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YouTube Not Working on TV: Smart TV Fixes

Short answer: If the YouTube app on your TV won't play or keeps freezing, restart the device, sign out and back in, and update the TV.

TL;DR: quick fix

Run a speed test next to the TV; YouTube recommends at least 7 Mbps for HD on TVs.
Press Home on your remote and reopen the YouTube app.
Sign out of the YouTube app (profile picture > manage profile) and sign back in.

Is YouTube down?

YouTube has no public status page. If friends on other networks see the same problem, it's probably an outage: wait and retry.

How to fix it: step by step

Run a speed test next to the TV; YouTube recommends at least 7 Mbps for HD on TVs.
Press Home on your remote and reopen the YouTube app.
Sign out of the YouTube app (profile picture > manage profile) and sign back in.
Unplug the TV or streaming device for several seconds, then plug it back in.
Install any system software update for your TV or device.
As a workaround, cast from your phone with Chromecast or connect a laptop by HDMI.

FAQ

Why does only the TV fail?

If other devices play YouTube fine, the TV app or its firmware is the likely cause; update it or contact the TV maker.

More YouTube fixes

Last checked Oct 2026 against the official help page: Google Help. Menus can differ by app version; follow the official page if a step doesn't match.