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How to Fix YouTube Play Button Not Working

Is the YouTube play button not working when you select it on mobile?

The error message typically happens on Android devices like Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel.

It’s either caused by a bug from the latest YouTube update or a software update.

Another issue is that the mini-player slides off the right side of the screen and disappears.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix the YouTube play button not working or not responding on mobile (Android/iOS).

How to Fix YouTube Play Button Not Working

To fix the play button not working on YouTube, you must clear YouTube’s data and cache.

If that doesn’t fix the issue, try uninstalling updates, downloading an older version of the app, or updating it.

Fix 1: Clear YouTube’s data and cache

  • Android: Open the Settings app > Apps > App management > YouTube > Force stop > Storage usage > Clear data > Clear cache.
  • iOS: Open the Settings app > General > iPhone Storage > YouTube > Offload App > Offload App > Reinstall App.

Fix 2: Uninstall updates

  • Android: Open the Settings app > Apps > App management > YouTube > Three dots (top right) > Uninstall updates.

Fix 3: Download an older version of YouTube

  1. Delete the YouTube app.
  2. Go to https://youtube.en.uptodown.com/android.
  3. Select an older version of YouTube.
  4. Select “Download” to download the APK.
  5. Open YouTube and check if the issue is fixed.

Fix 4: Update YouTube to the latest version

  1. Open the Google Play Store or App Store.
  2. Search for “YouTube” and select it.
  3. Select “Update” (if there’s an update available).
  4. Open YouTube and check if the issue is fixed.

Further reading

How to Fix YouTube Shorts Not Getting Views

What Does “Copyright-protected content found. The owner allows the content to be used on YouTube” Mean?

How to Get Back the Old YouTube Layout