# YouTube TV Not Working? Here Are 10 Solutions to Fix It!#
Getting YouTube on your Smart TV elevates your streaming experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in your favorite content on a big screen in high-definition clarity. However, this viewing pleasure can sometimes be interrupted by issues like YouTube on TV not working.
If your YouTube app on TV won't launch, freezes, or pops up an error message, fear not. This guide is designed to walk you through the steps you can take to fix these issues. We'll also share some valuable tips to improve your YouTube on TV viewing experience. So, let's dive in and get your YouTube up and running again!
## Troubleshooting YouTube streaming on TV
Experiencing YouTube not working on a Smart TV can be frustrating, whether it's due to playback errors or the app not loading. But don't worry, these issues are usually easy to fix. Here's a quick guide to help you fix them:
**Check your network connection**
When you're wondering "Why is YouTube not working on my Smart TV?", the problem may lie with your network connection. A stable internet connection is essential for smooth streaming.
First, make sure your TV is connected to the right Wi-Fi network and that the signal strength is good. If it's slow or unstable, try restarting your router. Sometimes, just unplugging it for a few minutes can do wonders.
If you're still experiencing slow internet speed, consider moving your router closer to your TV or reducing the number of devices connected to the network. Overloaded networks can slow down your streaming experience.
Additionally, it's a good idea to run a speed test with your smartphone to assess your internet speed. YouTube TV requires a minimum of 3Mbps for standard videos and at least 7Mbps for a single 1080p stream. If your internet speed is below these values, you may need to upgrade your plan or contact your service provider.
## How to fix YouTube TV not working issue?
* Check the internet connection
* Check the status of YouTube TV
* Update the YouTube TV app
* Turn your device off and on: TV/Chromecast/computer
* Re-log in to your account
* Check the specific model of TV/Chromecast/Roku
* Wait for long recordings to be accessible
* Use an alternative if a specific channel is not working
* Update the YouTube TV host device
* You might be interested in this topic: These are the best video streaming services for 2020.
**Solution 1: Check the internet connection**
Just like you would expect from any other streaming platform, YouTube TV also needs a good internet connection that allows you to play still videos on regular YouTube. When you have that level of internet connection, you will be able to stream smoothly or you will not have this situation: YouTube TV keeps buffering over and over again.
First of all, you need to check if your network connection meets the “fast” standard. Next, check if your router is working properly. If not, you need to perform the following steps to reset it.
Step 1: Turn off your router and TV or computer.
Step 2: Remove the power cable from each device. Now, press and hold the power button on each device for about 4 seconds, so that all the power is drained.
Step 3: Now, wait for 2 to 3 minutes before plugging everything back in. Now restart your computer and launch the YouTube TV app. Check if the problem has been resolved.
**An Ethernet connection**
Step 1: Unplug the Ethernet cable from your TV or computer.
If the Ethernet cable is connected to a router, restart it as shown in the previous solution.
Step 2: Now turn off any of the devices and wait for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 3: Plug everything back in and check if the YouTube TV not working problem has been resolved.
### Solution 2: Check the status of YouTube TV
You may encounter several different scenarios, where YouTube TV is having a bad day on the server side. This is a very common scenario and it happens all the time (especially on YouTube TV because it is difficult to maintain). The only thing you can do is leave the platform for about 10 to 25 minutes and then check back.
You can also browse other forums to confirm that other users are facing the same problem. If yes, it may mean that there are no issues on your side and you just need to wait. If it is just a problem you are having, you can wait for a day or two to see if the YouTube TV not working issue is resolved. There are also geographic-specific issues.
### Solution 3: Update YouTube TV App
If you are using a YouTube TV version of the app that is available for multiple different platforms, it is recommended that you update it right now. YouTube TV sometimes crashes or gets stuck on errors. YouTube engineers will release an update to fix these issues. The problem you are facing may be global and can be fixed with an update.
**Tips:**
Usually, YouTube takes a day to release an update when a problem occurs, so be patient.
Here, let's take the YouTube app not working on Samsung TV as an example. You can update the YouTube app on Samsung TV to fix this problem.
Step 1: Press the Smart Hub key and go to Featured.
Step 2: Now, look for the YouTube TV app. Hold the Enter key until a submenu appears.
Step 3: When the submenu appears, click on Update Apps.
Step 4: Then, click on Select All.
Step 5: Click on Update All and wait for your TV to update the apps. After updating all the apps, restart your TV and try launching YouTube TV again. Check if the YouTube TV not working issue is resolved.
### Solution 4: Restart your device (TV/Chromecast/Computer)
###
You may encounter various situations where the device used for streaming is in an error state. This happens a lot with electronic devices. There is nothing to worry about. These platforms create temporary data and use it for their operations. If this data is corrupted, you will have trouble getting the YouTube app to work.
Step 1: In this case, you need to turn off the device properly and then remove all the cables.
Step 2: After that, remove the battery properly and separate it.
Step 3: Press the power button for 1 minute and wait for 2-3 minutes before plugging everything back in.
When you finish this, all the temporary data on the device will be deleted and new data with default values will be created and stored in the new location. This will fix the problem if there are any configuration issues.
**Solution 5: Sign back into your account**
Another major issue that you may encounter is account data corruption or poor user settings when logging into the YouTube TV app. This is a very common issue that you can see in a regular YouTube app.
Step 1: Click on the YouTube TV app icon on the top right corner.
Step 2: A new drop-down menu will appear. Now, select Sign Out.
Step 3: Once you are signed out, perform Solution 4 mentioned above.
Step 4: Now go back to the YouTube TV app and a prompt to sign in will appear. Enter your credentials and check if the YouTube TV not working issue is resolved.
### Solution 6: Check the specific TV/Chromecast/Roku model
Another reason why you might experience YouTube TV not working is that your TV or the device you are trying to stream on is outdated. For devices that support YouTube TV, YouTube TV has several key guidelines.
The app only uses an internet connection to stream live TV, so some modules used by Google are not compatible with older versions of devices. If you have an older device/TV, you may want to consider upgrading accordingly.
If you have the latest version of TV or app available, make sure to update all apps. If your TV is outdated, use Chromecast or Roku as an alternative to streaming YouTube. Once you are absolutely sure that there is nothing wrong with your device, proceed.
You might be interested in this post: How to watch YouTube TV on Roku Player – A useful way.
### Solution 7: Wait for long recordings to be accessible
Long recordings on YouTube take some time to stream or watch. This is because YouTube needs to process the recordings and save them so you can access them later. Generally, a short recording of less than 4 hours is fine.
However, longer recordings tend to lead to several different issues: they don't play at all, or some do, and some just refuse to play. To avoid this problem, you can wait for the problem to be resolved. Typically, the video will play normally after a day or two.
### Solution 8: Use a workaround if a specific channel isn't working
You might have a situation where a particular channel isn't streaming on your YouTube TV. It's a very common problem on major channels like ESPN. YouTube TV officially acknowledged the issue through official channels.
According to YouTube, they are looking into the issue and are also offering a workaround so you don't miss your show. You can download the app for a particular channel and then log in to that channel using your YouTube TV credentials. After finishing that, you can watch the show temporarily until YouTube TV engineers fix it backstage.
#### Solution 9: Update the YouTube TV Host Device
Another situation that many users face is that their host devices like Chromecast, Roku, etc. are unable to stream YouTube TV. If the problem has not reached YouTube's end, it will issue an official statement saying that the host device like Roku is aware of the problem and is fixing it.
You should pay attention to updates here. The host device usually issues a small update to fix the bugs. The next part will describe how to update Samsung TV over the internet. If you have other devices, you can perform these steps based on the architecture there.
Step 1: Click the Settings button, then click Support and choose Software Update.
Step 2: Once a new window appears, choose Auto Update to install all updates the moment they are released or simply click Update Now.
After you finish installing the update, you need to restart your host device and access YouTube TV again. Now, check if the problem is resolved.
If you are using Roku, you can now follow these steps to update your software.
Step 1: Go to the main menu and choose Settings.
Step 2: Now, go to System and then navigate to System Update.
Step 3: Click Check Now. After that, Roku will contact the update servers and help you download all the updates.
Once the update is installed, you need to restart your device and access YouTube TV. Then, check if the problem is gone.
You may be interested in this post: How can I cancel my YouTube TV subscription successfully?
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**Conclusion**
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### YouTube TV Not Working FAQ
#### Does YouTube TV have a program guide?
YouTube TV offers over 70 live TV channels, but it doesn’t put them in any recognizable order. Fortunately, you can customize the guide via the YouTube website or mobile apps, and view the changes on TVs like Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
#### How long is the YouTube TV free trial?
Typically, a YouTube TV free trial lasts for seven days. That’s pretty standard for a live TV free trial. But in a new promotion until January 15, new users will get a two-week free trial of YouTube. Read this post: YouTube TV Extended 3-Week Free Trial for New Subscribers.
How to Update YouTube on TV?
**Update your current playback region on a mobile device or web browser:**
1. Open YouTube TV.
2. Select your profile picture.
3. Select Settings > Region.
4. Next to Current Playback Region, select Update.
#### Can you use YouTube TV in two different locations?
If you share your YouTube TV membership with a family group, the location requirements are the same. Your family manager determines your home region, and all family members must primarily live in the same household. All family members need to regularly use YouTube TV in your home location to maintain access.