Recently, I canceled my Comcast subscription and decided to shift to YouTube TV.
YouTube TV is one of the best and most popular cord-cutting Live TV options on the market.
Its a subscription-based service that allows you to stream live and local sports and more than 70 other local channels.
It allows you to watch movies on demand and provides channels from local broadcasters and premium sports telecasts.
Its different from the online media streaming platform YouTube.
YouTube TV is a subscription-based service that allows you to stream live and local sports and more than 70 other local channels.
I was pleased with the service until it started freezing.
Initially, it froze for a few seconds, and then everything went back to normal, so I just dismissed the concern and went on with watching my favorite sports.
However, a few days after the first time this happened, YouTube TV started freezing very frequently.
I called their customer care, and it turned out everything was fine on their end, and there was an issue on my end.
Hence, I decided to look for possible causes on the internet. It turns out there are several issues that can cause YouTube TV to freeze.
In this article, I have listed all the possible issues that can cause a problem with your YouTube TV and their solutions.
If your YouTube TV is freezing, check your internet connection. Then, try restarting your device, reinstalling the application, or updating your device. Finally, try clearing your cache.
Reasons for YouTube TV Freezing
Although the issue causing your YouTube TV to freeze might not be complex, the error itself is quite irritating.
For example, your screen might keep crashing or freezing or buffering.
In either case, you need to find the underlying cause of the issue to fix it.
The most common reasons for YouTube TV freezing are:
Low Memory
If you have a relatively older smart TV or too many apps installed, there is a chance that you are running out of storage, causing the app to freeze.
Network Connection
If your Wi-Fi is not working correctly or the TV is not getting enough Wi-Fi signals, the YouTube TV will not work correctly.
It is a wireless subscription service, which means its functionality is directly tied to the speed and efficiency of your internet connection.
Outdated App
Google keeps updating its application to roll out bug fixes.
If you are still using an outdated version of the application, there is a chance one of the bugs is causing the issue.
Cache Data
Cache data keeps accumulating as you use the app.
Hence, if you have been using the app for longer hours, there is a chance that too much cache data has accumulated, and it is causing the app to crash.
TV Issues
Another problem causing the app to freeze is the outdated OS version of your Smart TV.
Your TV manufacturer is supposed to regularly roll out newer versions of the OS to fix any bugs.
If your TV is using an older version of the OS, it is better to upgrade it.
Some newer apps are not compatible with older OS.
Ensure that Youre Connected to the Internet
One of the most common causes of YouTube TV freezing or buffering is an unstable internet connection.
Hence, to ensure that the internet is not interfering with the apps functionality, ensure that the device you are using YouTube TV on has a stable internet connection.
The speed should be at least 3 Mbps or more.
If the internet connection is stable but you still face issues, try forgetting the connection from the settings and connecting it again.
Also, try lowering the video quality from the menu in the app to see if there is a problem with the internet connection.
Restart the Device
A simple fix to most of the Smart TV-related issues is restarting the device.
This frees up the space in the RAM and allows the apps to run smoothly.
In most cases, it will also help with the YouTube TV app freezing again and again.
If you are using the app on a smart TV, unplug the device from the power outlet and wait 30 seconds.
Re-plug it and let the system turn on. This might take a few seconds.
However, if you were watching YouTube TV on your computer and the system froze, press the power button for a few seconds until the system shuts down.
Turn it on and wait for a few seconds till the OS boots.
After that, start the app again.
Force Close the YouTube TV App and Reopen it
Restarting the app is another common way to refresh its operations.
The application sometimes freezes because of extensive data in the cache.
Restarting it refreshes the memory allowing the app to function properly.
You can force the app to close down on a laptop or a computer using the task manager.
For a smart TV, you might have to turn the TV off and turn it on after a few seconds.
Update the Device And the YouTube TV App
If the issue persists, there is a chance that either the software on the device you are using or the app is not up to date.
Hence, it is better to update both the system and the application.
Running a relatively new app on an older firmware causes several issues, and an application freezing is one of them.
If you are using the app on your smart TV, go to the settings and in the menu locate an option that says System Update or Software Update and click on it to see if there are any updates available.
These options are usually found under the About section of the menu.
To update the app, follow these steps:
- Go to the Play Store.
- Type YouTube TV.
- If a newer version of the app is available, there will be a green update button alongside the uninstall option.
- Click on the button and wait for the app to update.
Look for Browser Updates
If your browser is not updated, it might interfere with the functionality of the application.
Google recommends that you install the latest version of the browser for optimal performance of the streaming service.
You can update your browser from the Play Store.
If you are not satisfied with the browser, you can also install a new one.
Clear App Data
If the issue still persists, clear the App data.
The process of clearing app data on a Smart TV is relatively simple.
Follow these steps:
- Go to TV settings.
- Locate the app under the App list.
- Open the app data and locate the Clear Cache option.
- Tap on Clear Cache.
- Click on the Clear Data option if it is available.
- Uninstall the App and Reinstall It
Ensure that Youve Allowed Location Access
YouTube TV always asks for your current location since the channels are broadcast based on that.
Hence, the issue might persist if your location information is turned off.
Go to the app settings and see if you have allowed location access or not.
If you have disabled location settings, try enabling them to see if this fixes the issue.
Factory Reset Your Device
If none of the above methods work for you, there might be an issue with your device.
The best way to refresh the device is by factory resetting it.
You can factory reset the system for a smart TV by locating the option in the TV settings.
The option is usually available under the Self Diagnosis setting, About option, or Backup option.
Final Thoughts on YouTube TV Freezing
YouTube TV has a user limit.
It only allows three devices to stream media per account at a time.
Hence, if more than three users are trying to stream media at a time, there is a chance that the application will either freeze, start buffering or crash.
In addition to this, if you are playing high-resolution videos on a slow internet connection, the app will most likely freeze.
For 4k videos, you should at least have 25 Mbps speed, and for HD streaming, the minimum internet speed requirement is 13 Mbps.
Moreover, for Roku Players, there is a chance you are facing the HDCP error. You can fix this by turning off HDR on your Display type settings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my TV apps keep crashing?
The software might be outdated, or there might be too many applications running in the background.
Why is my YouTube app not working on my Smart TV?
You might not have enough memory, or the app cache might be corrupted. Try reinstalling it.
Why is my YouTube TV not HD?
This is mainly caused by slow internet speed. Check your internet connection.
How do I manage my YouTube TV account?
You can do that using the YouTube TV website on your laptop.