If YouTube keeps crashing on your phone, tablet, or TV, you’re not alone. Many users experience sudden freezes, error messages, or complete shutdowns when system glitches cause something in the device to stop working smoothly. This guide walks you through the most common causes and shows you how to get the app running normally again—organized by device type so you can jump straight to the solution you need.
Common Causes of YouTube Crashes
Most problems fall into a small set of categories. Understanding the cause helps you pick the right fix.
Outdated YouTube app version remains one of the biggest reasons the app collapses. Running an older app version leads to incompatibility with modern OS updates, often resulting in random shutdowns and error messages. These older versions may also contain app bugs and software bugs that have been fixed in newer releases through bug fixes and performance improvements. You can check your current app version in Settings → Apps → YouTube → App Info.
Too many background apps can also cause YouTube to crash. When multiple background apps consume RAM and processing power, YouTube may not have enough resources to run smoothly. Closing unnecessary background apps often resolves these conflicts.
Corrupted cache and cached data frequently break the app as well. YouTube stores thumbnails, previews, and layout files in its cache. When those cached files turn stale or corrupted, playback and interface components start failing. Several Android repair guides, such as Carlcare’s Android crash overview, list cache corruption and corrupted files as one of the most common crash triggers.
Low storage and insufficient storage also destabilizes the app. YouTube needs storage space to buffer videos, store internal data, and manage background operations. Devices with insufficient storage—less than 1–2 GB free storage space—often experience repeated failures.
Network issues—weak Wi-Fi, broken mobile data settings, or a misbehaving VPN—interrupt the app’s ability to communicate with YouTube servers. Sudden drops tend to cause freezes or full app exits. These network issues are among the most common connectivity problems that trigger crashes.
System component conflicts hit Android especially hard. The app relies on components like Android System WebView (which renders web content inside apps) and Google Play Services. When either of these is outdated or corrupted, YouTube often starts failing across multiple actions.
Device compatibility issues affect older phones. Android 5.0 and 5.1, in particular, no longer support YouTube’s modern security patch and playback requirements, leading to unavoidable crashes.
Quick Fixes (All Devices)
Try these first—they resolve most crashes in seconds.
Force Close the App
Force closing breaks crash loops by resetting active processes and clearing temporary system glitches that may be interfering with the app.
Android
Step 1: From your home screen, tap the Settings icon (highlighted with the red circle).
Step 2: In the Settings menu, select Apps & notifications.
Step 3: Find and tap YouTube in the app list.
Step 4: Tap the Force Stop button to close the app completely.
iPhone
On iOS, there is no “Force Stop” button. Instead, you force close apps through the App Switcher.
Step 1: From your home screen, swipe up from the bottom edge and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher.
Step 2: Swipe left or right until you find the YouTube app card.
Step 3: Swipe the YouTube card straight up and off the screen to close it.
Step 4: The app is now closed. Tap the background or swipe down to return to your home screen.
Restart Your Device
A soft reboot clears memory leaks and resets system-level states. When you reboot device or restart phone, it provides a clean slate that eliminates temporary system glitches causing YouTube to crash. This often-overlooked step refreshes the operating system and clears minor software conflicts that may be making the app malfunction.
Android
Step 1: Press and hold both the Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously.
Step 2: The power menu will appear with Power off and Restart options.
Step 3: Tap Restart to reboot your phone.
iPhone
Step 1: Press and hold the Side button and Volume Up button together.
Step 2: Keep holding until the power-off slider appears.
Step 3: Drag the slider to power off your device.
Step 4: Wait 30 seconds for the device to fully power down.
Step 5: Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears to restart phone.
Check Your Internet Connection
Test your connection by loading a website or running a speed test. YouTube needs stable connectivity—at minimum ~7 Mbps for HD playback. If you’re on a VPN, try disabling it temporarily.
Android Troubleshooting
If the quick fixes didn’t work, try these Android-specific solutions in order.
Clear Cache and Cached Data
Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Storage.
- Clear Cache removes corrupted cached files and cached data, often restoring stability immediately.
- Clear Data resets the app entirely (you’ll need to sign in again). Use this for issues tied to corrupted internal data and corrupted files.
Update the YouTube App (Install Updates)
Open the Google Play Store, search for YouTube, and tap Update if available. Many stability patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements only ship through app updates. Make sure to install updates regularly to benefit from the latest security patch releases.
Update Android System WebView
This component renders web content inside apps. Search for “Android System WebView” in the Play Store and update it. Outdated versions cause crashes across multiple apps due to unresolved app bugs.
Uninstall Updates (Roll Back YouTube)
Sometimes a new update introduces app bugs that cause crashes. If YouTube started crashing after a recent update, you can uninstall updates to revert to a stable version. Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → tap the three-dot menu → Uninstall updates. This rolls back to the factory version, after which you can wait for Google to release bug fixes before updating again.
Reset Google Play Services
Go to Settings → Apps → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear Cache. Corrupted Play Store data often triggers YouTube failures.
Reset Network Settings
Go to Settings → System → Reset Options → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth. This resolves connectivity-based crashes without erasing personal data.
Install System Updates (System Update)
Go to Settings → System → Software Update. A system update keeps APIs synchronized with YouTube’s requirements. These updates often include security patch improvements and performance improvements that resolve system glitches affecting multiple apps.
Check App Permissions
Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Permissions. Make sure YouTube has the necessary app permissions for storage and network access. Missing or denied app permissions can cause unexpected crashes and limit functionality.
Disable Battery Optimization
Aggressive battery optimization can force YouTube to close unexpectedly. Go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Battery and select “Unrestricted” or disable battery optimization for YouTube. This prevents the system from killing the app to save power.
iPhone Troubleshooting
iOS handles apps differently than Android. Here’s what works best.
Delete and Reinstall App
In June 2025, iPhones worldwide experienced a major crash issue. YouTube confirmed that a simple update wouldn’t fix it—users needed to reinstall app completely. This was documented by iDownloadBlog and other sources.
- Delete the YouTube app completely
- Restart phone to clear any remaining system glitches
- Reinstall app from the App Store
- Sign back in
Reset Network Settings
Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings. This clears saved Wi-Fi passwords and cellular settings but often resolves connectivity-related crashes.
Update iOS (Install Updates)
Go to Settings → General → Software Update. Keeping iOS current ensures compatibility with YouTube’s latest requirements. iOS updates include security patch fixes and performance improvements that can resolve app crashes.
YouTube Music Troubleshooting
Here is a step-by-step guide to troubleshooting the YouTube Music app on your Android device by clearing its cache.
Step 1: Identify the Problem
First, you may notice that the YouTube Music app is not working correctly, indicated by an error symbol on its icon or if it crashes frequently.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings
To fix this, you’ll need to go to your phone’s system settings. From the main settings menu, locate and tap on “Apps” (or “Apps & notifications”).
Step 3: Find YouTube Music and Go to Storage
In your list of apps, find and tap on “YouTube Music”. On the app’s info screen, tap on “Storage” to access its data settings.
Step 4: Clear the Cache
Finally, on the Storage screen, tap the “Clear cache” button. This will remove temporary files that may be causing the issue without deleting your personal data or downloads.
After clearing the cache, try opening the YouTube Music app again to see if the problem is resolved. If not, you can try clearing the app’s data or reinstalling it.
Smart TV Troubleshooting
Smart TVs face unique challenges: weaker Wi-Fi antennas, limited storage, and slower update cycles.
- Reboot device first—many system glitches resolve with a simple restart.
- Check your network connection next. Many smart TV issues stem from unstable Wi-Fi. Try moving the router closer or using an ethernet cable.
- Update the YouTube app through your TV’s app store to get the latest bug fixes.
- Update TV firmware through System Settings. Firmware updates often include performance improvements.
- Clear YouTube cache if your TV supports it (check app settings) to remove corrupted cached data.
- Reinstall app if issues persist.
- Free up storage by removing unused apps to address insufficient storage issues.
Some issues resolve automatically when YouTube pushes server-side updates with bug fixes. If nothing works, waiting 24–48 hours sometimes helps.
Advanced Solutions
If none of the above worked, these deeper fixes address persistent issues caused by software bugs or system-level conflicts.
Upgrade Device Firmware
Outdated firmware can create compatibility gaps. Check your manufacturer’s website for the latest version. Firmware updates often include security patch fixes and performance improvements that address system glitches.
Factory Reset (Last Resort)
A factory reset clears deep conflicts that survive app reinstalls and cache wipes. Back up your data first—this erases everything on your device.
Repair Corrupted Downloaded Videos
Crashes during offline video playback usually come from corrupted files in your downloads. Delete them and re-download, or use a tool like Repairit Video Repair to restore damaged files.
Preventive Maintenance
Keep YouTube running smoothly with these habits:
- Clear cache every few weeks to prevent buildup of corrupted files and cached data.
- Maintain adequate storage space—keep at least 1-2 GB of free storage space to avoid insufficient storage issues so YouTube has room to buffer and operate.
- Use stable internet to avoid network issues (minimum 7 Mbps for HD streaming).
- Close background apps regularly to free RAM and reduce conflicts from too many background apps running simultaneously.
- Enable automatic updates for YouTube and your operating system to install updates and get bug fixes, security patch releases, and performance improvements as soon as they’re released.
- Review app permissions periodically to ensure YouTube has the access it needs to function properly.
- Restart phone or reboot device weekly to clear system glitches before they cause problems.
- Check battery optimization settings aggressive battery optimization can cause YouTube to crash when running in the background.
When it comes to using the YouTube app, both Android and iOS users can face occasional issues, including app crashes. Although both platforms experience similar problems, the frequency and underlying causes might differ. Below is a comparison table highlighting the key issues encountered by users on each platform, which can help in understanding whether these problems are more prevalent on Android or iOS devices.
| Issue | Android App | iOS App |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency of Crashes | Occasional, often after updates | Less frequent but still present |
| Common Causes | Software updates, device memory issues | iOS updates, app version compatibility |
| Recent Complaints | Increased after major system updates | Sporadic, often linked to new iOS releases |
| Troubleshooting Steps | Clear cache, update app, restart device | Reinstall app, check for iOS updates |
| User Feedback | Mixed reviews, dependent on device model | Generally positive, but some dissatisfaction |
| Support Response Time | Varies, dependent on issue complexity | Generally quicker, especially via Apple Support |
This table provides a quick overview for users to understand the differences in YouTube app issues between Android and iOS, aiding in timely troubleshooting and expectations management.
Contact YouTube Support
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps above and YouTube still crashes, it’s time to contact YouTube support directly. You can submit user feedback through the app by tapping your profile picture → Help & feedback → Send feedback. Include details about the error messages you’re seeing, your device model, operating system version, and app version.
You can also visit the YouTube Help Center for additional support contact options and to check if other users are reporting similar issues. Sometimes crashes are caused by server-side problems that YouTube needs to fix on their end—your user feedback helps them identify and resolve these issues faster with targeted bug fixes.
