While it’s not a native YouTube app for Windows or Mac, you’re limited to using it in a browser. Therefore, you can use Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari to access it. However, this is not as smooth as expected. Sometimes YouTube stops working in Chrome or the browser randomly stops responding.
Multiple factors affect the YouTube experience in Google Chrome. Let’s discuss the most common ones first and then move on to advanced troubleshooting fixes.
1. Check Internet Speed
YouTube allows you to stream videos up to 4K resolution. These clear videos will require significant internet bandwidth. You can use tools like Speedtest or Fast.com and make sure you have a speed of at least 25 Mbps.
Pro tip: Modern Wi-Fi routers nowadays support both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands. Try connecting your device to 5.0GHz frequency for the best experience.
2. Use YouTube in Incognito Mode
Sometimes the YouTube problem may not be caused by YouTube or Chrome. YouTube is not working properly, it may be associated with your Google account.
Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner. Select Incognito mode from the menu below to open a new tab. Then start browsing YouTube privately.
3. Check YouTube Servers
If the YouTube servers are having a rough day, none of the tricks in the post will try to fix the problem for you. Go to Downdetector and search for YouTube. If you notice a violent surge of anger lately, you have no choice but to wait for Google to fix the problem.
4. Disable Ad Blockers
An ad blocker may be interfering with YouTube playback in Google Chrome. You can pause the ad-blocker on the YouTube platform, or better yet, turn it off completely in the Chrome Settings menu. Go through the steps below.
Stage 1: Open Google Chrome, tap the three-dot menu at the top.
Step 2: Go to More tools > Extensions.
Stage 3: It will open the extension menu. Tap the Uninstall button next to the potentially problematic extension to delete it from the browser.
5. Clear Cache and Cookies from Google Chrome
A corrupted cache also makes Chrome act randomly. Clearing the cache is almost always safe, so there’s no reason not to try it.
If your Google Chrome has overloaded browsing data, clearing them can give the browser new wheels. However, sites may initially load a bit slow to gather new data.
Stage 1: Open Google Chrome, tap the three-dot menu at the top.
Step 2: Go to More tools > Clear browsing data.
Stage 3: Go to Advanced and select the Cache and Cookies files to delete from the menu below.
Then restart the Google Chrome browser and check if the problems with YouTube are fixed.
6. Enable JavaScript
If JavaScript is disabled in the Chrome browser, enable it for smooth video playback. Go through the steps below.
Stage 1: Open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
Step 2: Use the search bar at the top and type JavaScript.
Stage 3: Find the option under the context menu.
Step 4: Click on JavaScript and make sure it is enabled from the menu below.
7. Turn off Hardware Acceleration
The hardware acceleration feature in Chrome can sometimes prevent videos from playing.
Stage 1: Open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
Step 2: Use the top search bar and type hardware acceleration.
Stage 3: Disable the option from the search suggestions.
Go ahead and try YouTube playback again in the Chrome browser.
8. Update Graphics Drivers
Updating the graphics drivers may fix the YouTube not working issue in Chrome for you. Go through the steps below.
Stage 1: Press the Windows key and search for Device Manager.
Step 2: Open Device Manager and look for Display adapters.
Stage 3: Under Display adapters you will find the graphics drivers on the device.
Step 4: Right click on it and choose Update Driver.
The Windows operating system automatically finds and installs the latest graphics drivers on the device.
9. Use Google Chrome Alternatives
If you still think that YouTube is not working in Google Chrome, it’s time to look for Chrome alternatives. To play YouTube videos without any glitches, we recommend going with Microsoft Edge or Firefox.
Get Started with YouTube on Chrome
YouTube is a video platform that is used for many different purposes. So you might want to fix it when it doesn’t work in Chrome. Follow the above steps and fix YouTube not working on Chrome issue. While you’re here, let us know which trick worked for you in the comments section below.
Next: Getting too much notification spam from Google Chrome? Read the post to learn how to turn off notifications from Google Chrome.
