular YouTube app.
YouTube Without YouTube
We hope the above solutions helped you install the YouTube app on your phone. If YouTube is still not working, you can take help from other sites or browse YouTube alternatives to watch YouTube. Of course, you won’t get all the features of YouTube but it’s better than nothing.
Next: Is YouTube consuming too much data? Check out 4 great tips to reduce data usage from YouTube on Android, iPhone and PC.
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