How To Fix YouTube Search Not Working

With its millions of posted videos, YouTube should return results for most any basic search. However, sometimes users have reported this issue. There are a number of different reasons this could happen.

If your YouTube search is turning up no results, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll cover the common reasons this happens, along with what you can do to fix the issue.

YouTube Search Not Working on Mobile Apps

A popular way to search for and view your favorite YouTube videos is by using the mobile app. Unless you’re searching for something incredibly rare and obscure, YouTube’s algorithm should always give you results. When it doesn’t, there’s obviously a problem. Here are some ways to get your YouTube search working properly.

Check the Usual Culprits

Sometimes all that’s needed to get YouTube’s search function to work properly is to try a few quick fixes. Search errors are rare, although they do occur. The easiest ways to solve this issue are listed below.

• Reboot your phone
• Close the YouTube app and reopen it
• Check your internet connection
• Try searching with different keywords

If these simple fixes don’t work, there are more in-depth solutions you can try.

Check the YouTube Site for Outages

Perhaps the problem isn’t on your end. Occasionally, the YouTube servers go down or are having technical issues. You can quickly check out its status by following these steps.

1. Open a browser on your mobile device.
   
2. Navigate to Downdetector.
   
3. Here you’ll see if the site is down or is experiencing problems.
   

If they are having outages, wait until they are fixed. If not, try some of our other suggestions.

Update the YouTube App

If you’re not running the latest version of the YouTube app, this could cause a search error. Here’s how to check.

For Android users:

1. Launch the Google Play Store app.
   
2. Tap your Profile Photo.
   
3. Click “Manage apps and device.”
   
4. Check to see if the word “Update” is next to the YouTube icon.
   
5. If an update is available, press “Update.”
   

For iPhone users:

1. Launch the App Store.
   
2. Tap your Profile Photo.
   
3. Locate the YouTube app. If it says “Update” next to the icon, select it to update the app.
   

After you’ve updated the YouTube app, launch it and try your search again.

Clear Your YouTube Cache

Sometimes clearing your phone’s cache can help with search result issues. This can be easily accomplished on Android devices. Unfortunately, iPhone users will have to delete the YouTube app and reinstall it to clear its cache. Here’s how to clear your phone’s cache on both devices.

For Android users:

1. Tap the “Settings” icon.
   
2. Select “Apps & Notifications.”
   
3. Click “YouTube” and go to “Storage & Cache.”
   
4. Choose “Clear Cache.”
   
5. Launch YouTube again and retry your search.
   

For iPhone users:

1. Long-tap on the “YouTube” app icon.
   
2. Once all the icons start to wiggle, you can either select “Delete app” or press the “-” in the icon’s top-left corner.
   
3. Launch the “App Store” app and download YouTube.
   
4. Launch the app and log in with your credentials.
   
5. Try performing a search again and see if clearing the app’s cache solved the problem.

YouTube Search Not Working on TV

With smart TVs becoming more and more popular, many people enjoy searching and watching YouTube videos on their wide screens. This is definitely a better way than watching them on your phone’s much smaller screen. Some users report not getting any results when performing a basic search for videos. This could happen due to a number of reasons. There are a few easy fixes you can do to get the search function working again.

Update the YouTube App

Most smart TVs automatically update apps when available. However, this may not be true for all of them. Sometimes updating the YouTube app to the latest version is all you’ll need to do to get proper search results. Consult your smart TV documentation for information about how to perform a manual app update.

Power Down Everything

Some users who employ the YouTube app on their smart TVs have reported that powering down everything can fix the search error issue. Turn off your TV and unplug it. Power down your modem or router, and also disconnect them from their power sources. Wait a moment before plugging them in and powering them back on. Open the YouTube app and try your search again.

YouTube Search Not Working in Chrome

Using the Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop computer is a great way to watch your favorite YouTube videos. With millions to choose from, finding the right ones for you couldn’t be easier. Regrettably, sometimes your search will come back with no results. This is an indication that something is wrong on your end. There are a number of solutions you can look into and find the culprit.

Hard-Refresh Chrome

Sometimes all it takes to get a YouTube search to return results is to simply refresh your browser. A hard refresh will clear your browser’s cache for the current website and reload the page.

• Windows users can hold down “Control” and click the “Refresh” button
• For Mac users, hold down “Command + Shift + R”
  

Turn On JavaScript

A possible cause for a YouTube search not working is that you don’t have JavaScript enabled on your computer. This is something you can easily turn on. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open Chrome, tap on the “three dots” icon, and select “Settings.”
   
2. Using the search window at the top of the screen, type in “JavaScript.”
   
3. From the “Content Menu,” click the button next to “Sites can use Javascript” to put it in the “On” position.
   
4. Perform your YouTube search again to see if the problem has been solved.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Some Chrome users have reported that the YouTube search feature not working can be fixed by disabling hardware acceleration. To give this a try, follow these steps.

1. Launch Chrome and click on the “three dots” icon.
   
2. Choose “Settings.”
   
3. Type in “hardware acceleration” in the search window.
   
4. Disable hardware acceleration by toggling the switch to the “Off” position.
   
5. Try your YouTube search again.

Use a Different Browser

If you are still experiencing problems with a YouTube search and the above methods didn’t solve the issue, try using a different browser. There are many other options when it comes to browsers, both for PC and Mac. Try using Microsoft Edge or Firefox.

Quick Fixes to Get YouTube Search Function Working Explained

Although not common, sometimes the YouTube search function will yield zero results. As long as you’re spelling everything correctly, your search should provide results. Problems with searching could be caused by using an outdated app, cache issues, or internet problems. Updating the app, checking your internet connection, or simply rebooting your device typically solves the problem.

Have you had problems with a YouTube search not working? Did you use the suggestions in this article to solve the problem? Let us know in the comments section below.