Video Tips

[Solved] Let's Fix YouTube Black Screen Problem

By FonePaw | Dec 12 , 2017

"I was going to watch Jimmy Kimmel, but YouTube videos are all backed out but with sound. Perhaps it's due to an unknown error loading video on YouTube? How can I do to fix this YouTube video black screen issue?"

What a bummer when you go to YouTube to chase your favorite music movies, TV shows, teaching videos etc, but end up with the Black Screen issue! It can be a great hit on your passion. You feel too bad about not being able to watch your beloved videos, but what makes it even worse is that you still have to endure YouTube black screen due to unknown reasons. I myself had encountered the same frustration of YouTube playback error, no matter in Chrome, Firefox or the YouTube app itself, so I can fully understand how irritating you are.

For the sake of liberating you guys from YouTube black screen, today I will share some possible reasons and workable solutions for you to fix YouTube Black Screen error on Android and iPhone.

YouTube Black Screen

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Why YouTube Shows A Black Screen? And How to Fix YouTube Black Screen Error?

Sometimes this issue even occurs as a playback error on YouTube. Before getting down to solving YouTube black screen, you should, first of all, know what causes it so that you can fix it accordingly. There are six possible culprits and their related solutions for your consideration. Now, let's dive in.

CONTENTS
Cause 1: Browsing YouTube Under Poor Network connection
Cause 2: Adobe Flash Player/JavaScript Caused YouTube Black Screen
Cause 3: Browser Cache Clogs up YouTube Videos from Outputting
Cause 4: Browser Settings May Cause Slowness in Loading YouTube Videos
Cause 5: YouTube Page Itself May Turn out to be the Culprit
Cause 6: Videos You are Watching Contain Sensitive Content

Potential Reasons 1: Browsing YouTube Under Poor Network Connection

Smooth network connection is a must when browsing online. The poor network connection will prevent you from loading complete video which may show as getting stuck with buffer logo, black screen and sometimes with audios coming out while videos not. Whatever situation it is, I bet it is not the one you want.

Solution:

When you encounter an aforementioned situation, the top affair you should do is to check with your network connectivity and make sure it works well. If yes, just refresh YouTube page to solve. If no, change to a nice network and reopen YouTube. Also, to avoid buffer, you can download YouTube videos to your computer first.

Potential Reason 2: Adobe Flash Player/JavaScript Caused YouTube Black Screen

Adobe Flash Player is pre-installed in many web browsers widely used to embed a video on websites such as YouTube. It is also a common bug led to YouTube black screen.

Solutions:

Uninstall the existing Adobe Flash Player, and then download and install the latest version on your computer.
Make sure JavaScript of your browser is turned on.
Disable hardware acceleration: Right-click the video area to show setting option from where unselect Enable hardware acceleration.

Adobe Flash Player

Potential Reason 3: Browser Cache Clogs up YouTube Videos from Outputting

This is a common reason for many videos playing error and you can easily identify it. You will find that the black screen comes in sudden. For example, YouTube works great when you are watching the first videos online while the second one comes out with the black screen. In that way, the problem is most likely to be browsing cache.

Solutions:

Firefox: click Tools > Options > Advanced > Clear Now for Cached Web Content and Offline Web Content and User Data
Google Chrome: Click Chrome Menu > More Tools/History > Clear Browsing Data.
Safari (for Mac OS X): Click Safari Menu > Empty Cache > Empty
IE: Click menu icon > Safety > Delete Browsing History. Then select Temporary Internet Files > Cookies and History/Preserve Favorites Website Data > Delete.

Potential Reason 4: Browser Settings May Cause Slowness in Loading YouTube Videos

YouTube black screen complaints are mostly from Firefox and Chrome users when streaming videos. You may have a chance to get stuck in buffer logo the whole page just stay still via Firefox and Chrome. Below method could help you watch your beloved YouTube videos with best possible way.

Solutions:

For Firefox: Disable hardware acceleration by going to Options > Advanced, un-tick Use Hardware Acceleration when Available Then restart the browser.
For Chrome: Go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Systems > Use Hardware Acceleration when Available, then un-tick it if it has been ticked.

Disable Hardware Acceleration on Firefoxx

Potential Reason 5: YouTube Page Itself May Turn out to be the Culprit

Sometimes, YouTube black screen happens due to YouTube internal bug.

Solutions:

If you are under a log in status: Just go to YouTube page > Settings > Sign Out. Then you can open the videos as usual.
If you do not log in yet: Just sign in your YouTube account to watch the video. At times, you are rejected to because some videos on YouTube are closed to non-registered users. You can log in to get the access.

Potential Reason 6: Videos you are watching contain illegal and unhealthy contents

If you are able to load and watch some videos as normal on YouTube, while others are not accessible. This is because the videos you are going to watch do not agree with YouTube's privacy. For example, videos contain illegal and unhealthy elements are not welcomed on YouTube.

Solution:

There is no effective way to solve this kind of problem yet, but you can head to other videos website to see if you are free for those videos or you can just wait for YouTube to open your permissions.

Actually, YouTube black screen error can be a result of a wide range of reasons. Don't be disappointed if you fail in fix it after trying just one or two ways. Do not give up! Just keep trying them all, and you will finally get YouTube playback error solved!

Techieleech

The same problem occurs every time when I watch a video in YouTube, for me it’s caused by the poor internet connection.
- Emily Watson
  
  So you can change to a nice network or download the YouTube video you want to watch when the internet connection is good enough.
John Stone

I get the black screen when I am signed on to the You Tube account, but when I am not signed on I can watch videos without any black screen. What do you thing is going on here?
- Emily Watson
  
  Hi,
  
  There is someone who have the same problem. See if this solution can help you.
RM199724

It happens on my Nexus 4 as well. I am using the latest app..
- Emily Watson
  
  Have you tried the above methods? Is it happen to every videos or just certain video? Maybe the videos are the problem. Or you can try to clear caches of YouTube or reinstall the app.
IwinAgain

I only get this when I watch a Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon video. All other videos I watch on youtube work perfect.
- Sparx BPO
  
  may those videos are blocked. please check
Michael Perez

Cool post. But I’m afraid for missed out on a couple of other methods. Like, they’ve covered them over here, have a look: https://www.techwhoop.com/fix-youtube-black-screen-google-chrome/
kmonster

One other thing, if you are running adblockers, some channels will black out the screen until you disable the blocker and watch all of their commercials to the end. I am sure youtube is fully aware of what is going on.
Benjamin Shehata

I’ve tried everything above and even tried disabling my adblocker and nothing worked. I also tried watching a full video and watched all the ads fully through (as someone said in the comments) but nothing worked. 🙁
- Emily Watson
  
  Hi Benjamin,
  
  Did you try with other browser. If the black screen issue doesn’t happen with other browser, you may update the browser that have trouble playing YouTube video.
  
  Also, this could be a bug on YouTube’s side cause the black screen is widespread issues.
Lieutenant BaconWaffles

The graphics card drivers need to be updated or rolled back.
Robbie M Saucier

I pretty much only watch YouTube videos on my phone, and pretty much only use the app. I find that one day it will be 3 out of 4 videos go about a minute, buffer for a split second, come back maybe 30 seconds then buffer and cut to black screen but continue to play. I have to close the app, open it, and restart the video which may or may not just do it again at different spots. But any other time I close and start watching again, it picks up from where I was. My connection is good, and regardless, it happens anywhere and everywhere, wifi or not. I’ve cleared data, caches, reinstalled, nothing fixes it. Some days it might only happen on one video, other days it’s pretty much every video. Don’t get it.
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Gilbert Josh

Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with the how-to’s!!!! It is so appreciated!!! You always have good humor in your posts/blogs. So much fun and easy to read!

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