If you find video streaming on YouTube TV is not working, what to do?
If you’re experiencing an issue with the YouTube TV app on your supported smart TV, media player, or game console – it may be a manufacturer issue. We recommend you check by opening another app on your smart TV, media player, or game console to see whether the same problem occurs. If it does, you’ll need to get in touch with the manufacturer for their support.
If the issue you’re experiencing with the YouTube TV app does not occur when you use other apps, then try the tips below. Typically most of the solutions used to fix general YouTube TV issues should apply here, but we will cover them again and put them in context. Some playback errors also require unique remedies, and we will be highlighting those as we go.
Restart your device
Hold down the power button to turn off your device, wait 30 seconds, and then restart your device.
Check for app or device updates
Check that you’ve installed the latest system updates for your device.
Update to the newest available version of the YouTube TV app.
Uninstall and reinstall the YouTube TV app
Bandwidth requirements
Test if you meet bandwidth requirements. Try a service like Speedtest to see if your connection is fast enough. YouTube TV requires at least 3Mbps, and you’ll probably want at least 7 Mbps for a single 1080p stream. Demands increase with the number of simultaneous viewers, and even a single 4K stream will consume about 20Mbps. Close the video player by pulling down to minimize it and swiping to the right. Reopen the player and try watching the video again.
Check YouTube TV server status.
Like any online service, YouTube TV is vulnerable to network and server problems, and Google may sometimes need downtime to perform maintenance and upgrades. You can use sites like Downdetector to see if servers are operating normally. When they’re not, you’ll just have to be patient.
Location requirements
When you sign up for YouTube TV you’re asked to share your home ZIP code, since the service is still US-only at the moment. You can only change your home address twice per year. When you travel to another part of the US you’ll only be able to stream that area’s content, not record it, and you won’t have access to your hometown’s unique channels, though DVR functions should still work. Outside the US you can’t watch YouTube TV at all, not without a VPN connected to a US server. Also you have to use the service in your home area once every 3 months to keep that location valid.
Clear out cookie and/or cache data.
Temporary files can sometimes get corrupted and cause a multitude of woes. Android users can clear out the YouTube TV app cache, while web viewers can scrub their browser’s cookies and cache. There’s no equivalent of this for iPhones, iPads, or smart TVs and media streamers.