It can be incredibly frustrating if you are trying to watch a YouTube video on your Smart TV, but YouTube won’t stop freezing.
What could be the reasons why this happens?
Your Smart TV can freeze on YouTube due to connectivity issues, outdated software, or problems with the YouTube app itself. Some reasons may be specific to the model type of the TV, such as if it is a Samsung or a Vizio Smart TV.
This article will run through why YouTube might be freezing on your Vizio or Samsung Smart TV and how to fix it.
Keep in mind that these fixes will apply to most Smart TVs, and if your TV model is not listed here, still try these troubleshooting tips anyway.
What Does YouTube “Freezing” Mean?
When you are watching a YouTube video, you are streaming it. That means that whatever you are watching is being downloaded from the internet as you watch it.
YouTube “freezing” occurs when the video stops halfway through to buffer.
The video has stopped loading because you are watching it faster than your Smart TV can download it.
Why Is YouTube Freezing on My Smart TV?
There are several reasons why YouTube can freeze on a Smart TV. These include:
- Internet connectivity issues.
- Software updates are required on your TV.
- There are issues with the YouTube app itself, and it needs reinstalling.
- Specific issues related to the model of the Smart TV you own.
How Do I Solve YouTube Freezing on My Smart TV?
If YouTube is freezing on your Smart TV, you should check your network connection, cold boot your TV, update software, and reinstall YouTube on your Smart TV.
If you follow these steps, you should be able to spot and fix most of the problems that cause YouTube to freeze up on Smart TVs.
Check Your Network Connection
Any problems with your internet connection can cause YouTube to freeze, crash, or not start. This is often the most likely cause.
To stream video, you should have an internet connection of between 1.5mbps – 3mbps at the minimum.
However, many applications will require more than this.
Check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you feel you may need to upgrade your service.
To check the internet connection on your Smart TV, follow these steps:
- Check that your Smart TV is connected to the internet.
- If it isn’t, check your router. You may need to restart it. Unplug it from the power, wait a minute, then plug it back in and restart it.
- If your router still doesn’t connect to the internet, after you reset it, contact your ISP.
- Check that your Smart TV is not too far away from your wireless access point if you are using Wi-Fi. If it is more than 15.2 m (49.87 ft) away, you’ll require a wireless booster to improve the signal strength.
- If you continue to have internet connectivity problems, perform a factory reset.
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Cold Boot Your TV
A cold boot is a bit different from a regular restart.
Normally, turning the TV off puts it in standby mode until you turn it on again.
With a cold boot, you are causing the TV to shut down fully and reboot.
There are two ways to cold boot your Smart TV:
- Hold down the power button on the remote for 5 seconds. It should restart.
- Unplug your Smart TV from the wall or surge protector. Leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds. Then, turn the TV back on. Give other devices attached to the surge protector time to restart correctly.
Update the Software on Your TV
If the software on your Smart TV is out of date, it can cause all sorts of problems with apps like YouTube.
Most of the time, your Smart TV will download updates automatically.
However, you can still check for updates and download them yourself.
- On most Smart TVs, you can check for Software updates by going to Settings and then choosing any Support/Software Update options.
- If there are any updates available, choose any “Update Now” options.
- The updates should begin to download and install automatically.
- Do not turn your TV off while the updates are downloading and installing.
- Test the YouTube app once the update has been installed.
If your TV does not show any available updates, you can still check your manufacturer’s website.
In some cases, you can download the updates to a USB and install them that way.
Reinstall the YouTube App
Sometimes there are problems with the YouTube app itself, not your Smart TV.
Most Smart TVs will let you delete and reinstall an app.
If that is an option with your model of TV, do the following:
- Find the YouTube app. It will usually be in a place like Apps>Settings.
- Find YouTube and delete it.
- Reinstall YouTube.
- Test the YouTube app.
Why Does YouTube Freeze on My VIZIO Smart TV?
If you have a VIZIO Smart TV and it is freezing on YouTube, there may be reasons specific to that brand of TV.
Some VIZIO Smart TVs can launch YouTube in the sidebar, and you then have to make the app full screen, which can cause freezing.
Sometimes there are issues with Smart Cast.
How To Solve YouTube Freezing on a VIZIO Smart TV
Fixing any potential problems with your VIZIO TV is relatively easy.
Just follow these troubleshooting steps.
Fix SmartCast TV Problems
You can fix any SmartCast TV problems quite easily. Try the following:
If SmartCast TV doesn’t load properly, do this:
- Check your internet connection.
- Switch to HDM1.
- When you get a “no signal” message or programming, press Menu on your remote.
- Choose System>Reset & Admin>Soft Power Cycle>Yes.
- Your TV will restart.
- Wait until the Information Bar disappears, and then wait another 30 seconds.
- Go back to the SmartCast input.
- Reset your Smart TV if SmartCast still doesn’t work.
If you can’t open an app using the OK button of your remote on the SmartCast Input, do this:
- Factory reset your TV.
- On your remote, press Menu.
- Then go to Reset & Admin>Reset to Factory Settings>Reset.
- Set your TV up again.
Doing a factory reset will also reset all of the apps on SmartCast as if you had reinstalled them. This can also fix YouTube problems.
Fix Sidebar Problems
When launching YouTube from the sidebar of your VIZIO TV, you can sometimes have problems with the app not loading or the screen going black. Try one of these fixes:
- Exit YouTube and restart it.
- Cold boot your TV.
- Re-launch YouTube, waiting a few minutes until it loads (a black screen during this time is normal).
Why Does YouTube Freeze on My Samsung Smart TV?
If you are experiencing problems with YouTube freezing, crashing, or refusing to start up on your Samsung TV, and you have tried the other general steps, it may be another specific problem.
You may need to manually update your Samsung Smart TV’s software or reset Smart Hub.
How To Solve YouTube Freezing on a Samsung Smart TV
If you have tried the other general troubleshooting tips on your Samsung Smart TV and YouTube is still not working, it might be time to reset Smart Hub.
Do remember that this will wipe all of your login information, though.
You will need to sign back into everything on your smart TV.
Go to Samsung Account Support if you need to get your Samsung Account information.
There are two ways that you can reset Smart Hub on your TV:
- Go to Settings>Support>Self Diagnosis>Reset Smart Hub.
- Go to Settings>Support>Device Care>Self Diagnosis>Reset Smart Hub.
- Enter the PIN of your TV (0000 by default).
- Try rerunning YouTube after the Smart Hub reset.
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Final Words
It is annoying when YouTube freezes or does not work as it should on your Smart TV.
However, most of the time, it is an easy fix.
Make sure you work through the troubleshooting steps carefully and get more support from the manufacturer if required.
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