How to Fix YouTube Keeps Crashing on Android and iPhone

YouTube is an excellent platform for streaming content in a variety of genres, including music, educational videos, tutorials, and whatever else you enjoy. The app allows you to save and download YouTube videos for offline viewing, and it’s far easier to use than accessing a website on your smartphone. However, YouTube, like any other software, might experience glitches. One of the most aggravating difficulties that users confront is YouTube’s incessant crashing. When you try to open YouTube, you receive the obnoxious pop-up that says, “YouTube keeps stopping.”

8 Easy Ways to Fix YouTube Keeps Crashing on Android and iPhone

While this problem can be perplexing, it could be caused by a variety of factors, including insufficient storage, system malfunctions, app flaws, and so on. Fortunately, you can fix it yourself with a few clicks on your smartphone. Follow the methods below to resolve the issue when YouTube keeps crashing on your device. These solutions work for the YouTube Music app as well.

Step 1: Force close the YouTube app

The first thing to do is restart the YouTube app. Apps may misbehave after running in the background for an extended period of time or when something else on your phone interferes with their operation. Restarting the app refreshes everything, which may resolve the issue.
Here’s how to force-close the YouTube app on Android:

1. Launch the phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap on Apps & Notifications, then click on See All Apps.
3. Scroll down and click on YouTube.
4. Tap Force Stop.

After that, reopen YouTube and check to see if everything is working. If not, don’t worry—there are more steps to try.

Step 2: Clear the app cache

If force closing the app didn’t help, the next step is to clear the cache. YouTube stores data to help it run more smoothly, but over time, those files can get corrupted or outdated, causing the app to crash.

Here’s how to clear the YouTube app cache:

1. Follow the steps mentioned in Step 1 to access the YouTube app info screen.
2. Tap Storage & Cache.
3. Tap Clear Cache to erase the cached data.

Avoid tapping Clear Data for now, as this will remove your YouTube downloads. Once you’ve cleared the cache, force stop the app again, and relaunch it to see if the problem is fixed.

Step 3: Update/downgrade Android System Web View

If you’re using an Android phone and YouTube is still crashing, it might be an issue with Android System WebView. Back in March 2021, a lot of users experienced app crashes due to a problem with this component. Google has since fixed it with an update.

If YouTube keeps crashing on your device, follow these steps to update Android System WebView:

1. Ensure you’re connected to the internet and open the Play Store app.
2. Search for Android System WebView.
3. Tap the app and then tap Update to install the latest version.

If updating doesn’t help, you may try downgrading by following these steps:

1. Go back to the WebView page on the Play Store.
2. Tap Uninstall to downgrade it.
3. Follow the next solution before reopening YouTube.

Step 4: Reboot your device

Sometimes the simplest fix is the best one. Rebooting your device can clear out any temporary issues and give your system a fresh start.

To reboot your device:

1. Long-press the Power button.
2. Select Restart from the options.

Alternatively, you can press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds to force a reboot.

To reboot your phone:

1. Long-press the Power button.
2. Tap Restart from the options.

You can also press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a reboot if needed. After your phone restarts, try opening YouTube again.

Step 5: Install YouTube Updates

Make sure your YouTube app is up-to-date. App updates often include important bug fixes and improvements that could resolve the issue.

To update YouTube:

1. Open the Play Store and search for YouTube.
2. If there’s an update available, you’ll see an Update button—tap it to install the latest version.

Step 6: Check Your Storage Space

If YouTube is still crashing, check if your phone is running low on storage. Lack of storage can cause apps to crash or misbehave.

To check your storage, go to Settings > Storage > Internal Storage.

If your storage is almost full, free up some space by deleting unused apps, and files, or moving data to an SD card.

Step 7: Check for System Updates

Your phone’s software might be outdated, which can lead to compatibility issues with apps like YouTube. Keeping your system up-to-date ensures better performance and security.

To check for system updates, go to Settings > System > System Updates.

If an update is available, install it and then check if YouTube is working better afterwards.

Step 8: Reinstall the YouTube App

If none of the previous steps worked, it’s time to try uninstalling and reinstalling YouTube. This will reset the app and clear any issues that may be causing it to crash. However, keep in mind that uninstalling the app will also delete your downloads.

To reinstall YouTube:

1. Open the Play Store and search for YouTube.
2. Tap Uninstall, wait for the process to complete, and then tap Install to reinstall the app.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with YouTube crashes can be frustrating, but these steps should help you get the app working properly again. If the problem persists, you might need to contact support for further help or explore other technical solutions.

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