Are you scratching your head trying to understand why YouTube keeps pausing? YouTube is currently the world’s most renowned video streaming platform.
But you probably already knew that. We turn to YouTube for all kinds of video content like product reviews, music, celebrity gossip, Vlogs, tutorials, and meal recipes, just to mention a few.
The bottom line is that we rely on this streaming platform for more things than we acknowledge. That’s why it’s pretty frustrating to encounter a glitch while using the YouTube app.
Now the most typical hitch occurs when you are streaming a video on YouTube and then it suddenly pauses and does so repeatedly. Many users have no idea why this is happening or how to stop it and just watch their videos in peace.
Well, this guide seeks to provide actionable tips that will be invaluable in resolving this issue. Similar to most errors encountered with apps, it’s not that serious and has some really simple solutions. On that note, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Why does YouTube keep pausing randomly?
As a frequent YouTube user, you might have experienced issues with the app at some point. A video pausing once in a while isn’t a cause for concern.
It only becomes annoying when the issue occurs too often. In that case, you may need to investigate and figure out why this is happening and how to fix it.
First and foremost, we ought to know the reasons behind YouTube videos pausing unceremoniously. Then we can take a look at the workarounds to unravel the issue.
Network issues
One of the main reasons why YouTube keeps stopping is network disruption. Poor internet connectivity is bound to cause buffering. You require a solid internet connection to stream content.
For instance, to play YouTube videos, you’ll require network speeds of at least 500Kbps and that’s the bare minimum. A bad network connection won’t load the video completely and this should explain why it keeps pausing.
Default Settings on YouTube
YouTube has an Auto-Pause feature that’s usually set by default. The feature automatically will pause videos if the user has been inactive on the application for quite some time.
It’s meant to ensure you don’t miss the vital details in the video you were streaming. That said, people like to play music on this app while doing other things such as cleaning the house or working on a project on the PC. In these instances, auto-pause can be pretty annoying and ruin your experience.
Remind Me to Take a Break
Oftentimes, YouTube introduces new features to ensure the user experience is excellent. One of the most recent features on the app is ‘Remind Me to Take a Break’.
It’s a useful feature considering that most people get so engrossed in streaming content that they completely forget to stop and do other things too.
If you use this feature to ensure you’re not entirely caught up in playing videos on this platform, then it’s pretty clear it may be the reason for the video pausing issue.
Browser glitches
Depending on the browser you’re using, it may be the culprit. There might be an error or glitch resulting from cookies and cache files on the browser. This can prevent the video from loading well.
An issue with YouTube itself
YouTube is a great platform for all kinds of entertaining content. That said, it’s not immune to technical hitches or bugs. If there is no indication of a problem on your end, check with the YouTube Help Center for information on any technical faults on the app itself.
How to fix the YouTube keeps pausing issue?
Now that you have a clear idea of what’s likely to cause this problem, let’s move on to the important part. We will cover ways to fix it so that you can enjoy playing videos nonstop on YouTube.
1. Check internet connection
If videos take longer than normal to load or keep buffering, it’s surely time to check your internet connection and confirm whether it’s stable or not. You can carry out a speed test or try to surf the web. If you can’t load a page online, restart your devices.
2. Switch to higher network bandwidth
While it will cost more, it’s a solution that might just solve many of the problems you’re facing with YouTube. When you upgrade network bandwidth, videos will load faster. Secondly, there will be no buffering which is one of the main causes of YouTube videos pausing randomly.
3. Clear App Cache
The YouTube cache retains videos and other content that you’ve previously accessed on the platform. This is a measure to save time and load faster whenever you stream them again.
However, when many videos are stacked up in the cache, it slows down the application. This can result in videos pausing or stopping frequently. In that case, you must clear the YouTube cache.
4. Turn off Remind Me to Take a Break
If this feature has become a problem and is ruining your streaming experience, it’s time to turn it off. To do this, use these steps we’ve listed;
- Find YouTube Settings
- Go to the General section
- Turn off ‘Remind Me to Take a Break’.
5. Update YouTube App
Sometimes, the issue persists even after trying all of the different methods to resolve it. If that’s the case, the YouTube app itself might be the root cause of the problem at hand. Check whether you are using the most recent version of this application. You just have to go to the Apps section on your device and check for available updates.
6. Free Up storage space
You might run into the YouTube pausing issue if there is insufficient space on your device. If that’s so, uninstall some of the apps you’re not using at the moment to free up space.
FAQs
How do I stop YouTube from pausing?
Well, there are many things you can do to prevent the YouTube pausing error. Most of them we have mentioned in the brief above.
Why do videos keep pausing?
One reason is a poor internet connection that prevents the video from loading faster and smoothly. Another cause might be browser cache.
