How to fix Youtube lagging on Windows 11

YouTube videos are generally available in different streaming qualities. Videos can be played in resolution as low as 240 resolution. Normally, you won’t play in a video in that low a resolution unless your internet connection is exceptionally slow. YouTube auto-selects a lower resolution so that videos play smoothly even if the internet is slow.

Fix YouTube lagging on Windows 11

If you have a stable, fast internet connection and YouTube is lagging, your desktop OS may be to blame. Windows 11 users have reported problems with YouTube video lagging. It tends to happen exclusively with YouTube and other websites load without any problems. You can run a speed test on your connection but if YouTube streams without lag on other devices except the Windows 11 system, try the fix below. 

1. Update drivers

Windows 11 can run with older drivers i.e., those that you used for Windows 10. That said, you should update to new drivers if they are available. In some cases, outdated drivers, can cause lag. 

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display Adapters.
3. Right-click the on-board graphics card and select Update drivers.
4. Search online for driver updates and install the ones that are available.
5. Repeat this for the GPU.
6. Expand Network Adapters.
7. Right-click your network card and select Update driver.
8. Search for driver updates online.
9. Restart the system after the drivers have been installed.

2. Roll back drivers

New drivers are ideal but Windows 11 may not always work well with them. It’s more a problem with Windows 11 than it is with the drivers but you should nonetheless roll back to an older version if you can.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network Adapters.
3. Double-click the network adapter.
4. Go to the Driver tab.
5. Click the Rollback button.
6. Allow the driver to uninstall and an older one to be installed.
7. Restart the system.
8. Check streaming on YouTube.

3. Change graphics card in use

Make sure your browser is using the on-board graphics card. It doesn’t need to use the GPU to play YouTube videos. In fact, the GPU may cause the lag.

1. Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
2. Go to System.
3. Select Display.
4. Select the Graphics options.
5. Add your browser.
6. Select it, and click Options.
7. Select the on-board graphics card for the browser.
8. Restart the browser and play a video on YouTube.

4. Turn off hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration can cause problems with all sorts of websites. Modern browsers all support hardware acceleration but it may be better to disable it.

To disable hardware acceleration in Chrome;

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the more options button at the top right and select Settings.
3. Click Advanced in the column on the left.
4. Select System.
5. Turn the hardware acceleration switch off.

To disable graphics acceleration in Firefox;

1. Open Firefox.
2. Paste this about:preferences#general in the URL bar and tap Enter.
3. Go to the Performance section.
4. Disable Use hardware acceleration when available. 

Conclusion

One or a combination of these fixes should fix the YouTube lag on Windows 11. Make sure your browser is up to date and that you do not have any pending updates for Windows 11. If your system is pending a restart, restart it and allow the installation of updates to complete. 

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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