How to Fix YouTube Buffering
YouTube videos buffering or stuttering? Step-by-step fixes for connection, cache, and app issues — no account hacks required.
For more fixes, see our Fix Social Media And Apps hub.
When YouTube has videos buffering or stuttering, the fix is usually on your device or network not a lost account. Work through these steps in order.
Quick fixes
- Lower playback quality
- Restart router
- Clear app cache
- Use wired connection
Connection and DNS
- Toggle airplane mode (mobile) or disable Wi‑Fi for 10 seconds.
- On desktop: run
ipconfig /flushdns(Windows) or restart your router. - Disable VPN or proxy temporarily they often break media and auth.
App-specific steps
- Update the app to the latest version from the official store.
- Force-close and reopen do not just minimize.
- Clear cache (Android: App info → Storage → Clear cache). On iOS, offload/reinstall if needed.
Still not working?
Check whether the service itself is down search "YouTube down" or use a public status page. If thousands report outages, wait it out.
If file size is the issue, try our resize thumbnails tool before uploading.
See also: YouTube image size guide.
Related ToolKits tools
Browse free online tools for image compression, text formatting, and developer utilities all run in your browser.
ToolKits is not affiliated with YouTube. This guide is general troubleshooting only.