6 Solutions to Fix Playback Errors on YouTube TV

If you're like me, YouTube TV is one of your go-to platforms for streaming, whether to catch your favorite show's latest episodes or dive into a random video to kill time. But there's nothing more frustrating than hitting a playback error when you're ready to watch. A playback error on YouTube TV can pop up for several reasons, leaving you wondering, ‘Why am I getting a playback error on YouTube TV?’

In this article, we will share 6 ways to fix playback errors on YouTube TV and give you some tips for fixing those downloaded YouTube videos that won’t play on your TV, so that you won’t feel alone in this battle!

GUIDE LIST

1. 6 Ways to Fix Playback Error on YouTube TV

2. How to Fix a Downloaded YouTube Video Not Playing on TV

1. 6 Ways to Fix Playback Error on YouTube TV

Solution 1. If You’re Logged in on Multiple Devices

One of the most common causes of a YouTube TV playback error is being logged in on too many devices simultaneously. If your account is open on multiple devices, such as your phone, tablet, smart TV, and laptop, YouTube TV can get confused. This might lead to errors when trying to play content.

Fix:

• Log out of YouTube TV on devices you aren’t using.
• Then, try restarting the app on your main device.

I remember having this exact issue while trying to watch a live event on my TV while my phone was still logged in. After logging out of my phone, the playback error magically disappeared!

Solution 2. Clear the Cache

Sometimes, playback errors on YouTube TV are caused by outdated or corrupted data stored in your browser or app cache. When you stream many videos, your browser or app collects temporary data to speed up future sessions. However, too much of this can cause glitches, including playback errors.

Fix:

• Go to the settings of your device or browser.
• Clear the cache and cookies.
• Relaunch YouTube TV.

Clearing the cache worked wonders for me. I had been getting the error message for days, and once I cleared the cache, it felt like a fresh start, and no more annoying playback issues.

Solution 3. Reinstall/Update YouTube TV

If clearing the cache doesn’t work, you can try updating or reinstalling the YouTube TV app next. Outdated software is a big culprit in playback errors on YouTube TV.

Fix:

• If you’re using a smart TV, navigate to the app section and check if there’s an update available.
• If there’s no update, uninstall and reinstall the app.

This fix also works when your YouTube is not working on a Samsung TV.

This might sound simple, but trust me, it’s effective. Once, I got hit with the ‘what does playback error mean on YouTube TV’ confusion, and updating the app immediately solved it. Make sure you’re always on the latest version to avoid compatibility issues.

Solution 4. Change Location Permission

Sometimes, playback errors on YouTube TV can occur because the app doesn’t have the necessary location permissions enabled, especially if you're traveling or using a VPN. This can prevent YouTube TV from verifying your region and playing content.

Fix:

• Go to your device settings.
• Ensure location permissions are turned on for YouTube TV.
• Disable any VPNs that might be affecting the region settings.

I remember having issues with playback errors while traveling abroad. Once I adjusted my location settings, everything worked smoothly.

Solution 5. Configure Browser Settings

Specific browser settings could block the playback if you use a web browser to watch YouTube TV. Extensions, especially ad blockers or strict security settings, can interfere with the video.

Fix:

• Disable any extensions that might interfere with playback (like ad blockers or privacy extensions).
• Ensure that your browser allows cookies, JavaScript, and other media-related features that YouTube TV needs to run.

When the YouTube autoplay feature is not working, you can also check the browser and YouTube settings to fix it.I’ve often dealt with this when I’ve tried watching on my laptop. Sometimes, a small setting can make a huge difference.

Solution 6. Update Your Browser

If you’re getting a playback error on YouTube TV while using an outdated browser, this could be the problem. Browser updates are essential for smooth streaming, and an obsolete browser can easily result in errors.

Fix:

• Check if there’s a new update for your browser.
• Update it to the latest version.

This step was beneficial for me on Firefox. I had been using an old version for a while, and updating it fixed all my playback errors on YouTube TV.

2. How to Fix a Downloaded YouTube Video Not Playing on TV

Sometimes, it’s not the YouTube TV app or browser causing issues, but rather a video you’ve downloaded. For example, you might find that a downloaded YouTube video refuses to play on your TV, which can be annoying if you plan a movie night. Fortunately, there’s a solution.

ArkThinker Video Repair - The Ultimate Tool for Repairing Videos

If you’re facing issues with a downloaded YouTube video not playing on your TV, you can use ArkThinker Video Repair, a powerful tool designed to repair corrupted video files. Whether it’s a slight glitch or a more serious problem like video corruption, ArkThinker’s Video Fix can help you get that video back to normal.

Features:

ArkThinker Video Repair can repair various video issues, such as distortion, pixelation, audio synchronization errors, and more. It’s compatible with multiple video formats and can fix files damaged during download or transfer.

Detailed Steps

Now, open ArkThinker Video Repair and hit the ‘Add Video’ button to upload the YouTube video that’s not working. Find a healthy YouTube video that plays fine, and add that as your sample video.

I used ArkThinker Video Repair after downloading a YouTube video that wouldn’t play on my TV. The process was super easy and quick, and after using the tool, I could watch the video on my TV without any issues. The video quality was intact, and I noticed no lag or distortion.

Likes:

• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Repairs various video problems efficiently.
• Works with multiple video formats.

Dislikes:

• It only repairs one video file at a time, which can be a bit slow if you have a lot of videos to fix.

Notice:

While ArkThinker Video Repair is fantastic for repairing individual video files, remember that it doesn’t support repairing multiple files at once, so you’ll need to fix videos one by one.

Conclusion

Remember, playback errors on YouTube TV are usually caused by a technical issue that can be fixed with simple steps. Hopefully, this guide helps you get back to streaming without any interruptions.