Top 9 Ways to Fix YouTube Videos Not Playing on iOS and Android

While there are many video streaming services that claim to overcome YouTube’s shortcomings, Google’s YouTube remains the primary choice for users and creators to monetize the platform. Although YouTube works flawlessly most of the time, you may experience YouTube videos not playing on iOS or Android. Let’s fix the problem.

YouTube usage is definitely on the rise. However, users may witness certain YouTube videos not playing. Let’s fix the YouTube problem on your phone.

1. Check Mobile Data

Do you see the ‘No connection’ heading at the bottom when you open the YouTube app? Indicates that the mobile phone is not connected to the internet connection.

Android users can open the notification area and enable mobile data. iPhone users can enable mobile data from the Settings menu or Control Center.

2. Connect to Faster Wi-Fi Connection

It’s 2021 and most YouTube creators are uploading videos in 4K resolution. For a buffer-free YouTube experience, you must connect to a faster Wi-Fi connection on your phone.

If your router supports dual band, you should choose 5Ghz network frequency, not 2.4Ghz.

3. Check YouTube Servers

One of the biggest culprits behind YouTube videos not playing could be YouTube itself. If YouTube servers are having an off day, it won’t play any videos for you.

Then how do you confirm the problem? You can go to Downdetector and search YouTube. If you notice high rage spikes for YouTube, that’s a problem by YouTube.

You have no choice but to wait for Google to fix the problem on their side. You can check the live status of the company from their social media profiles.

4. Reset Network Settings

Still encountering YouTube videos not working on iPhone or Android? You need to reset network settings. Here’s how.

iPhone

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on iPhone.

Step 2: Go to the general menu.

Stage 3: Tap on Transfer or Reset.

Step 4: Select Reset Network Settings from the menu below.

Android

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Search for Reset Network Settings using the top search bar.

Stage 3: Go to the corresponding menu on your Android phone and Reset Network Settings.

Open YouTube and try to load YouTube videos.

5. Clear YouTube Cache (Android)

This trick is for those who use YouTube aggressively on their Android phones. YouTube collects cache data in the background to remember your search terms and load favorite videos faster.

Such cache data overload can cause YouTube videos not to play on mobile devices. You should clear the cache from the YouTube info menu. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Long press the YouTube icon and open the app info menu.

Step 2: Go to the storage and cache menu. You’d be surprised at the amount of cache data YouTube collects in the background.

Stage 3: Tap on Clear cache from the menu below.

6. YouTube Video Removed

For some reason, the admin may have removed the YouTube video from the platform. Someone may have flagged copyright claims regarding the video, and the company has the authority to remove such videos with a notice.

You can contact the YouTube channel manager and learn more about the reason the video was removed.

7. Download YouTube Videos

If you often encounter YouTube videos not playing, you can download your favorite videos to iPhone or Android.

If you are a YouTube Premium subscriber, you can easily download related YouTube videos to your phone. Press the download button below the YouTube video and you can view them without internet from the Downloads menu.

8. Get Unlimited Data Access to YouTube (Android)

Even with data saver mode enabled on your Android phone, you need to give YouTube unlimited data access so that it can play videos.

Stage 1: Long press the YouTube icon and open the App info menu.

Step 2: Go to the Mobile data and Wi-Fi menu.

Stage 3: Enable the Unlimited data usage toggle from the menu below.

From now on, YouTube will continue to play videos even if the data saver mode is enabled.

9. Update YouTube App

YouTube videos not playing could be caused by an outdated app on your phone. Google regularly releases app updates to the YouTube app to improve the app’s reliability.

Open Google Play Store or Apple App Store and update the YouTube app to the latest version available.

Start Playing YouTube Videos

If you still have problems with YouTube videos on mobile, you can also try to play them from the browser. Which troubleshooting trick worked for you? Share your findings in the comments section below.