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Why is Youtube Premium not working?

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  • 4 min read

YouTube is by far one of the most popular streaming platforms available at the moment. The platform further enhances the user experience by providing a subscription called YouTube Premium that unlocks more content and removes ads. 

However, just like everything else tech, YouTube isn’t immune to random bugs and glitches from time to time. In this article, we’re looking at YouTube Premium not working as it should, its reasons, and how to fix the problem.


What causes the error?

Several things can cause the error. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Your YouTube Premium membership has expired or is paused. 
  • Corrupt browser cache or cookies. 
  • Outdated YouTube app. 
  • Server outages on YouTube or Google’s end.

Also read: What does highlighted comment mean on Youtube?


How to fix this?

Here are eight fixes you can try out. 

Restart the device

You should first try out in such situations to restart your phone. Restarting can resolve many seemingly random issues, including any that might be interfering with the YouTube app. You can also try toggling aeroplane mode on and off.


Check if YouTube is down

Another thing youโ€™re going to have to do first is to check if Youtube itself is functioning properly or not. Googleโ€™s services have been down a few times in different parts of the world for several reasons.


Check account usage

If you’re using the YouTube Premium family plan or sharing your plan with someone, there’s a chance that your account is being used on too many screens simultaneously. Try logging out of all devices you don’t regularly use if you have a personal plan or reducing the number of screens if you’re on a family plan to see if that solves the problem.ย 


Sign out and sign back in

If youโ€™re still facing the same issues, try signing out of Youtube and signing back in. This will resolve any issues caused by the data stored in the cache or cookies of the browser or app by refreshing your login cookies and updating your profile.ย This is especially helpful if you’ve just purchased a membership and it isn’t reflected on YouTube.ย 

How to create a YouTube channel and get custom URL?

Clear your browser’s cache

If youโ€™re on Chrome/Edge, hereโ€™s how you can clear out your browserโ€™s data.

Step 1: Type in chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in your browserโ€™s address bar and hit Enter.

How to fix 'YouTube not working' issue? | Candid.Technology

Step 2: Select the cache and cookies options and make sure the Time range is set to All time. Click on the Clear now button to clear out all the data. 

How to fix 'YouTube not working' issue? | Candid.Technology

Now restart the browser and log into YouTube again. This should fix the problem.

Also read: Can you see who views your YouTube videos?


Update your browser

Often an out-of-date browser can restrict you from visiting certain websites. Update your browser to the latest version to see if it resolves the issue. 

Head toย chrome://settings/helpย and ensure youโ€™re on the latest update. If youโ€™re not, update immediately and try again.

How to fix 'YouTube not working' issue? | Candid.Technology

Restart once the update is complete, and YouTube Premium should start working as expected.ย 


Clear the Youtube cache

On Android

If youโ€™re on Android, itโ€™s a good idea to clear out the YouTube appโ€™s data and check if that works. Hereโ€™s how.

How to fix 'YouTube not working' issue? | Candid.Technology
  • Tap and hold the app icon and press the i button.
  • Tap on Storage & Cache.
  • Tap both the Clear data and Clear cache buttons. 

On iOS

iOS doesnโ€™t allow you to clear out an appโ€™s data manually, but you can reinstall the YouTube app.


Update the Youtube app

While itโ€™s almost certain that your app will be updated, it doesnโ€™t hurt to check. Head over to the Google Play Store or Appleโ€™s App Store and ensure you got the latest update.ย 

Also read:ย Can you disable YouTube Shorts?

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Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: [email protected].

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