[FIXED] Why Is YouTube So Slow on My Computer?

If you’ve experienced sluggishness while streaming YouTube videos, this comprehensive guide has the solutions you need to optimize your viewing experience.

Discover practical steps to troubleshoot and resolve slowdown issues, ensuring smooth playback and uninterrupted enjoyment of your favorite content.

Say goodbye to YouTube buffering frustrations as we delve into effective fixes for a seamless video streaming encounter.

Why Is YouTube So Slow on My Computer?

Experiencing slow YouTube playback on your computer can be frustrating. Several factors can contribute to this issue:

• Slow internet speeds or unstable connections;
• Outdated browsers or too many open tabs/extensions;Accumulated cache and cookies in your browser;
• Older computers with limited resources;
• If many devices are using the same network simultaneously;
• Playing videos at higher resolutions requires more bandwidth, potentially causing slower loading.
• High demand on YouTube’s servers, especially during peak times; Other applications or downloads consuming bandwidth;
• Some internet service providers may intentionally slow down streaming services;
• Disabled hardware acceleration in the browser.

Also Read: How to Download a YouTube Video to Your PC?

YouTube Running Slow: How To Fix?

Fix 1: Check your Internet connection

Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection. Restart your router/modem and connect directly via Ethernet for a stronger signal. After restarting your router, check to see if the problem has been resolved. 

Also Read:  Boost Internet on Your PC: Tips on How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection

Fix 2: Try a different browser

Sometimes, making your YouTube slow may be browser-related. In this case, simply switching to a new browser can solve the problem. Consider other browsers like Microsoft Edge, Opera, or Google Chrome. 

Also Read: What is the Best Internet Browser?

Fix 3: Restart your computer

Sometimes a simple restart can resolve performance issues – including YouTube videos loading slow. Try it and see if it fixes the YouTube being slow. 

Fix 4: Clear browser cache and cookies

Follow the steps below to clear your browser’s cache and cookies:

• Launch your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
• Click on the three-dot menu icon (Chrome) or the three-line menu icon (Firefox) in the top-right corner.
• In Chrome: Click on Settings > Privacy and Security> Clear browsing data.
• In Firefox: Click on Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.
• Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• You can adjust the time range to clear data from a specific period.
• Click on the Clear data or Clear button.
• Confirm the action in the pop-up window that appears.
• Close and reopen your browser to apply the changes.

Check to see if the problem has been fixed.

Also Read: How to Delete Temporary Internet Files?

Fix 5: Update browser and plugins

• Update your browser to the latest version and ensure plugins like Adobe Flash Player are updated.

Fix 6: Disable browser extensions

Temporarily disable browser extensions:

• Launch your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
• Click on the three-dot menu icon (Chrome) or the three-line menu icon (Firefox) in the top-right corner.
• In Chrome: Click on Extensions from the drop-down menu.
• In Firefox: Click on Add-ons or Extensions from the menu.
• You’ll see a list of installed extensions.
• For each extension you want to disable, toggle the switch to turn it off.
• Close and reopen your browser to apply the changes.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to disable browser extensions that might be affecting the performance of YouTube or other websites.

Disabling extensions temporarily can help you identify if any of them are causing the slowdown issue.

Remember that you can enable them again if you determine they are not causing the problem.

Fix 7: Lower video quality

It is true that Google is always looking for ways to speed up the loading time of YouTube videos. However, due to heavy traffic, server errors still occur.

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to improve the traffic. However, you can opt to change the quality level of the video to reduce the loading time.

Simply follow the steps below:

• Go to YouTube and search for the video you want to watch.
• Click the Settings icon, which can be found at the bottom right corner of the video window.
• Click Quality, and then set the quality to a lower level.
• If the video still buffers choose an even lower quality level.

Fix 8: Close background apps

Close other applications using your internet bandwidth. This frees up resources for smooth YouTube playback.

Also Read: How to Stop Apps from Running in the Background on Windows 10 PC?

Fix 9: Update graphics drivers

Updating graphics drivers is crucial to speed up YouTube videos because these drivers play a significant role in rendering and displaying graphics, including videos, on your computer. 

Related: How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?

Fix 10: Enable hardware acceleration

In browser settings, enable hardware acceleration. This offloads video rendering to your GPU.

Enabling Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome:

• Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome.
• Select Settings.
• Scroll down and click on Advanced to reveal more settings.
• Under the System section, toggle on Use hardware acceleration when available.
• Close and reopen Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Enabling Hardware Acceleration in Mozilla Firefox:

• Click on the three-line menu icon in the top-right corner of Firefox.
• Select Options.
• Click on General in the left sidebar.
• Check the box next to Use recommended performance settings.
• Restart Firefox
• Close and reopen Firefox to apply the changes.

Fix 11: Disable VPN or Proxy

If using a VPN or proxy, disable it temporarily. These can sometimes slow down the internet speed.

Also Read:  “Do I Need a VPN?” Main Benefits of Using a VPN

Fix 12: Improve your computer’s performance

Most of the methods we shared have something to do with your browser. However, in some cases, the root cause of the issue lies in the computer itself.

As such, we recommend using a one-click solution like Auslogics BoostSpeed.

This tool ensures that your computer stays fast and stable by automatically clearing junk files, temporary files, and even web browser cache.

Aside from that, this program can also adjust your Internet connection settings so you can enjoy faster downloads and smooth browsing.

Also Read: Tricks to Get the Most out of Auslogics BoostSpeed Free Trial

Conclusion

Follow these steps systematically to identify and resolve the issue causing slow YouTube playback on your computer. Each method targets a different potential problem, so you can isolate and fix the root cause for a smoother viewing experience.

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