Oh, technology! Our lovely, occasionally headstrong friend. It wasn’t too long ago when I found myself staring into the abyss of a black screen while trying to watch my favorite tech reviews on YouTube. No error message, just a void where adorable cat videos should have been. So, like any self-respecting Windows enthusiast, I took to the trenches and emerged victorious with some useful insights. Now, I’m ready to share the wealth! Here are my top 10 fixes for the infamous YouTube black screen issue.
1. Refreshing Your Browser:
Hit the F5 key on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can go to the top left of your browser, click the circular arrow next to the address bar, or right-click on the webpage and select ‘Reload.
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2. Checking Your Internet Connection:
Visit Speedtest.net. Click the ‘Go’ button in the center of the page. This site will give you a rough estimate of your internet speed. If it’s significantly lower than what you’re paying for, it might be time to give your service provider a call.
3. Updating Your Browser:
For most browsers, click the three dots or lines at the top right corner of the screen. Navigate to ‘Help’, and then ‘About’. If an update is available, there should be an option to install it. Follow the prompts to complete the process.
4. Disabling Extensions:
In your browser, navigate to ‘Extensions’ or ‘Add-ons’ usually located under ‘More Tools’. A list of all your extensions will appear. Disable them one by one, refreshing YouTube after each to see if the black screen issue is resolved.
5. Clearing Your Browser Cache:
Go to ‘Settings’ in your browser, find the ‘Privacy & Security’ section. Click ‘Clear Browsing Data’, then ‘Cached Images and Files’, and finally ‘Clear Data’.
6. Updating Graphics Drivers:
Press the Windows key + X and select ‘Device Manager’. Find ‘Display Adapters’ and click to expand the list. Right-click your graphics card and select ‘Update Driver’. Follow the prompts to search for updates.
7. Enabling JavaScript:
Go to your browser settings and find the ‘Privacy & Security’ section. Under ‘Content settings’ or ‘Site settings’, look for JavaScript. Make sure it’s set to ‘Allowed’.
8. Turning Off Hardware Acceleration:
In your browser settings, go to the ‘System’ or ‘Advanced’ section. Uncheck the box that says ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’. Restart your browser for the changes to take effect.
9. Checking YouTube Server Status:
Visit Downdetector. Here you’ll see if YouTube is experiencing any widespread issues. If everything’s green, the issue is likely on your end.
10. Switching Browsers:
Simply download and install a different browser from the official website. Some popular choices include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Try playing a YouTube video on the new browser to see if the issue persists.
These steps are not sequential but rather different solutions you can try. So if one doesn’t work, don’t be discouraged. Proceed to the next one and hopefully, you’ll be back to enjoying your favorite YouTube videos in no time!
