How to fix YouTube not working on Roku
Youtube not working on Roku? We have the fix! Roku is a great, affordable TV stick. It competes with Google’s Chromecast in terms of features and on price. Much like other TV sticks, it supports popular streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube.
YouTube on Roku
Roku does not have a web browser out of the box. You can install one as an app but it’s better to use the dedicated app for a service instead of using it via a browser. YouTube can be accessed via browser app on Roku but it is best to install the official YouTube app on Roku.
You can access it from the Roku Channel Store. The app is free, but if you want to watch premium YouTube content, you will need to purchase a subscription for it separately. The YouTube app on Roku works more or less the way its apps on mobile platforms work i.e., you generally won’t run into any problems. If YouTube is not working on Roku, try the following basic checks.
- Check if YouTube is working on other device
- Make sure your Roku device is connected to the internet
- Make sure you have internet connectivity (check other devices to see if they can access the internet)
If everything checks out but YouTube is still not working on your Roku, try the following fixes.
Restart Roku
Restarting the Roku device can fix problems with YouTube much like restarting any other device can fix network connectivity problems with it. You will need the remote for your Roku device.
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Press the Home button again 5 times.
- Press the Up button once.
- Press the Rewind button twice.
- Press the Forward button twice.
- Wait for the device to turn back on.
- Try to play a video on YouTube.
Reinstall YouTube channel
If the restart doesn’t do the trick, uninstall and reinstall the YouTube channel.
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Use the arrow buttons to select the YouTube channel.
- Press the button with the Asterisk to open the menu.
- Select the Remove option and confirm you want to remove the channel.
- Restart the Roku device by going to Settings.
- Once the device restarts, press the Home button on the remote.
- Select Streaming Channels.
- Select YouTube.
- Click Add Channel.
Install updates
Roku runs on firmware which gets updates from time to time. If an update is pending, it may cause problems with streaming. Install any pending updates.
- Press the Home button on the remote and select Settings from the menu.
- Select System and then select System update.
- Select Check now.
- If an update is pending, select Download/Install.
- Allow the update to install and restart the device.
Conclusion
The YouTube app doesn’t have an option to clear the cache which is why it runs into problems occasionally. That’s also why you’ll have to reinstall the app to fix the problem. Make sure you restart your Roku device between uninstalling and reinstalling YouTube.
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