YouTube 'Something Went Wrong' Fix (Black Screen)
Updated: 11/29/2025
You click a video, the circle spins, and then you get the static noise image with the text: 'Something went wrong. Tap to retry.' or just a black screen. This isn't a video takedown; it's a playback failure on your device. It usually means your browser is hoarding old, corrupted cookies that are conflicting with YouTube's new player.
Table of Contents
Method 1: The Incognito Test
Before you wipe your data, let's verify the cause.
Step 1: Open Incognito
Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Chrome) or Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox) to open a private window.
Step 2: Test the Video
Go to the same YouTube video. Does it play? If yes, the problem is definitely your browser extensions or cache. If no, it might be your internet connection.
Method 2: Disable Hardware Acceleration
Sometimes, your graphics card driver conflicts with the video player in the browser.
Step 1: Browser Settings
Go to Chrome Settings (three dots > Settings).
Step 2: System
Click on System on the left sidebar. Toggle OFF 'Use graphics acceleration when available'.
Step 3: Relaunch
Restart the browser and try again. This often fixes green screen or black screen glitches.
Method 3: Clear Cache & Cookies
If extensions aren't the issue, purge the bad data.