5 min Read

How to Fix YouTube Keeps Pausing (10+ EASY Fixes)

YouTube keeps pausing

You are watching a YouTube video, but it keeps pausing. It is frustrating and spoils your mood. But you should not fret; in this blog, we will walk you through some techniques to fix the YouTube keeps pausing issue on your device. But let’s first know the reasons why it keeps stopping.

Why does YouTube Keep Pausing Randomly?

Numerous Android, iOS, and desktop users have encountered this error; however, they have no idea why it occurs. Due to this fact, we are about to list some significant reasons why YouTube app keeps pausing on Android, iOS, and PC.

  • It is likely to be the poor Internet connection that is unable to keep you with the demands of streaming video at the selected quality.
  • A software glitch or outdated software on your device system can also cause YouTube keeps pausing issue.
  • YouTube isn’t updated, so the videos become unresponsive, causing it to pause.
  • Your Android or iOS smartphone doesn’t have sufficient free storage space, so the app can’t run properly.
  • The background apps on your device consuming too much memory can cause YouTube to keep pausing.
  • If you are using a loose or faulty headphone, it will interrupt the connection and can lead to the YouTube video to pause.
  • The power-saving mode on your device restricts the app from saving battery, leading to this issue: YouTube keeps pausing.
  • If you turn on the restricted background data usage settings on your device, it pauses the video frequently.

How to Fix YouTube Keeps Pausing Issue?

Now you know the reasons why YouTube videos may pause; let’s have a look at how you can fix this issue and enjoy nonstop video playback.

How to Fix YouTube Keeps Pausing

Fix 1: Check Network Connection

If YouTube keeps pausing, it happens when you are having internet connection problems. As it takes slower to buffer the content. To fix this issue, check the wifi connection on your mobile or Ethernet connection if you are using a PC. However, if you are using mobile data, check whether signals are available or not. You can also turn off the wifi router and then turn it on to improve the connectivity. You can also reduce the YouTube video streaming quality, as the lower quality uses less data and the internet connection is transmitted more smoothly when the internet keeps dropping.

Fix 2: Turn off the Auto Pause Feature

YouTube auto-pause is a feature that allows videos to pause automatically while playing. For some reason, people do use this feature. This feature is essentially used with a facial sensor. The way how Facial Recognition works is that when you face the cell phone from the front, the sensor captures your facial key points and enhances your cell phone experiences like waking up the phone, playing and pausing YouTube videos, etc. The solution for the YouTube keeps pausing issue is to shut down the auto-pause using the face sensor. Additionally, the auto-pause feature stops a video after inactivity. To turn off the auto-pause feature,

  • Download and install the AutoTube extension on your browser.
  • Add the extension to your browser by clicking on it.
  • Now you can watch YouTube videos without pausing.

Fix 3: Headphone Pausing YouTube Video

It might be inconvenient for you and everyone around in that your headphones were lifted and all sounds your smartphone was made can be caught. Luckily for you and everyone around, your device might have a nifty feature that interrupts the audio of music and videos when the headphones connected to your device are removed from the headphone jack.

Wistfully, due to this feature, users encounter YouTube keeps pausing. Why? Conclusively, there are 2 possible root conditions: your headphones or headphone jack. If in a situation you have many pairs of headphones, you can probably verify the headphone jack and get out the real culprit. Make sure to connect Bluetooth headphones to your device.

Headphone Pausing YouTube Video

Fix 4: Restart your Device

Minor bugs in your device also lead to YouTube keeps pausing issues. A simple restart can resolve multiple issues like these. When you restart your device, it will close all apps and eliminate any software issues or temporary glitches that could potentially cause errors. However, always save your work before restarting your device.

Fix 5: Turn on Do Not Disturb Mode

YouTube keeps pausing automatically when your device’s notifications pop up or someone calls you. To avoid it, you can turn on Do Not Disturb mode on your smartphone. To do that,

  • Open the settings app on your Android device.
  • Tap on the notifications and turn on the Do Not Disturb toggle.
Turn on Do Not Disturb Mode

On an iOS device Open the settings app and head to the Focus option. Then turn on the Do Not Disturb toggle.

Fix 6: Turn off Remind Me to Take a Break

The “Remind me to take a break” option is one of the most recent YouTube features. All it does is pause the YouTube video after every time interval that you set. This feature is really helpful. When you leave your phone with a video playing on it, it may cause a battery drain, and it could be the reason why YouTube keeps pausing. To turn off this feature:

  • Go to YouTube settings.
  • Then head to the General.
  • The first option is “Remind me to take a break.” If it’s on, turn it off.
Turn off Remind me to Take a Break

Fix 7: Clear YouTube App Cache

You can also attempt to clear the YouTube app cache as it will and also Clear Storage Space on your device. Owning too much cache on your device can make your application work slowly. So clear up the cache and let videos play without any pause. Caches just record your movement on the app, and they are of no worth.

To remove the cache of the YouTube app, follow the steps:

  • Navigate to the Settings section of your device.
  • Open the YouTube app from the shown apps.
  • Click on the Storage option, and you will see 2 options: Clear Cache and Clear Data. Just click on Clear Cache carefully, as pressing on Clear Data will make you delete all your downloaded data from the YouTube application.
Clear YouTube App Cache

Fix 8: Update YouTube App

If you have shut down the auto-update on the app store and don’t update apps manually according to updating notifications, Then this may lead to YouTube keeps pausing issues and forcing it to behave strangely. Therefore, to solve the issue, go to the Google Play Store or App Store and update the YouTube app to the latest version. Do not neglect to make sure that your phone has sufficient internet and storage quota to download it. However, sometimes it is better to delete YouTube videos on Android and iOS to solve the issues.

Fix 9: Turn Off Data Saver

The data saver option on the YouTube app lowers the quality of the video to save the usage of mobile data and keeps you from going over the limit. However, if you exceed the link limit, this feature may pause your YouTube videos. Therefore, if you have an unlimited data plan, then turn off the YouTube data saver option to fix the YouTube keeps pausing issue. Here is how to do it:

  • Head to the YouTube settings.
  • Tap on the data saving.
  • Turn off the Data Saving Mode.
Turn Off Data Saver

Fix 10: Use Another Browser

You can use YouTube in an incognito or another browser. It seems that an issue is causing the YouTube app to keep pausing with the browser. In such cases, updating or resetting the browser will normally resolve the issue. However, if the issue still continues after resetting and updating your Chrome browser, then try to use another different browser like Firefox.

Fix 11: Disable Antivirus and Extensions

Many people use extensions, antivirus software, and other third parties for various purposes. Sometimes these third-party extensions and antivirus interfere with YouTube playback, causing it to pause mysteriously. Whether you use them to get rid of pop-up ads, threat protection, translate subtitles, or handle passwords, they can cause the video to pause mysteriously. You can consider disabling or removing them permanently to see if that helps in YouTube keeps pausing issue.

In addition, type chrome://extensions in the address bar and hit Enter to disable extensions in Google Chrome. You may want to turn off all of the extensions and check if YouTube works. Microsoft Edge allows you to turn off extensions by clicking the three-dot menu. Moreover, you can also disable the extensions by opening a new window in incognito mode to fix the YouTube pausing issue.

Fix 12: Check your Device Storage

YouTube stores data on your smartphone to preload the videos, so you can watch them without pauses. However, if you have an older smartphone with 16GB or 32GB of storage, then your smartphone probably ran out of storage. Check the remaining storage space on your device and have at least 10–15% of the recommended free space. If you’re running low on space on your device, clear some by uninstalling apps or deleting files to fix YouTube keeps pausing issue.

Fix 13: You’re Using Up Your Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the measure of speed your web visitors travel. Think about a daily-sized door fit for just one person. Two people may be able to get by one another. But try to fit five or ten people; they might get stuck. Bandwidth visitors act in the same manner. The larger your bandwidth speed, the more data can come and go without bottlenecking on the way through.

While you download movies, music, and files, you’re using your bandwidth. And there’s a limit to what you can do with it. If you are streaming YouTube, running apps in the background, and downloading, it’s no surprise your YouTube keeps pausing.

It is possible to reduce your bandwidth in some scenarios, one of which was already mentioned. When you’re downloading a file, give it a rest till you’re done with the video, or resume the download when you aren’t using your Android and iOS devices.

Second, your devices are set to automatically update apps when an update is available. That’s taking up your bandwidth as well.

What if YouTube Still Keeps Pausing Continuously?

If you have tried all the above fixes, YouTube video is still stopped, which means there is a more complex issue with YouTube. Now you have to consider the YouTube Help Center and browse the available articles about general problems with YouTube to address this issue.

FAQ’s

Q: How do I fix YouTube auto-pause?

Ans: On Android, YouTube auto-pauses quite frequently, but you can fix it by improving your network bandwidth, clearing your cache and cookies, cleaning the headphone jack or replacing the headphones, updating the YouTube app, or turning off the Remind me to take a break feature.

Q: Why is YouTube video keeps pausing on my smart TV?

Ans: If YouTube keeps pausing on your smart TV, try the following simple troubleshooting method: Make sure your smart TV is connected to a high-speed internet connection, close all background apps, and restart the YouTube app. Reset your Wi-Fi modem or router if it does.

Q: How to fix YouTube auto-pause on the browser?

Ans: The most effective fix for YouTube auto-pause in the browser is to clear the cache, cookies, and history. Go to Menu > History > Clear browsing data > Advanced > Check the boxes to remove cache, cookies, and site data. All-time in the time range and finally hit Clear data.

Q: Why does YouTube music keeps pausing?

Ans: Several factors make this issue occur including;

  1. Internet connection
  2. Incorrect YouTube music app settings
  3. Other apps running in the background on your device
  4. Outdated YouTube Music app
  5. The device is running low on storage space
  6. Outdated software on your device

Q: How long will YouTube play without stopping?

Ans: If you are using a mobile network, YouTube will play without stopping for 30 minutes without being inactive. However, if you are using a wifi network, then YouTube plays without stopping after 4 hours without being inactive.

Conclusion

These are a few ways to solve YouTube keeps pausing on Android, iOS, and PC. You can attempt the first method, and if it does not control, just try a different way. If these things cannot fix your YouTube, just bring your device to any mobile center near you.

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hitech work

I'm Professional Blogger, SEO, and Digital marketing expert. I started my blog in 2016 with the aim to share my knowledge and experiences for the people associated with my field as well as for the general public.