With its millions of published videos, YouTube should return results for almost any basic search. However, sometimes users have reported this problem. There are several different reasons why this could happen.
If your YouTube search returns no results, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll cover common reasons why this happens, along with what you can do to fix the problem.
YouTube search not working on mobile apps
A popular way to find and watch your favorite YouTube videos is through the mobile app. Unless you’re looking for something incredibly weird and obscure, YouTube’s algorithm should always give you results. When it doesn’t, there is obviously a problem. Below are some ways to get your YouTube search working properly.
Check the common culprits
Sometimes all it takes to get YouTube’s search function working properly is to try a few quick fixes. Search errors are rare, although they do occur. The simplest ways to solve this problem are listed below.
- Restart your phone
- Close the YouTube app and reopen it.
- Check your internet connection
- Try searching with different keywords
If these simple solutions don’t work, there are more detailed solutions you can try.
Check the YouTube site for outages
Maybe the problem is not on your side. Occasionally, YouTube servers go down or have technical issues. You can quickly check its status by following these steps.
- Open a browser on your mobile device.
- Navigate to Lowering detector.
- Here you will see if the site is down or having problems.
If they have outages, wait until they are fixed. If not, try some of our other suggestions.
Update the YouTube app
If you are not running the latest version of the YouTube app, this could cause a search error. Here’s how to check it.
For Android users:
- Start the Google Play Store application.
- Tap your profile photo.
- Click “Manage apps and device.”
- Check if the word “Refresh” is next to the YouTube icon.
- If an update is available, press “Update.”
For iPhone users:
- Start the App Store.
- Tap your profile photo.
- Locate the YouTube app. If it says “Update” next to the icon, select it to update the app.
Once you’ve updated the YouTube app, launch it and try searching again.
Clear your YouTube cache
Sometimes clearing your phone’s cache can help with search results issues. This can be easily achieved 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:
- Tap the “Settings” icon.
- Select “Apps & notifications.”
- Click on “YouTube” and go to “Storage and cache.”
- Choose “Clear cache.”
- Launch YouTube again and try your search again.
For iPhone users:
- Press and hold the “YouTube” app icon.
- Once all the icons start moving, you can select “Delete App” or press “-” in the top left corner of the icon.
- Launch the “App Store” application and download it Youtube.
- Launch the app and sign in with your credentials.
- Try searching again and see if clearing the app cache resolved the issue.
YouTube search not working on TV
With smart TVs becoming more popular, many people enjoy searching and watching YouTube videos on their wide screens. This is definitely a better way than viewing them on your phone’s much smaller screen. Some users report not getting any results when doing a basic video search. This could happen for several reasons. There are some simple fixes you can do to get the search function working again.
Update the YouTube app
Most smart TVs automatically update apps when they are available. However, this may not be true for all of them. Sometimes all you need to do is update the YouTube app to the latest version to get proper search results. See your smart TV’s documentation for information on how to perform a manual app update.
Turn off everything
Some users who use the YouTube app on their smart TVs have reported that turning everything off can fix the search error issue. Turn off your TV and unplug it. Turn off your modem or router and disconnect them from their power sources as well. Wait a moment before plugging them in and turning them on again. Open the YouTube app and try searching again.
YouTube search not working in Chrome
Using the Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop 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. Unfortunately, sometimes your search returns no results. This is an indication that something is wrong on your part. There are a number of solutions you can investigate and find the culprit.
Full Chrome Update
Sometimes all it takes for a YouTube search to return results is simply refreshing your browser. A full 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, press and hold “Command + Shift + R”
Activate JavaScript
One possible reason why a YouTube search is not working is that you do not have JavaScript enabled on your computer. This is something you can easily activate. Here’s how to do it.
- Open ChromeTap the “three dots” icon and select “Settings.”
- Using the search window at the top of the screen, type “JavaScript.”
- In the “Content Menu,” click the button next to “Sites can use Javascript” to set it to the “On” position.
- Please perform your YouTube search again to see if the issue has been resolved.
Disable hardware acceleration
Some Chrome users have reported that YouTube search not working can be fixed by turning off hardware acceleration. To try it, follow these steps.
- Launch Chrome and click on the “three dots” icon.
- Choose “Settings.”
- Type “hardware acceleration” in the search window.
- Disable hardware acceleration by moving the switch to the “Off” position.
- Please try your YouTube search again.
Use a different browser
If you’re still having trouble searching on YouTube and the methods above didn’t resolve 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 Explained to Get YouTube Search Function to Work
Although it is not common, sometimes YouTube’s search function does not return any results. As long as you type everything correctly, your search should return results. Problems with search can be caused by using an outdated application, cache problems, or internet problems. Updating the app, checking your internet connection, or simply restarting your device usually resolves the issue.
