Fix “There Was a Problem With the Server [503]” Error on YouTube
A 503 is a common error code. Any website can show this error when you try to access it. The error may appear because of a problem with the website, or because of a problem with your computer, router, or ISP. The 503 error code means that the connection between your system and the website’s server cannot be established.
YouTube server 503 error
YouTube, like any other website, can show a 503 error. When it does, you won’t be able to load the website at all. The error message may be accompanied by other error codes but the problem boils down to the connection failing to establish. It’s not up to you to determine if the problem is with YouTube, with your browser, your computer, or with your router.
1. Check if YouTube is working
If YouTube is down, you may get the 503 server error. This is a simple way to check if the problem is on YouTube’s end.
- Visit Down for everyone or just me (YouTube) and enter YouTube’s URL.
- Optional: Check a real-time outage tracker like Downdetector (YouTube) and the official TeamYouTube account on X for live incident posts.
- If widespread reports show an outage, it’s on YouTube’s side—wait until service is restored.
2. Restart the router
Your router may be experiencing connectivity problems. Try restarting it.
- Press and hold the power button on the router.
- Wait 5-10 seconds.
- Release the button.
- Wait another 5-10 seconds.
- Press the power button again to turn the router on.
3. Clear watch list
The 503 server error often prevents videos from playing but will allow users to access other areas of YouTube e.g. account settings, playlists, the watch list etc. If that’s the case, try to clear out the watch list. It’s helped resolve the issue for some users. If you’d like to keep some of the items, consider bookmarking them in your browser instead.
On the desktop;
- Visit YouTube and click Watch later from the column on the left.
- Click the more options button next to a video and select the Remove option.
- Repeat for all videos.
On your phone;
- Open the YouTube app.
- Go to the Library tab.
- Tap Watch later.
- Tap the more options button and select Remove from Watch later.
- Repeat for all videos.
- Quit the app and open it again.
4. Clear app data / browser cache & cookies
Cached files can cause all sorts of problems including connectivity issues. Clearing these files may help resolve the 503 network error.
On your desktop browser;
- Go to your browser’s settings.
- Look for an option to clear the browsing data (cache and cookies). For Chrome, see Google’s guide: Clear cache & cookies (Chrome desktop).
- Restart the browser.
On your Android phone;
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Apps or Application Manager and select YouTube.
- Tap Storage, then tap Clear cache and Clear data.
- Alternatively, clear the browser/app cache using Google’s steps: Clear cache & cookies (Android).
- Quit YouTube and open it again.
On your iPhone;
You’re going to have to uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app. You will lose the videos you’ve downloaded but you can always download them again.
5. Try a different connection
If you’re connected to a WiFi network, try connecting to a different 4G/5G network. Set up a hotspot on your phone and connect to it. If you’re using a mobile network, try a trusted WiFi network instead. If switching networks gets YouTube working, the problem is with your network. It may be throttling YouTube traffic.
6. Try a VPN
Try using a VPN; if your ISP is blocking or throttling YouTube, the VPN will be able to get around it. It is then up to you to figure out why the ISP is blocking YouTube, or you can continue to use a VPN whenever you want to watch a YouTube video.
7. Flush or change DNS (desktop & mobile)
If the error stems from DNS resolution, flushing the DNS cache or switching to a public DNS can help.
- Windows: open Command Prompt as administrator and run
ipconfig /flushdns. Then restart the browser. - Change DNS: try a well-known resolver (e.g., Google Public DNS). See: Using Google Public DNS (includes iOS steps; Android devices with Private DNS can set a provider host name).
8. Try in a private window and disable extensions
Open YouTube in an Incognito/Private window to rule out cookies, extensions, or content blockers. If it works privately, disable extensions (especially ad/content blockers) in your main browser session and try again.
9. Clear cookies & site data just for YouTube
Instead of clearing everything, you can remove cookies and data for youtube.com only. For Chrome, see: Manage cookies & site data in Chrome.
10. Keep the app/browser updated
Make sure the YouTube app and your web browser are up to date. Outdated builds sometimes trigger playback or sign-in issues that surface as temporary server errors.
Conclusion
The 503 error may not lock you out of YouTube completely. It often only prevents videos from playing which—granted is the whole point of YouTube—means that the problem may not be as bad as it seems. If you’re having trouble streaming on your smart TV or streaming device, check out these solutions for YouTube TV streaming issues. Clearing the cache should fix it in most cases.
FAQs
“Service Unavailable.” It’s usually temporary and often indicates a server-side issue or a local networking/caching problem that prevents a clean connection.
Check outage trackers like Downdetector and the TeamYouTube account. If others are reporting the same error at the same time, it’s likely on YouTube’s side.
A long or corrupted Watch Later list has been linked anecdotally with this error. Deleting items forces YouTube to rebuild that list and can clear a stuck state in the app.
What’s New in This Update
- Added real-time outage checks via Downdetector and TeamYouTube links.
- New troubleshooting steps: flush DNS / use public DNS; try private window and disable extensions; clear cookies for
youtube.comonly; keep app/browser updated. - Expanded Android guidance with official cache & cookies support links.
- New FAQs clarifying what 503 means and how to tell if it’s YouTube or your device.
Last Updated: 20 October 2025
