YouTube Not Working on Chrome? 11 Tips to Fix It

Many of us prefer watching YouTube videos on the Chrome browser. However, sometimes you may find that YouTube is not working on Chrome. In this article, we will discuss the reasons that prevent YouTube from working on this browser and what you can do to fix it. Keep reading!

Why is YouTube Not Working in Chrome?

You will need to find out why YouTube is not loading on Chrome before attempting to solve it. Here are the most common causes behind this issue:

• Weak or unstable internet connection.
• Issues with your ISP or equipment (ex: router).
• Corrupted data on the web browser.
• JavaScript is turned off.
• Corrupted/Incompatible browser add-ons.

Now you know the possible reasons behind the issue, let’s check the solutions that you can try to fix the YouTube playback error on Chrome:

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The most common cause that might prevent you from playing YouTube videos on Chrome is the internet connection. So, before trying anything else, we recommend inspecting your internet connection.

Try browsing other sites. If they don't load, their internet might be down. You will need to wait for it to be restored. If other sites load perfectly, call your ISP provider.

2. Force Close and Restart Chrome

The next thing you can do is to force close Chrome and then restart it. Sometimes minor glitches in the browser can prevent it from browsing YouTube. Restarting will help to fix them. Here is how to do this:

• Open Task Manager from the the Start Menu or Taskbar.
• Now find the Google Chrome application under the Processes tab.
• Select Chrome and tap on End Task to close it.

Once you close the instances, the open tab of Chrome will be eliminated. You can restart Chrome simply by pressing its icon again. Once you are done, try browsing YouTube and check if it works.

3. Enable JavaScript in Chrome

The JavaScript in your Chrome browser must be enabled to play video. Here is how to check and enable JavaScript:

• Start Chrome and go to the Menu (by clicking the 3-dot icon at the top-right). Go to Settings from there.
• Scroll down the Settings page and press Privacy and security.
• Now open Site Settings and click on JavaScript under the Content tab .
• Choose the Sites can use JavaScript option and delete YouTube if it is in the list for blacked sites.

4. Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

The hardware acceleration is a new feature on the browsers that enables them to provide you with better performance. However, they sometimes do the opposite and cause many problems like YouTube videos not playing. Here is how to turn this off:

• Open the menu icon again by pressing the three-dot icon at the top-left of the screen and go to Settings.
• Scroll down to find the System section.
• Uncheck the box beside Use hardware acceleration when available.

After that, restart the Chrome browser and check if the YouTube videos play normally.

5. Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies

Cache and cookies stored by the Chrome browser can get corrupted and cause many issues like YouTube videos not playing. Consider clearing the cache and cookies following the below steps:

• Open Menu and click on More tools > Clear browsing data…
• Make All time is selected under Time range, and the checkbox beside Cookies and other site data is marked.
• Then press Clear data.

Restart Chrome and try playing YouTube videos.

6. Disable Chrome Extensions

Most of us use a lot of Chrome extensions that help us in many ways. However, sometimes this extension can be corrupted, preventing YouTube videos from loading. Try disabling the extensions:

• Go to Menu > More Tools > Extensions.
• Disable all the extensions one by one by pressing the toggle switch under the extension name.

7. Use Incognito Mode

When you browse from incognito mode, the saved browsing data and other information don't affect your browsing experience. For example, try playing the YouTube video from an incognito tab on Chrome.

To do this, simply press CTRL+SHIFT+N together. You can also open incognito mode Menu > New Incognito Mode.

8. Update Chrome

Are you using an outdated version of Chrome? It can also affect your browsing experience and prevent you from browsing YouTube videos. Here is how to do that:

• Go to Menu > Help > About Google Chrome.
• Check if there is any available update.
• If the update is available, install it and relaunch the browser.

9. Reset Google Chrome

If none of the above solutions works, consider resetting Google Chrome. Note that it will remove cache and browsing data. Here is how to perform the reset:

• First, open Google Chrome and go to Menu > Settings.
• Scroll down the page to find and open Reset and clean up.
• At this page, press Restore settings to their original defaults.
• Then, in the confirmation popup, press Reset settings to proceed.

10. Remove and Reinstall Chrome

If you still cannot sort out the problem, consider removing and reinstalling the Chrome browser. First, go to Windows Settings > Apps and find Chrome to remove it. Then, reinstall it from another browser by opening Chrome's official website.

11. Use Another Browser

One of the easy solutions you can consider is utilizing a different browser. There are many Chrome alternatives, including Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and much more.

Bonus: Download YouTube Videos

You can also consider using a third-party video downloader to download and watch the videos without browser. In this case, we will recommend the ClipDown Video Downloader as it is easy to use and let you download videos from YouTube and many other video sharing sites quickly.

Here is how to download 1080p/4K videos from YouTube using ClipDown:

1. Download the Clipdown Video Downloader from its official site. Then, install and launch it on your PC.
2. Copy the video URL of the YouTube video and come back to the ClipDown app.
3. Press the +Paste URL. The link will be automatically detected and analyzed. A setting dialog box will appear where you select the video resolution and format.
4. Press Download after selecting the video resolution and format. That's it; the video will be downloaded within a while, and you can now watch it offline.

The Bottom Line

By utilizing the above-discussed fixes, you should be able to get back the YouTube videos playing smoothly on the Chrome browser of your PC. However, if you are seeking a quick solution, consider using the ClipDown Video Downloader to quickly download and watch the video locally.

Aug 03,2022 10:44:54 Post By Justin B. Davis to ClipDown Blog Center

Justin is a technical expert who loves technology and a big video fan. He writes about helpful video tips, reviews and tutorials.

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