Key Information
- A number of users have reported on DownDetector that they are unable to view video previews.
- Others mentioned that the site appears to be functioning, but is slower than usual.
- The issues started at 1:00 p.m. ET and are still ongoing, with over 5,000 individuals indicating problems with the streaming application.
YouTube’s website seems to be experiencing a significant outage that currently affects only the application’s webpage. The disruption began around 1 p.m. ET, with users reporting issues related to “video streaming.”
Several individuals have noted their struggles on DownDetector, stating that YouTube’s website appears unresponsive, with video previews failing to load. While some users report that everything is operational, it is notably slower than usual (as referenced by 9to5Google).
Data from DownDetector shows a spike in outage reports around 2:30 p.m. ET, with roughly 5,000 users confirming difficulties in accessing YouTube, often met with a blank screen instead of videos.
Breaking down the issues: 83% of users experienced website problems, 15% reported video streaming difficulties, and 3% indicated problems accessing the YouTube app. Outages were noted in cities like New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with similar issues reported across Canada and other global regions.
As of now, neither Google nor YouTube has recognized the outage, though many users have taken to social media to share their experiences with the streaming service. 9to5Google also indicates that users are seeing an increase in ad-blocker warning messages on the site. Some Reddit users suggested a temporary workaround, claiming that disabling ad blockers helped them regain access to YouTube.
It’s noteworthy that YouTube Ads contribute significantly to Google’s earnings, with CEO Sundar Pichai stating that YouTube ads generated $8.93 billion in the first quarter of 2025. When users use ad blockers, it hampers YouTube’s ability to earn revenue from advertisements.
That being said, YouTube is slowly returning to normal, and the number of reported outages has significantly dropped on DownDetector.