Why your YouTube TV isn't working (and how to fix it)

⚡ Fast fix

• Try it on another device first. If it fails everywhere, the issue may be on YouTube TV’s end.
• Restart your TV or streaming device completely. Unplug it for 60 seconds—don’t just turn it off.
• Check your internet speed and stability. Slow or unstable Wi-Fi causes most playback problems.
• If it still won’t load, reinstall the app. That clears corrupted data in many cases.

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You sit down to watch the game, open YouTube TV®, and instead of live TV you get a spinning wheel, a black screen, or nothing at all. If you’re thinking, “Why is my YouTube TV not working right now?” you’re not alone. Most of the time, it’s either an outage, a connection issue, or a simple app glitch.

Asurion Experts help people troubleshoot smart TVs and streaming devices every day. Let’s walk through this step by step and narrow it down together.

Is YouTube TV down?

Before changing settings, figure out whether this is even your problem to solve. Here’s how to quickly check:

• Open YouTube TV on another device. Try your phone using mobile data—not your home Wi-Fi.
• Check for a reported outage. Visit a live tracking site like downdetector.com.
• Look for widespread errors. Server errors across multiple devices usually point to a service issue.

If it doesn’t work anywhere and Downdetector shows a spike in reports, it’s likely an outage. In that case, waiting it out may be the only fix. If it works on your phone but not your TV, the issue is probably local to your device or network.

Why is YouTube TV not working on my smart TV?

If the problem is only happening on one TV or streaming device, that’s actually good news. It means we can focus there.

Step 1: Fully restart the device

A proper restart fixes more streaming issues than people expect. This clears temporary memory glitches that can cause apps to freeze or fail to load.

1. Turn the TV or streaming device off.
2. Unplug it from the wall.
3. Wait at least 60 seconds.
4. Plug it back in and power it on.

Step 2: Check your internet connection

Streaming live TV requires a steady connection—not just “some Wi-Fi.” The easiest way to check:

1. Grab your phone.
2. Make sure it’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV.
3. Go to a speed test site like speedtest.net.
4. Tap “Go” and wait for the results.

For YouTube TV, you generally want:

• At least 10–15 Mbps download speed for HD
• Stable results without big drops
• Low latency (ping)

If speeds are inconsistent, restart your router—unplug it, wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for all lights to stabilize.

If you’re unsure what your results mean, this guide on how to check your internet speed and what those numbers mean explains it clearly.

Step 3: Update the YouTube TV app

Outdated apps can stop working properly, so check if there's an update for YouTube TV.

• Open your TV’s app store.
• Search for YouTube TV.
• Select Update if available.

Then reopen the app and test again.

Step 4: Reinstall the app

If YouTube TV still isn’t working, uninstall and reinstall the app. Reinstalling clears corrupted app files that updates alone won’t fix.

1. Delete the YouTube TV app from your device.
2. Restart the device again.
3. Reinstall the app from the app store.
4. Sign back in.

Why is YouTube TV not working on my phone?

If it works on your TV but not your phone—or the other way around—the issue may be device-specific.

On your phone:

• Force close the app and reopen it.
• Check for updates in the app store.
• Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test the connection.

If it works on cellular but not Wi-Fi, your home network is likely the issue.

When nothing seems to fix it

If you’ve restarted everything, tested your speed, updated, and reinstalled the app—and YouTube TV still isn’t working—the issue may be tied to your network configuration or device firmware. That’s when it helps to talk through your setup with a tech expert who can pinpoint exactly where the breakdown is happening.

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FAQ

Why is YouTube TV not loading at all?

This is often caused by an outage, unstable internet, or outdated app software. Testing another device is the fastest way to narrow it down.

How do I reset YouTube TV?

You can’t reset the service itself, but deleting and reinstalling the app clears corrupted data and refreshes the connection.

Does reinstalling YouTube TV delete my recordings?

No. Your recordings are saved to your YouTube TV account in the cloud, not on your device.