How to Fix “Something went wrong Tap to retry” on YouTube

Have you ever been in the middle of watching a YouTube video when suddenly an error message pops up saying “Something went wrong. Tap to retry”? As a fellow streaming and gaming enthusiast, believe me I know how annoying and disruptive getting this error can be, interrupting your entertainment and leaving you confused about what happened.

Not to worry, in this comprehensive guide I’ll break down exactly what causes the “Something went wrong” error on YouTube, the different troubleshooting methods you can try to fix it, and some pro tips for avoiding and dealing with disruptions to your streaming. With the right knowledge and a few quick troubleshooting steps, you can get your video playback running smoothly again in no time.

What Exactly Does the “Something Went Wrong” Error Mean?

The “something went wrong” error is YouTube’s catch-all error message for when it encounters a problem loading or playing a video on your device.

There are two main potential causes behind this vague error:

1. Widespread YouTube Outage

If YouTube’s servers are down or experiencing technical issues on YouTube’s end, this can prevent your device from being able to connect to YouTube to stream videos. The result is the “something went wrong” message.

Outages like this affect all YouTube users globally. Even if your own internet connection is working fine, an issue with YouTube’s servers themselves can still cause the error when trying to load videos.

2. Problem with Your Local Network Connection

Issues with your own internet connection—like weak WiFi signal, router problems, or cellular data interruptions—can also cause the error message to appear.

Problems like these prevent your specific device from maintaining a stable connection with YouTube’s servers, resulting in playback failures and the “something went wrong” message.

Unlike global YouTube outages, local network issues only affect the individual user. So how can you tell what’s causing the error you’re seeing?

Identifying the Cause: Is YouTube Down or is it Just You?

Whenever the “something went wrong” error pops up, it’s good to first check if YouTube is having any widespread technical issues or outages.

According to a recent report from Backlinko, YouTube experiences an average of 3 outages per month, so YouTube going down isn‘t super uncommon. Many things can cause outages – server failures, bugs, cyberattacks, etc. Major weather events can also sometimes cause region-wide ISP and networking issues.

Here are the key ways to check if YouTube is down:

Look for outage reports on Downdetector.com – Downdetector tracks status and outages for popular websites and apps. Check YouTube’s page there to see if lots of users are currently reporting errors.
Search “YouTube down” on Twitter – Searching this phrase will reveal tweets from other users complaining about YouTube issues if an outage is occurring. The hashtag #YouTubeDOWN will also likely be trending.
Check YouTube’s status page at https://status.youtube.com – YouTube sometimes posts real-time outage updates and information here.
Look for news coverage of the outage – For major outages, news sites will often have stories about the issue. Googling “YouTube outage” brings up recent coverage.

If these sources indicate YouTube is broadly down or experiencing technical issues, there’s unfortunately nothing you can do but wait it out until YouTube resolves the problem on their end. According to Backlinko‘s data, YouTube outages last an average of 63 minutes.

However, if there are no indications of a larger outage, then the “something went wrong” error is likely caused by a problem with your own local network connection. Let’s go over some troubleshooting steps to fix connection issues.

Troubleshooting Your Network Connection and Device

With streaming, even a short network interruption of a few seconds can cause a video error. Fixing these local network issues usually resolves the error message quickly:

Restart your router and modem – A simple restart of your networking equipment can fix transient connection problems. Unplug the power cable on both devices, wait 30 seconds, then plug them back in. This recycles the connections.

Check WiFi signal strength – Weak WiFi signal can result in intermittent drops and connectivity issues. Move closer to your router, or better yet, plug your device directly into the router via ethernet cable for a super stable wired connection.

Try switching between WiFi and cellular data – If you get the error on WiFi, trying loading the video over your phone’s cellular data. If cellular data works, that confirms your home WiFi is the issue.

Force quit and relaunch the YouTube app – Sometimes restarting the app can resolve temporary glitches. On iOS, swipe up and hold to force quit the app. On Android, open Settings > Apps > YouTube > Force Stop.

Restart your device – Rebooting your smartphone or computer resets network connections and often fixes flakey connectivity. Power down your device completely and power it back on.

Check for router firmware updates – Outdated router firmware can cause connectivity and performance issues. Log into your router’s admin interface and check the manufacturer’s website for the latest firmware. Install any available updates.

Delete and reinstall the YouTube app – If videos won’t load in the app at all, deleting and reinstalling the app can wipe out any corrupted data or cached bugs. Just be sure to backup any saved videos first!

Call your ISP about service issues – For recurring connection problems, contact your Internet provider – they can troubleshoot and fix any issues with your service or equipment.

Reset Network Settings – The Nuclear Troubleshooting Option

If you’ve tried all other troubleshooting steps and YouTube still isn’t working right, resetting your device’s network settings is a last resort “nuclear option” that often resolves stubborn connectivity issues.

On an iPhone:

Open Settings > General > Reset
Tap Reset Network Settings
Enter your passcode if prompted
Confirm the reset

This will delete any saved WiFi passwords and other network info, so you’ll need to re-enter your WiFi password afterwards. It often fixes hard-to-diagnose network problems that can cause YouTube playback failures.

On an Android device:

Open Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options
Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth
Tap Reset Settings
Confirm the reset

As with iPhone, this resets all network settings on an Android device, so you’ll need to reconnect to your WiFi afterwards.

Pro Tips for Avoiding and Dealing with YouTube Streaming Errors

As a heavy streaming user myself, I’ve picked up some useful tips over the years for minimizing disruptions to your streaming sessions:

Use a wired ethernet connection for super reliable connectivity whenever possible. This prevents WiFi drops.
Set your video quality lower to reduce bandwidth requirements and improve uninterrupted playback. 720p HD still looks great.
Close unused apps and browser tabs to free up device resources for smoother streaming.
Update your apps to the latest versions for performance improvements and bug fixes.
Check YouTube’s status page for updates on any current outages before troubleshooting your device.
Try an alternative streaming source like mobile data or another device if YouTube isn’t working right on one connection.
Be patient and take a break during widespread outages—services usually restore within an hour or two.

In Summary…

Getting the “something went wrong” error on YouTube can be really disruptive to your entertainment. However, in most cases the issue can be easily resolved by troubleshooting your network connection or waiting out global YouTube outages.

Follow this guide to determine if YouTube is down for everyone, or if the issue is with your own device, WiFi, or Internet connection. A few simple troubleshooting steps like restarting your equipment, checking connections, or force quitting the YouTube app can typically get streaming working again quickly.

Rarely, you may need to fully reset your device’s network settings to resolve a stubborn network issue preventing YouTube access. Overall though, a bit of patience and some targeted troubleshooting will have you happily streaming your favorite videos again in no time.