YouTube TV Not Working: How to Fix YouTube TV Down Right Now

YouTube TV is a popular streaming service in the United States, which you can use to watch live TV. It covers more than 85 popular channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, AMC, BBC, Comedy Central, Discovery, Disney, E!, and ESPN. 

Unfortunately, the service is not infallible and many subscribers have reported playback issues on their devices. In some cases, this has even led subscribers to ponder on whether YouTube TV is worth it or not. If you have found yourself going down the ‘YouTube TV not working’ rabbit hole, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know on how to solve the issue.

Why Is YouTube TV Not Working or Down?

A wide range of factors can lead to functionality issues with this streaming service. Usually, it’s a problem on the server’s side. These types of issues should get resolved on their own by YouTube TV, which means that you just have to wait a while, and then try again later.

However, if the issue persists, there might be an issue with your YouTube TV subscription, device settings, or internet connection. 

How to Fix Any YouTube TV Not Working Issues

Before starting the troubleshooting process, it’s a good idea to check the YouTube TV live status. If there’s a problem on its end, then there’s sadly nothing you can do about it, except to sit and wait.

Furthermore, you should always reboot your device as a first troubleshooting step. It’s a simple trick that usually solves the problem, even when YouTube TV is not working on Firestick. Otherwise, proceed with the following solutions to get YouTube TV working again. 

1. Check the device limit

According to YouTube TV, you can’t connect more than three devices at the same time using the same account. This includes devices such as a computer, smartphone, tablet, smart TV, or gaming console.

So, if you are currently logged in to more than three devices, you should disconnect the ones you don’t use. It’s also a good idea to check with your friends, in case you are all (ahem) sharing a YouTube TV subscription.

2. Restart the YouTube TV app

Stopping and relaunching the app might be the perfect simple solution that YouTube TV needs to function normally again. However, you should make sure to properly close the app before restart. Here’s how:

How to restart the YouTube TV app on Android:

1. Go to the Settings section of your Android
2. Visit the Apps area and find YouTube TV
3. Tap YouTube TV and then Force stop
4. Go back to your home screen
5. Relaunch YouTube TV

How to restart the YouTube TV app on iOS:

1. Swipe up and stop in the middle of the screen
2. Swipe left or right to find and tap YouTube TV
3. Swipe up to the app’s preview and close YouTube TV
4. Restart YouTube TV

3. Restart the web browser

If you’re using a desktop and a web browser for YouTube TV, make sure to restart it to fix any functionality issues with the streaming service. For example, you can effortlessly restart Chrome. Here’s how to do it properly.

How to restart a web browser correctly on Windows 10:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to start Task Manager
2. Remain in the Processes section
3. Select your web browser and click End task
4. Start your browser again
5. Check for YouTube TV errors

If Task Manager is unavailable, you can use Command Prompt:

1. Click the Start button, search for Command Prompt, and open this app
2. Run the tasklist command to view all currently running processes
3. Find the process name of your web browser in the list
4. Write taskkill /f /im task_name.exe /t and make sure to replace task_name.exe with your browser’s process name. For example, if you want to terminate Chrome’s task, type taskkill /f /im chrome.exe /t. Press Enter
5. Exit Command Prompt

How to restart a web browser correctly on macOS:

1. Select your web browser’s window
2. Open the Apple menu from the top-left part of the screen
3. Click Force Quit

Once you have shut down the browser, you can simply re-launch the program to see if the issue has been resolved. 

4. Power-cycle your devices

If restarting the streaming app or browser doesn’t do the trick, try power-cycling your devices. Here’s how to kickstart the process:

1. Shut down all devices used for YouTube TV. This includes any desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone, smart TV, or gaming console
2. Turn off your router and modem
3. Unplug all devices from their power source
4. Wait a few minutes

Then, simply plug everything back in, turn the devices on and try again to access YouTube TV.

5. Try using another device or internet network

There might be something wrong with your device or its settings, which is preventing YouTube TV from working properly. To put this theory to the test, try to connect to the TV streaming service using another device from your household. If that doesn’t solve the problem, try connecting to another Wi-Fi network.

Or, if you are using cellular data, try connecting through a 3G or 4G network. You don’t have to use up your mobile data — but this test could help you to figure out if the problem lies with your internet connection. In that case, you should contact your ISP and ask for further assistance.

6. Update the YouTube TV app

It’s always good idea to keep the TV streaming service up-to-date to avoid any functionality issues that may prevent you from enjoying your favorite movies and TV series. Here’s how to make it happen:

How to update YouTube TV on Android and iOS:

1. Open the Play Store or App Store
2. Android users can access their Google account and tap My apps & Games
3. In the Updates section, find YouTube TV and select Update or on iOS, locate YouTube TV and tap Update
4. If it’s not on the list, or it says Open instead of Update, it means the app is already updated
5. Relaunch YouTube TV and check for issues

7. Update your web browser

Your web browser should also be kept updated if you use it to watch YouTube TV on your desktop, laptop, or tablet. Normally, browsers find and install updates automatically. But if that doesn’t happen on your device, here’s how to update it manually.

How to update Google Chrome:

1. Launch Chrome
2. Open the More menu from the top-right corner
3. Go to the Help section
4. Click About Google Chrome. Or, you can visit chrome://settings/help
5. Wait for Chrome to find and install any updates
6. Click Relaunch when the update is over

How to update Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox
2. Click the ≡ button next on the upper-right part
3. Go to Help
4. Click About Firefox
5. Wait until the browser installs any available updates
6. Restart Firefox

How to update Microsoft Edge:

1. Fire up Microsoft Edge
2. Open the More menu in the upper-right corner
3. Visit the Help & feedback menu area
4. Click About Microsoft Edge (or visit edge://settings/help)
5. Wait until Edge applies any updates. Click Restart when it’s done

8. Clear the app cache

Whether you’re using Android, iPhone or iPad, you should know that YouTube TV saves some data to cache to load faster in the future. However, if the cache is full and doesn’t get emptied automatically anymore, it can lead to functionality issues. In some cases, YouTube TV stops working altogether. But you can easily fix it by clearing the app cache.

How to clear YouTube TV cache on Android and iOS:

1. Visit the Settings menu on your device
2. Visit Storage > Apps or Other Apps, or General > Storage
3. Find and tap YouTube TV 
4. Select Clear cache, or Offload app
5. Restart YouTube TV and see if the reset worked

9. Clear the browser cache

Alternatively, if you’re using a web browser to watch YouTube TV, it’s a good idea to clear its cache to resolve any functionality problems. For instance, you can easily clear Chrome site data. Here’s what you should do.

How to clear Chrome cache on Windows and macOS:

1. Fire up Google Chrome
2. Click the More button in the top-right corner
3. Head over to Settings
4. Go to the Privacy and security section
5. Click Clear browsing data (or visit chrome://settings/clearBrowserData)
6. Choose the Basic area
7. At Time range, select All time
8. Enable the following options:
   • Browsing history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
9. Click Clear data
10. Restart Chrome

How to clear Firefox cache on Windows and macOS:

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox
2. Click the ≡ button on the top-right part of the window
3. Select Options from the menu
4. Go to Privacy & Security and click Clear Data…
5. Make sure to enable the next settings:
   • Cookies and Site Data
   • Cached Web Content
6. Disable all other options
7. Click the Clear button
8. Restart Firefox
9. Try to access YouTube TV now

How to clear Microsoft Edge cache:

1. Start Microsoft Edge on your PC
2. Open the More menu and select Settings
3. Head over to the Privacy, search, and services section (or visit edge://settings/privacy)
4. At Clear browsing data now, click Choose what to clear
5. Set Time range to All time
6. Check the following options:
   • Browsing history
   • Download history
   • Cookies and other site data
   • Cached images and files
7. Uncheck all other options
8. Click Clear now
9. Restart Edge and check for YouTube TV errors

10. Reset browser settings to default

It’s possible that the customized settings of your web browser are causing functionality issues with YouTube TV. In this case, you should reset browser settings to default, before attempting to watch TV on your computer. For example, you can easily restore Chrome settings to factory values. Here’s how.

How to reset Chrome settings on Windows and Mac:

1. Launch Chrome
2. Open the More menu in the top-right corner
3. Select Settings (or visit chrome://settings/)
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page
5. Click Advanced
6. At Reset and clean up, click Restore settings to their original defaults
7. When asked again, click Reset settings
8. Restart Chrome

How to reset Firefox settings on Windows and Mac:

1. Start Firefox
2. Open the ≡ menu in the top-right corner
3. Go to the Help menu and pick Troubleshoot Mode
4. Click Restart
5. When asked again, click Refresh Firefox to confirm
6. Restart Firefox

How to reset Edge settings:

1. Fire up Microsoft Edge
2. Click the More button to open a menu
3. Go to Settings
4. Jump to the Reset settings section
5. Click Restore settings to their default values. Or, visit edge://settings/resetProfileSettings
6. When asked, click Reset for confirmation
7. After Edge resets, try to watch YouTube TV

11. Check location permissions

According to the YouTube TV help page, it’s essential to confirm your home area to avoid streaming issues due to geographical restrictions. While doing so, check that location permissions are enabled on your device for YouTube TV.

How to check location permissions on Chrome:

1. Launch Google Chrome
2. Open the More menu and go to Settings
3. Jump to the Privacy and security section
4. Click Site settings
5. At Permissions, pick Location
6. Make sure that the YouTube TV website is on the Allow list
7. Exit settings
8. Try to watch YouTube TV now

How to check location permissions on Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox
2. Click the ≡ button and select Options
3. Select Privacy & Security (or visit about:preferences#privacy)
4. At Permissions, click Settings next to Location
5. Search for the YouTube TV website in the list and allow it
6. Click Save Changes

How to check location permissions on Edge:

1. Open Microsoft Edge
2. Click the More button in the top-right corner
3. Go to Settings
4. Switch to the Cookies and site permissions area
5. At All permissions, click Location
6. Make sure that YouTube TV is on the Allow list

12. Fix the HDCP error on Roku players

If YouTube TV is not working on your Roku player, you should make sure that your TV or AVR supports copy and content protection technology (HDCP). Once you clear this issue, inspect your HDMI cable or connector for damages. If it’s faulty, replace it (preferably with an HDMI cable shorter than 6 feet).

13. Reinstall the YouTube TV app

There might be something wrong with the installation package of the YouTube app on your Android or iOS device. Or, perhaps it was affected by a recent system update. To resolve this problem, you should quickly uninstall and reinstall the app.

14. Reinstall your web browser

Another option is to reinstall the browser application that you use to access YouTube TV from your desktop or laptop device. To do this, simply uninstall and reinstall the apps as follows:

How to uninstall Chrome or Firefox on Windows 10:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. In the Processes tab, select the entire process tree of Chrome or Firefox
3. Click End task
4. Right-click the Windows 10 Start button and go to Apps and Features
5. Find and select Chrome or Firefox
6. Click Uninstall and then again to confirm
7. Proceed with the removal operation

How to uninstall Chrome or Firefox on macOS:

1. Select the Chrome or Firefox application
2. Open the Apple menu
3. Select Force Quit
4. Launch the Finder app
5. Visit the Applications folder
6. Locate Chrome or Firefox
7. Drag and drop the browser folder to the Trash
8. If asked, specify your administrator username and password to confirm
9. Open Finder and select Empty Trash

To reinstall the browser apps:

1. Download Chrome or get Firefox from the official website
2. Set up the web browser
3. Log in to your YouTube TV account and check for issues

15. Disable VPN or proxy tools

Many users turn to VPN or proxy tools to unlock YouTube TV content that’s not normally available in their region. However, if you’re using a free service, YouTube TV may be detecting your VPN and blocking your access as a result. Unless you’re willing to invest in a premium VPN for YouTube TV, try turning off your VPN or proxy service to get around this issue. 

How to disable VPN and proxy on Windows 10:

1. Right-click the Start button and go to Network Connections
2. Select VPN on the left side
3. Disable any currently running VPN connections
4. Switch to the Proxy section on the left
5. Turn off Automatically detect settings and Use setup script
6. Scroll down and also disable Use a proxy server
7. Restart your computer

How to disable VPN and proxy on macOS:

1. Open the Apple menu
2. Click System Preferences
3. Select Network and switch to the VPN section
4. Switch off any active VPN connections by clicking Disconnect
5. Select your internet connection and click Advanced
6. Go to the Proxies section and disable all options
7. Click OK
8. Restart your Mac

16. Flush your DNS servers

Emptying the cache of your DNS servers is a simple way to refresh your internet connection and fix any connectivity issues that may cause YouTube TV to stop working properly. Here’s what you need to do:

How to clear the DNS cache on Windows 10:

1. Click the Start button, search for Command Prompt, and launch this app
2. Copy and paste the following lines (press Enter after each one):

   • ipconfig /flushdns

   • ipconfig /registerdns

   • ipconfig /release

   • ipconfig /renew

   • netsh winsock reset

3. Quit to the desktop and restart your PC

How to clear the DNS cache on macOS:

1. Launch the Terminal app
2. Run the sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder command
3. If prompted, type your admin username and password
4. Restart your Mac

17. Change your DNS servers

If DNS flushing won’t do the trick, perhaps the DNS servers assigned by your ISP are too slow to handle streaming. A common solution is to change your default DNS servers to something else. For example, you can use Google Public DNS.

How to set Google Public DNS servers on Windows:

1. Sign in to Windows 10 using an administrator account
2. Right-click the Start button > Network Connections
3. Click Change adapter options
4. Select your internet connection, right-click it, and go to Properties
5. In the Networking tab, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to view its properties
6. In the General tab, select Use the following DNS server addresses
7. At Preferred DNS server, type 8.8.8.8
8. Set Alternate DNS server to 8.8.4.4
9. Enable Validate settings upon exit and click OK

How to set Google Public DNS servers on macOS:

1. Open the Apple menu
2. Go to System Preferences
3. Select Network and click Advanced
4. Switch to the DNS area
5. Click + and type 8.8.8.8
6. Click + again to add 8.8.4.4
7. When you’re done, click OK and exit

18. Check for system updates

Your operating system should always be updated to the latest version. This ensures that your device is equipped with the newest features, improvements, hotfixes, and security patches.

If YouTube TV stopped working due to an operating system error, you will surely fix it by checking for system updates. Here’s what you need to do:

How to update Windows 10:

1. Right-click the Start button > Settings
2. Select Update & Security  > Windows Update
3. Your operating system should automatically detect updates. If it doesn’t, click Check for updates
4. Wait a few minutes. If the download doesn’t autostart, click Download
5. Your PC will probably restart to finalize the update installation

How to update macOS:

1. Click the Apple button to open a menu
2. Select Software Update
3. Patiently wait while macOS checks for updates and installs anything it finds
4. Enter your admin username and password if asked to confirm the installation
5. Reboot your Mac

How to update Android:

1. Select Settings
2. Go to System > Advanced > System Update
3. Wait while Android downloads and installs updates
4. When it finishes, reboot the device

How to update iOS:

1. Visit the Settings section > General > Software Update
2. Tap Download and Install
3. If you’re running on low disk space, iOS will ask to remove apps. Tap Continue to agree. Your apps will be added back to your device later
4. Tap Install
5. Authorize the update by using your password or fingerprint
6. When the update is complete, restart your iOS device

19. Check your device drivers

Incorrect installations can cause functionality issues with streaming services such as YouTube TV. It’s also possible that your device drivers are incompatible or obsolete. Whatever the issue may be, you can easily fix it.

How to reinstall drivers on Windows 10:

1. Press Win key + R, type control panel, and press Enter
2. Select Device Manager
3. Expand all categories and look for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark
4. Right-click the device and select Uninstall device
5. Open the Action menu and click Scan for hardware changes
6. Restart your computer. Windows will auto-reinstall the missing devices

How to update drivers on Windows 10:

1. Go back to Device Manager
2. Select a device, right-click it, and choose Update driver
3. Click Search automatically for updated driver software
4. If the online search doesn’t return anything, click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update

If you don’t know which drivers should be updated, we suggest paying a special attention when it comes to the graphics and network drivers. Better yet, use a driver update application to automatically detect any outdated drivers.

On Mac, your drivers are updated automatically when you update your operating system. If you accidentally installed an incompatible driver that’s causing streaming issues, you should roll it back immediately.

How to roll back drivers on Windows 10:

1. Go to Device Manager
2. Right-click a device and select Properties
3. Select the Driver section
4. Click Roll Back Driver and proceed with the driver removal
5. Restart your machine

20. Check your internet connection

Various internet connectivity issues can hamper your streaming experience and prevent YouTube TV from functioning properly. Here are some quick tips to ensure a fast and secure internet connection:

• Reboot your router and modem
• Try moving your device closer to the router to get a better signal
• If your router has dual-band support, make sure to connect to the 5Ghz network (not 2.4Ghz) since it’s faster
• Temporarily switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet (wired) mode
• Run a ping test between your computer and the YouTube TV website to check for packet loss
• Test your internet connection by measuring your download speed (you should have at least 3 Mbps for optimal streaming)
• Run the internet connection troubleshooter on Windows 10 
• Close all other applications with internet access to allocate more network resources to the YouTube TV app

21. Log out and back into your YouTube account

Occasionally, the reason for YouTube TV not working is just a bug. You can fix it by logging out of your YouTube account and logging back in. Follow these steps:

1. Open the YouTube TV app or website
2. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen
3. Select Sign Out

4. Close the YouTube App or your browser
5. Open it again and click on Sign In
6. Enter your email and password

22. Check the Limit for Simultaneous Streams

YouTube TV allows only 3 simultaneous streams per account. Therefore, if your streams are blocked and the YouTube TV app not working for you, you may have exceeded this limit. To rectify the situation, sign out on any unnecessary devices. You can also disconnect devices remotely, by following these steps: 

1. Using a browser, go to your Google account and select Manage your Google Account.
2. Go to the menu on the left side and select Security.

3. Navigate to the connected devices section. Click on Manage all devices.

4. Now select any devices that you don’t use and then click on Sign Out.

23. Disable Ad Blockers or Extensions

Ad blockers and some extensions can interfere with YouTube TV and stop you from accessing YouTube streams. Try disabling ad blockers and extensions that you have recently installed to see if this fixes your issues. The steps for disabling extensions, including ad blockers are similar in different browsers:

1. Go to the Extensions section in your browser and click on the three dots.

2. Now you can pause the extension on the YouTube TV website or completely remove it from your browser. Both of these actions can solve your problem. 

24. Check the Parental Controls

Your access to YouTube TV may be restricted because of parental controls. To check these permissions, simply open your YouTube TV app or the website, go to the settings, and find the Family Sharing option. You will be able to toggle and change the restrictions.

25. Contact YouTube Support

The last solution is to contact YouTube TV support and ask them why is YouTube TV not working for you. Here’s how you can contact the support:

• Go to the YouTube TV Help page.
• Describe your issue in the search box to find useful guides to resolve the issue.

• To get help from the Support team, scroll down and click on Contact Us.

• You can ask the community for help. Simply click on the Community option in the top-left corner and describe your issue to the community.

You can fix YouTube TV when it’s not working anymore

There are a myriad of reasons why your YouTube TV app is not working, or the site is giving you issues. If it is a server issue, there is really not much that you can do from your end. However, if the issue lies with your device, your internet connection, or even your settings — it should only take a few moments to get everything back up and running. 

How did you get YouTube TV to work on your device? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if YouTube TV keeps crashing?

If your YouTube TV app continually crashes, you can fix it by restarting your device, updating the app to the latest version, reinstalling the YouTube TV app, and clearing the app’s cache and data.

Can YouTube TV be blocked by VPNs or Proxies?

Yes, due to licensing restrictions, YouTube TV actively monitors VPN and proxy activities, and if it finds out that you’re using a VPN or proxy, your YouTube TV will be blocked. YouTube TV is only available in the US, so if you have to use a VPN or proxy, only connect to US servers to prevent blocks.

How do I check if YouTube TV servers are down?

Visiting websites such as Downdetector can help you find out if there is a widespread outage of YouTube TV servers. This should help you to pinpoint how widespread any problem is.

How can I fix YouTube TV showing a black screen?

This can be caused by different issues. Try these methods:

• Check your internet connectivity.
• Close the YouTube TV app or website and open it again.
• If you are using a TV, check your HDMI cable and make sure it doesn’t have any problems.

Don't miss this great deal

1 Comment

1. Our you tube tv will not connect. Please have someone call me at 2562390175.