How to Fix Youtube Black Screen on Phone?
How to Fix Youtube Black Screen on Phone?
4 Answers

Dealing with a black screen on YouTube can be seriously annoying, but don’t worry—I’ve got some tips to help you get things back on track.
Why You Might Be Seeing a Black Screen:
- App Issues: Sometimes, an outdated or corrupt YouTube app is the culprit. For example, if an app update didn’t go through properly, it may mess with video playback.
- Network Problems: A lousy internet connection, like a weak Wi-Fi signal or dodgy mobile data, can make YouTube freak out and show a black screen.
- Device Problems: Things like a full cache memory, outdated graphics driver, or screen issues on your phone can also cause this problem.
- Account Issues: Sometimes, problems with your Google account sync can halt YouTube in its tracks, leading to that annoying black screen.
- Other Troubles: Ad blockers interrupting the video, DNS issues, or conflicts with certain browser extensions can also be the reason behind your black screen woes.
How to Make That Black Screen Go Away:
Start with the Basics:
- Relaunch YouTube: Close the app completely and then open it again. It might clear out some temporary bugs and get your video playing again.
- Restart Your Phone: Seriously, sometimes the old “turn it off and on again” trick works wonders. Hold down the power button and hit “restart.”
App Fixes:
- Clear the Cache: Go into settings, find the YouTube app, and clear its cache. This usually helps if the cache files got corrupted.
- Force Stop the App: Long-press the YouTube app, tap on “App Info” or “Force Stop” and then reopen it—it might solve the problem.
- Reinstall the App: If nothing else works, uninstall YouTube and then grab it again from the App Store or Google Play Store. This can fix deeper issues.
- Update YouTube: Check the store for updates. An outdated app may just be throwing a fit and updating it might help.
Network Fixes:
- Check Your Internet: Ensure your connection is strong. You can try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if it helps.
- Reset Network Settings: Dive into your phone’s settings and reset your network settings to default. It might fix those tricky network-related problems.
Device and Account Fixes:
- Adjust Device Settings: Check your screen brightness, make sure there’s no excessive filtering, and clear out some storage if needed.
- Re-sign into Google: Sometimes you just need to refresh your account sync. Head to settings, remove and re-add your Google account, and see if that helps.
- Inspect Phone Hardware: If none of the above worked, there could be an issue with your phone’s hardware, like a busted display. Might be time to call in the experts.
Other Quick Fixes:
- Turn Off Ad Blockers: If you’re using any, try disabling them and see if that resolves the black screen.
- Check DNS Settings: Switch up your DNS settings to something public like Google’s (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare’s (1.1.1.1) just to see if it helps.

Hey, so you’re dealing with a black screen on YouTube while using your phone, huh? It can be super frustrating, no doubt. But don’t worry, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to help you out! This gremlin might be caused by corrupted cache, outdated software, or a glitchy network connection. Let’s check it out step by step:
Step 1: Clear the App Cache
A lot of times, a messed-up cache is behind those annoying black screens. Clearing it out can work like magic without messing up your saved settings.
- For Android:
- First, open Settings.
- Hit Apps, then scroll to find YouTube and give it a tap.
- Head to Storage and hit Clear Cache. That should help.
- For iPhone: Sadly, Apple doesn’t let us clear cache directly. You might have to reinstall the app or clear browsing data if you’re checking out YouTube on a browser.
Step 2: Force Stop and Relaunch the App
Sometimes, apps just need a little nudge. Closing and reopening YouTube might just do the trick.
- On both Android and iOS:
- Swipe away that YouTube app in your recent apps.
- Fire up YouTube again and see if the videos are back.
Step 3: Restart Your Device
Turning your phone off and back on isn’t just for tech issues on TV—it really can help with system blips.
- How to restart:
- For Android: Hold the Power button down and tap Restart.
- For iPhone: Hold the Power button, then swipe when you see “slide to power off.” Give it a few, then power back up.
Step 4: Update Your App
Check if the YouTube app needs a fresh update—they usually come with fixes for hiccups like this.
- Just look for updates in:
- Google Play Store if you’ve got an Android phone.
- App Store for iPhone users.
Step 5: Check Network Connection
A shaky internet connection can mess with video loading. Make sure you’re on a steady Wi-Fi or data connection:
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa—they can be fickle!
- Try moving closer to your router if you’re on Wi-Fi, or give it a quick reset.
Step 6: Disable VPNs or Proxies
Using a VPN? It might be the culprit. Temporarily switch it off and see if YouTube plays nice again.
Step 7: Adjust Video Autoplay Settings (iOS Specific)
If you’re rocking an iOS device, tweaking the video autoplay settings might help out:
- Hit Settings.
- Tap on App Store and look for Video Autoplay under Mobile Data settings.
- Switch it from off to on. It might just solve your problem.
I hope one of these fixes sorts it out for you. That’s the deal—sometimes you just gotta try a few things to get a handle on tech issues.

Tackling the Dreaded YouTube Black Screen on Your Phone
Okay, so you’re there—the middle of a viral YouTube video—when suddenly, bam! The screen goes black. Annoying, right? It’s not just you; many folks have hit this snag, usually because of software hiccups or settings that don’t play nice. But don’t worry, we’ve got a bunch of easy fixes you can try right now!
1. Clear Out the Junk: Cache and Data
Here’s the kicker: sometimes, those cache files just mess things up big time. It’s like an unnecessary roadblock.
- For Android users:
- Hop into Settings, then Apps, and zero in on YouTube. Head to Storage and hit that ‘Clear Cache’ button. If it’s still not working, go ahead and ‘Clear Data’—just know this will reset your app settings.
- For iOS folks:
- Unfortunately, you gotta uninstall and reinstall the app. There’s no other way around it.
2. Do You Have the Latest Versions?
This might sound basic, but you’d be surprised how often an outdated app or phone software trips things up.
- Update that YouTube app:
- Fire up the Google Play Store or App Store, search for YouTube, and smash that ‘Update’ button.
- Get your OS up to date:
- On Android, dive into Settings, then System, and tap on Software Update.
- For iOS, it’s Settings, then General, then Software Update. Easy peasy!
3. Hardware Acceleration: Friend or Foe? (Android)
Here’s something that might surprise you: that fancy hardware acceleration might be the bad guy here.
- Open YouTube, knock on your profile icon, hit Settings, then General.
- Flip off Ambient Mode and Limit background activity. Trust me, it can help!
4. Is Your Internet Being a Jerk?
Honestly, we tend to overlook our network sometimes. If your video’s stuck, it could be your internet playing games with you.
- Swap between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test your connection.
- Restart your router or flip Airplane Mode on and off to reset things. It’s a quick fix that often works wonders.
5. Give YouTube a Fresh Start
Sometimes the app needs a good old clean slate.
- Android: Hold down the app icon, uninstall it, and then fetch a new copy from the Play Store.
- iOS: Same deal—press on the icon, remove the app, and reinstall it from the App Store.
6. Third-Party Extensions Mucking Things Up? (Android)
Check this out: apps like ad blockers can seriously throw YouTube off its game.
- Swing by Settings, hit Apps, and look for those troublemakers like AdGuard or battery savers. Either disable or uninstall them.
7. Still Stuck? Try Safe Mode (Android)
Sometimes you need to play detective to see if other apps are the problem.
- Hold the power button, tap Restart, and keep your finger on the Volume Down button as it reboots. Safe Mode activates, and if YouTube plays nice, you’ve found your issue.
8. Reset Everything (Android)
Last-ditch effort: reset your app preferences if nothing else works.
- Dive into Settings, then Apps, tap the three-dot menu, and select Reset App Preferences. It’s a simple step, but effective.
Some Extra Nuggets
- Don’t overheat! If your phone’s feeling like a toaster, it might throttle the apps.
- Be sure there’s breathing room—at least 1GB of free space—for optimal performance.
Keeping things running smoothly:
- Do yourself a favor and regularly update everything.
- Ditch any shady third-party apps.
- Clear app cache every now and then (just Android folk).
Still at a loss? You might want to ring up YouTube Support or your phone manufacturer’s support line to dig deeper. They might have the answer!

Seems like you’re hitting a snag with that annoying black screen on YouTube, huh? No worries, I’ve got some tips that’ll help get your videos rolling on both Android and iPhone.
For Android Users:
1. Restart Your Device:
Alright, first hurdles first—sometimes a good ol’ restart does the trick. Just hold down the power button and hit ‘Restart’. Keep it simple!
2. Clear YouTube Cache and Data:
Feeling bogged down? Head to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > YouTube > Storage & cache. Get rid of that clutter by tapping on Clear Cache and Clear Data.
3. Update the YouTube App:
Next up, make sure you’re running the latest and greatest. Swing by the Google Play Store, type in YouTube, and see if there’s an update waiting for you. If there is, hit Update!
4. Check Internet Connection:
Don’t forget this one—make sure your internet’s not playing hide and seek. Try switching up the connection between Wi-Fi and mobile data to find the sweet spot.
5. Reinstall YouTube:
Still no luck? It’s time for a fresh start—go to Settings > Apps & notifications > YouTube > Uninstall. Then cozy up to the Google Play Store for a reinstall.
6. Disable Hardware Acceleration:
Here’s the kicker—pop into the YouTube app’s Settings > General and turn off Hardware Acceleration if you spot it.
7. Update System Software:
Lastly, keep your phone’s software up-to-date by heading over to Settings > System > Software Update. It’s a game-changer!
For iPhone Users:
1. Restart Your iPhone:
Give your iPhone a breather—hold down the power button, slide to power off, and then bring it back with another press.
2. Update the YouTube App:
Pop over to the App Store, search for YouTube, and tap Update if the button’s there. Gotta stay current!
3. Check Network Connection:
Make sure your Wi-Fi or mobile data isn’t pulling any funny business. Try hopping onto a different network or giving your router a little reset.
4. Clear Safari Cache (if accessing YouTube via browser):
Nothing like a quick clean-up—hit Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. That’s a quick fix if you’re browsing.
5. Reinstall YouTube:
Time for a fresh start if it’s misbehaving—hold that app icon till it jiggles, then hit the X to uninstall. Swing by the App Store to bring it back.
6. Update iOS:
Keep your iPhone rolling smoothly by heading to Settings > General > Software Update to make sure iOS’s up-to-date.
Try these suggestions out, and you should be watching your favorite videos in no time! If the black screen keeps hanging around, you might want to give YouTube support a shout.