You’re trying to watch your favorite YouTube video or listen to a song, but you keep getting the annoying “Something went wrong Tap to retry” error message. This issue prevents you from enjoying YouTube content and can be incredibly frustrating.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the common causes of this YouTube error and provide actionable solutions to fix it.
Why Am I Getting the “Something went wrong Tap to retry” Error on YouTube?
There are a few potential reasons why YouTube is showing this error message:
YouTube is Down
The most common reason you’re seeing this error is that YouTube is experiencing an outage or server issues on their end.
When YouTube goes down, none of the videos will load and all users will get the “Something went wrong” message. These outages are usually temporary, lasting from a few minutes to a couple of hours.
Some of the largest YouTube outages in recent years include:
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November 12, 2020 – A global outage lasting over 2 hours that prevented videos from loading.
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October 16, 2018 – YouTube was down for over an hour, impacting users worldwide.
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October 17, 2018 – Another major outage the very next day that disrupted services.
During these outages, YouTube acknowledged the issues on their @TeamYouTube Twitter account.
Problems With Your Internet Connection
Issues with your own internet connection can also cause this error on YouTube. Problems like:
- Slow/unreliable WiFi signal
- Network connectivity issues
- ISP outages
- VPN disconnections
- Exceeding data cap
If the problem is on your end, you’ll likely see the error persist across multiple videos. But if YouTube is down entirely, all videos will fail.
Corrupt App Cache
The YouTube app stores temporary data and files on your device to speed up load times. Over time, this app cache can become corrupted and cause errors.
Clearing the app cache often fixes random playback failures and other YouTube app issues.
Restricted Mode Enabled
YouTube’s Restricted Mode blocks certain videos that contain mature content. If Restricted Mode is enabled on your account, some videos will fail with the “Something went wrong” message, rather than stating the video is blocked.
Disabling Restricted Mode in your YouTube settings typically resolves restricted video playback failures.
Video Unavailable in Your Region
In rare cases, a video might be restricted and unavailable for viewers in your geographic region. Trying to play these blocked videos results in the “Something went wrong” error.
The only fix is using a VPN service to route your traffic through another region where the video is allowed.
Now that you know why this error occurs, let’s go through the steps to fix it.
How to Fix “Something went wrong Tap to retry” on YouTube
Follow these troubleshooting tips to solve the “Something went wrong” error:
1. Check if YouTube is Down
First, check whether YouTube is currently experiencing an outage. The easiest ways to check YouTube‘s status are:
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Visit DownDetector – This tracks reports of YouTube outages. Check if there‘s a spike in reported problems.
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Search Twitter – Search "YouTube down" on Twitter to see if others are reporting issues. YouTube outages often trend.
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Check YouTube Status Page – YouTube has an official status page that shows ongoing outages.
If YouTube is down, you’ll have to wait until services are restored. Constantly reloading videos won’t help resolve the outage any quicker.
Once YouTube fixes the problem, you should be able to refresh videos and start watching again. Major outages usually last 1-2 hours.
2. Restart Your Device
If YouTube isn‘t down for everyone, try restarting your device:
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On iPhone – Hold down the Power button until you see the “Slide to Power Off” prompt. Slide it, wait 30 seconds, then turn your phone back on.
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On Android – Hold down the Power button and tap Restart when prompted. Allow your phone to fully reboot.
Restarting your device resets network connections and clears memory leaks that could be preventing YouTube videos from loading properly. This simple fix works surprisingly often.
3. Check Your Internet Connection
Make sure your internet connection is strong and working properly. Troubleshoot your WiFi or mobile data:
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Run a speed test to check for network issues. Slow speeds will cause buffering and errors.
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Try connecting to a different WiFi network or switching to mobile data. See if YouTube works properly over a different connection.
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Restart your router if on WiFi. Cycling the power can improve stability.
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Contact your ISP if you think there are problems with your connection.
With an unstable internet connection, you’re likely to keep seeing the “Something went wrong” message across YouTube. Getting online with a strong signal should resolve this.
4. Clear YouTube App Cache and Data
The YouTube app cache can get corrupted over time and cause playback failures. Deleting this temporary app data often fixes problems.
On iPhone:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap General > iPhone Storage
- Select YouTube from the list of apps
- Tap Offload App to clear the cache (your data will remain intact)
On Android:
- Open phone Settings
- Tap Apps / Application manager
- Select YouTube
- Tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons
Clearing app data deletes your YouTube search/watch history and logins. You‘ll have to sign back in. But this refresh usually resolves pesky "Something went wrong" errors.
5. Update the YouTube App
An outdated version of the YouTube app can suffer from bugs and technical issues. Updating to the latest version improves compatibility and fixes problems.
On both iPhone and Android, open the App Store / Play Store. Search for YouTube, then install any available updates.
The newest YouTube version may contain critical bug fixes and performance improvements. Updating apps regularly prevents technical issues.
6. Disable YouTube Restricted Mode
If Restricted Mode is enabled on your YouTube account, some videos get blocked resulting in “Something went wrong” errors.
To disable Restricted Mode:
- In the YouTube app, tap your profile picture > Settings
- Go to General > Restricted Mode and switch it off
With Restricted Mode disabled, you should now be able to play previously blocked content.
7. Try YouTube in Incognito/Private Browsing
Incognito or Private Browsing logs you into YouTube in a fresh browsing session. This can resolve account and settings-related issues:
- Chrome – Click the 3-dot menu > New Incognito Window > Go to YouTube
- Safari – From the File menu, choose New Private Window > Go to YouTube
- Firefox – Click the 3-line menu > New Private Window > Go to YouTube
If YouTube works in Incognito, the problem is with your main browser profile. Try clearing cookies, cache and saved passwords.
8. Use a VPN if the Video is Blocked
In rare cases, a video might be blocked in your country or region. Using a VPN assigns you a new location that can circumvent the region blocking.
Some top VPNs to try include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. Connect to a server in another country, then access YouTube to see if you can now play restricted videos.
With the video unblocked, you should no longer get the “Something went wrong” error message. Just remember to turn off your VPN again when you‘re done watching the restricted content.
Conclusion
The “Something went wrong Tap to retry” message can definitely be annoying when you’re trying to watch YouTube. But in most cases, this error can be easily fixed.
Start by checking whether YouTube is down for maintenance. If so, just wait it out.
Otherwise, restart your device, ensure your internet is working properly, update the YouTube app, and disable Restricted Mode. Clearing app cache and data is another simple fix.
For region-blocked content, using a VPN lets you bypass the restrictions so videos play normally.
With these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve YouTube errors and resume watching videos seamlessly.
