How to fix Galaxy S9 YouTube app not working issue, videos won’t play

Google’s YouTube app is usually working most of the time but at times when it doesn’t, it can be extremely frustrating. If you happen to be experiencing problems with your YouTube application lately, worry no more. Today’s #GalaxyS9 troubleshooting guide will walk you through the steps that you can do to fix whatever YouTube issue you’re having.

Solution #1: Soft reset

Before you attempt any drastic troubleshooting for this issue, you must try a basic solution that can sometimes minor bugs and app issues — soft reset. Soft reset is just a fancy term for restarting your device, in this case, the Galaxy S9. Some bugs can only last as long as the current operating system session is running, so by turning off the device, you may actually be

killing the bug off. In most cases, doing the normal restart is okay but in your case, we suggest that you do the soft reset by simulating a battery pull. Soft reset is often advised for devices that has stopped responding, or frozen but it can sometimes be an effective way to fix app issues. If you haven’t tried this one before, here’s how to do it:

1. Press and hold the volume down button and don’t release it.
2. Then, press and hold the power key while holding down the volume button.
3. Keep both keys held down for 10 seconds or more.

Doing the steps above is also known as soft reset. It has a similar effects to when you physically remove the battery so it should clear up the memory and the operating system.

Solution #2: Check date and time

Some apps may not work well or at all when a device has incorrect date and time. This is often true for apps that require syncing to their remote servers most of the time. You may find this suggestion weird but yes, YouTube may not work if your phone’s date and time is different from that of  its servers when syncing. To quickly check for your device’s date and time, just go under Settings > General management > Date and time and make sure that automatic date and time is enabled. As much as possible, try to avoid manually setting your time as even a few minutes off can cause system-wide issues. By using automatic date and time, you are telling the device to use your network’s date and time, which is synced to major networks around the world.

Solution #3: Verify internet connection is working

One of the common reasons why Youtube issues occur is device internet connection status. If your S9 is connected to a slow, intermittent internet connection, apps like YouTube may not be able to load videos properly. If you are constantly on mobile data, try to connect to a known working wifi network and see how YouTube performs. This way, you’ll know if the cause of the problem lies on your mobile data service or not. If YouTube app works fine on wifi and not on mobile data, you must contact your carrier so they assist you in improving the quality of your mobile data internet.

Solution #4: Install YouTube app updates

Sometimes, installing an app update fixes known bugs. The same is true for your YouTube issue here. To know if there’s a known update for YouTube, run the Play Store app, go under My apps & games, then check if you have apps that have pending updates. If one of them is your YouTube app, be sure to update it first to see what happens.

Solution #5: Install Android updates

Android is usually set to download and install system updates but some users usually find this feature troublesome, especially since new updates usually come in buggy versions. If you intentionally hold off updates for your device, make sure that you check if updating the firmware will resolve the issue you’re having now. YouTube is a well-maintained app that constantly requires up-to-date software version so if your operating system is not compatible, outdated, or corrupted in some ways, it may be the cause for the problem..

Solution #6: Clear YouTube app’s cache and data

One of the most effective solutions when it comes to fixing app problems is deleting the cache and data. This is a universal solution across Android and has been proven time and again to resolve any forms of issues with apps. First, you want to make sure that you clear the cache. Android apps usually store temporary set of files called cache to help them perform efficiently. If that cache became corrupted for some reason, that can cause performance problem. To clear your YouTube app’s cache:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap More settings at the upper right hand (three-dot icon).
4. Tap Show system apps.
5. Find the Keyboard app (if you’re using the stock Samsung keyboard, look for Samsung Keyboard) and tap it.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap CLEAR CACHE.
8. Restart your S8 and check for the problem.

Should the problem remain after clearing your app’s cache, consider wiping its data to return it to its defaults. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap More settings at the upper right hand (three-dot icon).
4. Tap Show system apps.
5. Find the Keyboard app (if you’re using the stock Samsung keyboard, look for Samsung Keyboard) and tap it.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap CLEAR DATA.
8. Restart your S8 and check for the problem.

Solution #7: Reset app preferences

Some apps may fail to work properly if a necessary app for it may had been disabled. To ensure that the YouTube app has its critical apps and services up and running, you want to reset all app preferences. Resetting app preferences will have the following effects:

• re-enables previously disabled apps and services
• resets default apps for actions
• turns off background data restrictions for apps
• return app permissions to their defaults
• unblock app notifications

To reset app preferences on your S9:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap More settings (three-dot) icon at the upper right.
4. Tap Reset app preferences.

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