Causes & Fixes

How to Fix YouTube Not Working on Roku Device

Published

5 months ago

July 13, 2023

There are various reasons present when you face issues while streaming YouTube on Roku. However, encountering issues where YouTube fails to open or function properly on Roku can be frustrating. In this article, we have explored the common reasons behind YouTube not working on Roku and presented you with effective solutions to help you resolve the issue. You can follow the below troubleshooting guide made by our experts to resolve the YouTube issue on your Roku device.

YouTube Not working on Roku-Basic to Advanced Troubleshooting

Try the below-mentioned solutions one after another. If a solution fails to fix the issue, move on to the next one.

Check Internet Speed

YouTube on Roku requires a stable internet/WiFi connection for an uninterrupted streaming experience. When you find YouTube not working or loading, you must check for the internet speed.

To check internet speed on Roku: Press the Home button on the remote → Select Settings → Choose Network → Select About.
Check for the Internet Speed and Signal Strength. If they are low, you may find streaming issues.

So, ensure to use WiFi or internet with high speed on Roku to fix the YouTube not working issue.

You can even disable and enable the WiFi connection on Roku and check if the internet speed gets better.

Restart WiFi Router

When the internet connection speed drops, there may be an issue with the WiFi router, and it may be the cause of YouTube not working on Roku properly. In such a case, Roku users shall restart or power cycle their WiFi router.

To restart the router: Unplug the ethernet cable from the modem and plug it back in after 2-3 minutes.

Check if YouTube is working on Roku TV without buffering or loading issues.

Use a Different WiFi

Try connecting your Roku device to a different WiFi and check if you can use YouTube without any issues. If the issue persists, the problem is with the device and not with the WiFi connection or router. So, you shall try out the fixes related to the device and check if the YouTube Not Working is resolved.

Restart YouTube

Restarting the app will reboot the YouTube app for a fresh start. It will resolve the temporary bugs and glitches in the app.

To restart YouTube: Press the Home button on the remote → move to the YouTube app among available channels → Press the * button → Select Close → Choose the YouTube app to open again.

It will also force close the app whenever you cannot access any options in the app.

YouTube Server Down

The server down is a common issue among streaming apps. There is no best fix available for the server-down issue unless it is solved by the creators. You can probably check whether the site is stable or not. Downdetector is an effective site for finding the working status of any site. You can visit the Downdetector website to verify the server-down issue of YouTube.

If there is any server issue, you have to wait for some time to resolve the condition.

Unblock Geo-Restriction

YouTube is available in most countries and the content varies based on the region. You can use the VPN to bypass the geo-restriction of YouTube. It is advisable to go for Premium VPNs for stable connectivity.

We suggest you use NordVPN to bypass the geo-restriction. You can’t install the VPN app on your Roku device, but you can use the encrypted VPN network. To achieve this, you need to install NordVPN on your router. With this, you can access all the video content from the streaming service without any geographical limitations.

Relogin to YouTube on Roku

When the issue is with the YouTube user account, log out of your account on Roku. Re-login and check if you can watch YouTube on Roku TV Stick. If the issue doesn’t resolve, you may need to check other fixes to resolve YouTube not working.

Update YouTube App

The outdated firmware could be the reason for YouTube not working on Roku TV. It is necessary to update the channels on Roku at regular intervals.

To Update YouTube: Go to Channels on Roku → Select YouTube → Press * button on Roku remote → Choose Check for Updates → Update the app if the update is available.

Uninstall and Reinstall YouTube

Installation error could be the reason for the app not working or loading. It is better to remove the app on your Roku device and install the app again from the Roku Channel Store.

To UninstallYouTube: Select YouTube on the Home screen → Press the * button on Roku remote → Select Remove Channel to uninstall.

To Reinstall YouTube: Go to Roku Channel Store → Search for YouTube → Select Add Channel to reinstall.

Check Simultaneous Streaming Limit

Simultaneous stream limit might be the cause for not being able to access or log in to YouTube Premium. You have to understand that there are only 2 allowed simultaneous streaming for the YouTube app if you are using a Premium subscription.

In case you have reached the simultaneous streaming limit, then log out from any one of the devices. Now, log in to the app on your Roku device.

Device Compatibility

The YouTube service is only compatible with certain Roku models. Visit this support page to find the compatibility. You can’t download the YouTube app if you have an incompatible model. You can find the model number of Roku on the back side of the device. If not, you can find it on the device by navigating to Home → Settings → System → About.

When your device is incompatible, replace it with the compatible one and easily access the YouTube app. If it is compatible, move to the next solution.

Clear Cache on Roku

When the cache files of YouTube become corrupted, the application may not work properly on Roku. In that situation, you need to clear them from your device. Unfortunately, you can’t clear the cache on Roku for a specific app. So, you need to clear them for the entire device.

To clear the cache files on Roku,

Head to the Home menu on your Roku by tapping the Home button on the remote.

Press the following keys on your remote in order.
- Home button – 5 times
- Up button – Once
- Rewin button – 2 times
- Fast forward – 2 times
Wait for Roku to restart. Then relaunch the app to check whether the issue is fixed.

Try the next solution if the issue is unresolved after clearing the cache file.

Restart Roku

Restarting the Roku TV/streaming device is one of the simple solutions to fix the temporary issues associated with YouTube and other apps installed on the device. To restart the device,

Press the Home button on your remote.
Choose Settings and select the System menu.
Now, select System Restart on the right-hand side.
Click on Restart.

If you had any issues with accessing the settings menu, force reboot the Roku device by unplugging the power cable from the source and then connecting it back after a few minutes.

Update Roku

Using outdated firmware on your Roku device is another reason behind YouTube not working properly. So checking the device for regular updates is essential to use the installed apps without any issues. Updating the Roku software also updates the app installed on the device.

Press the Home button on your remote.
Go to Settings → System.
Select System Update and tap on Check Now.
Choose Update Now and wait for the device to install the latest firmware.

Update Roku firmware to fix YouTube not working

After updating the firmware, launch the YouTube app and check whether it works properly. If it fails to work again, try resetting the firmware on Roku.

Reset Roku Firmware

Resetting the Roku firmware to factory settings is the final solution to fix the YouTube app not working issue. Please note that the firmware reset will remove the installed apps and data from the device.

On the home screen of Roku TV, tap on the Settings menu.
Go to System → Advanced system settings → Factory reset.
Confirm the reset and wait for the process to complete.

Factory reset Roku TV to fix YouTube not working

After resetting, set up your Roku device from scratch and install the YouTube app again to use it without any issues.

Customer Support

When none of the above-discussed workarounds helps in fixing up the YouTube not working on Roku, you shall reach out the customer support for help. You can contact them via live chat and ask for assistance on their website. They will help resolve the issue with technical assistance.

YouTube Error Codes

Below we have listed the error codes along with the cause and solution.

Error Code	Description	Solution
400	Bad Request	Refresh the page or restart the Roku device
401	Unauthorized	Verify your account credentials and log in correctly
403	Forbidden	Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the content
404	Not Found	The requested video or page may have been removed or deleted
500	Internal Server Error	Refresh the page or restart the Roku device
503	Service Unavailable	Wait for a while and try again later
1001	Playback Error	Check your internet connection, restart Roku, or clear the YouTube app cache
1011	Network Error	Verify your internet connection for stability