Why is my YouTube video getting stuck while playing?
We’ve all experienced the frustration of a YouTube video getting stuck or buffering while we’re trying to watch it. The video stops playing and we’re left waiting for the buffering icon to finish as the video struggles to load. This can be incredibly annoying when you just want to watch a video without interruptions.
There are few things more irritating than sitting down to watch a YouTube video, only to have it get constantly interrupted by buffering. The video starts and stops, the buffering icon spins, and you’re left waiting impatiently for the video to resume playing. It’s enough to make anyone close the video and give up watching altogether.
In this article, we’ll explore the various reasons why a YouTube video may get stuck while playing and buffer endlessly. We’ll also provide some potential solutions to fix the problem so you can go back to enjoying uninterrupted videos.
Reasons for Buffering
One of the most common reasons for YouTube videos buffering or getting stuck is problems with your internet connection. This includes having a slow internet speed or inconsistent connection, being on a crowded WiFi network, or using mobile data instead of WiFi (Source).
If your internet plan doesn’t provide fast enough download speeds to smoothly stream high quality video, you may frequently experience buffering as YouTube tries to load more of the video. This problem can be worse when connecting over mobile data instead of WiFi. Mobile connections can be prone to dead zones and speed reductions when the network is congested (Source).
Being on a WiFi network with a weak signal or many other users can also lead to buffering issues as you compete for bandwidth. Downloads, streaming, gaming, or other data-intensive activities happening on the same network may use up available bandwidth needed for your video (Source).
YouTube Video Quality
One potential cause of buffering is viewing YouTube videos in high definition (HD), which uses more bandwidth compared to standard definition. HD videos contain larger file sizes and more data per frame, requiring faster internet speeds for smooth playback without disruption 1. If your internet connection cannot consistently handle the data load of HD streaming, this can lead to frequent buffering as the video stops to re-load.
An effective solution is to manually adjust your YouTube video quality setting to a lower resolution like 720p or 480p. Using the quality control options while watching a video prevents YouTube from automatically selecting the highest available quality. Lower quality videos with smaller file sizes are easier to stream without constant buffering. Sacrificing some visual fidelity can create a smoother viewing experience and avoid those spinning loading wheels.
Your Device
An older device with a slower processor can lead to YouTube videos buffering more frequently. As devices age, their processing speeds and capabilities tend to decline. This means longer load times and potential lagging or freezing when playing streaming video from YouTube. According to users on Reddit, buffering issues frequently arise when using older devices like phones or smart TVs over 5 years old [1].
Additionally, having many browser tabs and programs open can tax your device’s RAM and slow things down. YouTube requires a certain amount of processing power and RAM to play smoothly. If you are multitasking with lots of resource-intensive apps, the video streaming can start to buffer as it competes for limited resources. Try closing unused tabs and apps to free up RAM and see if it helps reduce buffering problems.
The YouTube App
Sometimes the issue could be caused by bugs or glitches in the YouTube app itself, especially if you are using an outdated version. Apps frequently have bugs that get patched in newer updates. Using an outdated YouTube app version that still has these bugs can lead to problems like buffering and freezing.
Try fully force closing and clearing the cache/data for the YouTube app, which can clear out any problematic temporary files. On iOS, this can be done through the Settings app under General > iPhone Storage > YouTube. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear Cache/Clear Data. After clearing the data, restart the YouTube app and test if the buffering persists.
Additionally, make sure you’re running the latest version of the YouTube app, as newer versions will have fixes for bugs causing buffering. You can check for app updates and install the newest YouTube version in the App Store on iOS or Play Store on Android. Keeping your apps updated in general can prevent issues caused by bugs in older versions.
According to a Reddit thread, some users faced constant buffering after a recent YouTube app update that contained bugs not present in the prior version (source). Updating to the newest version without these bugs or downgrading to a previous stable release may resolve any buffering problems introduced in buggy updates.
Your Router and Modem
An older router or modem could be the source of buffering issues when watching YouTube. Many older routers have slower maximum speeds compared to modern routers, which can cause YouTube videos to buffer if there is not enough bandwidth. According to a Reddit user, upgrading from an 8-year old router to a newer model solved constant YouTube buffering issues (source).
Try restarting your router and modem as a quick troubleshooting step. This forces your router and modem to refresh their connections, which can resolve temporary buffering problems. Users on Reddit and Quora report restarting routers fixing YouTube buffering problems (source 1, source 2).
Check your router and modem manufacturer’s website for any firmware updates. Installing the latest firmware can improve performance and fix issues like YouTube buffering. Firmware updates add new features and optimize connectivity.
Your Location
Being physically farther away from YouTube’s servers can cause videos to buffer more often. This is because the video data has to travel a longer distance, which increases latency. YouTube has servers located all over the world, but being close to one can provide faster and more reliable video streaming.
According to a Reddit user, “No depending on your location, youtube makes a copy of the video on the youtube server physically close to you. Smaller channels dont get that…” (source).
Using a VPN service can help improve buffering issues related to distance and location. A VPN creates a virtual private network that routes your traffic through remote servers that are often geographically closer to YouTube’s infrastructure. This provides a more direct connection and reduces the physical distance the video needs to travel.
The YouTube Video Itself
If the YouTube video you are trying to play is high resolution or very long, it will require more bandwidth to stream smoothly without buffering. Videos with resolutions of 1080p and 4K demand a higher internet bandwidth than lower resolutions like 720p or 480p to play back without constant buffering.
Similarly, longer videos like a 2 hour documentary will need a higher sustained bandwidth than a 5 minute music video to stream properly. This is because more data needs to be downloaded sequentially over time for longer videos.
There could also be issues with the video file itself hosted on YouTube’s servers. Corrupted video files or formats that are difficult to encode can lead to choppy playback. Problems during video processing and compression when the video was uploaded can also manifest as buffering during playback.
If many users report buffering when watching a specific video, it likely points to an issue with the source video file on YouTube’s end rather than the viewer’s setup. However, shorter videos that buffer could still indicate a problem with the user’s internet bandwidth.
Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-YouTube-Stop-Buffering
Solutions
There are several potential solutions to try if you are experiencing buffering issues with YouTube videos:
First, try adjusting the video quality in the YouTube app settings or by clicking the gear icon on the video player. Select a lower quality like 480p to see if that resolves any buffering issues. The lower quality uses less bandwidth.
Check that you have a stable, high-speed internet connection. Connect your device directly to your router via Ethernet cable or make sure you are close to your router if on WiFi. Consider upgrading your internet plan if speeds are consistently slow.
Update your router firmware and reboot your modem and router. Old firmware and connection issues can sometimes cause problems with streaming.
Try using a different device, like switching from your smart TV to a phone or computer. See if the issue persists across different devices or is isolated to one.
Delete and reinstall the YouTube app if you are having issues only on one device’s app. Restarting the device can also potentially help.
Some videos themselves may have quality or encoding issues that lead to more buffering. Trying a different video can determine if the problem is isolated to a particular clip.
Using YouTube in a web browser instead of the app can also rule out any app-specific problems. Test in incognito/private browsing mode as well.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a number of potential reasons why your YouTube video may get stuck or start buffering while playing:
- The video quality setting may be too high for your device or internet connection speed.
- Issues with your device like low storage, outdated software, or too many background tasks can affect streaming.
- Problems with your router, modem, or overall internet connection can interrupt the video stream.
- Your location and network congestion may cause buffering during peak hours.
- The video itself may have technical issues or encoding problems on YouTube’s end.
Don’t lose hope! Try adjusting your video quality, closing other apps, resetting your router, or waiting and retrying the video during off-peak hours. Also make sure you have the latest version of the YouTube app and your device software is up to date. With some persistence and troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve any buffering issues.