# Youtube is auto refreshing, won't play videos **URL:** \ **Category:** Web Compatibility\ **Created:** [September 25, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755 "2026-09-25T13:58:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/1 "2026-09-25T13:58:49Z")
For the last few weeks, I struggle to get videos to play on youtube. It loads the page, but the player stays black, the video duration flashes to it’s actual length back to 0:00 repeatedly, as long as the caption button flashing. I have to refresh the page multiple times, try opening new tabs to get anything to work.. If anyone has a solution to this, please, let me know… I’ve attempted brave://components for updates, but everything in there is up to date. ---
**Author:** ![Evan123](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/evan123/32/134423_2.png) [@Evan123](https://community.brave.app/u/Evan123)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/2 "2026-09-25T14:47:04Z")
Can you try clearing your cookies and site data as well? Thanks! > **[How Do I Clear Cookies And Site Data In Brave?](https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/360048833872-How-Do-I-Clear-Cookies-And-Site-Data-In-Brave)** > > Table of Contents > > How To Clear All Cookies And Site Data > How To Clear Individual Cookies And Site Data > How To Clear Cookies For The Current Website > How To Clear Site Data For The Current Website > H... ---
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/3 "2026-09-25T19:48:19Z")
This seems to have helped a good bit. it still flashes, but only once or twice. I guess clearing that is a fix. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/4 "2026-09-26T00:16:30Z")
while it’s a bit faster, it’s still happening, at least it starts to play the video after a 10 or so seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/5 "2026-09-29T16:37:36Z")
So… After less than a day of doing this, it started up again… Do I have to clear individual cookies and site data every other time I load youtube now? This is beyond tedious. . . ---
**Author:** ![mickeyw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/mickeyw/32/220769_2.png) [@mickeyw](https://community.brave.app/u/mickeyw)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/6 "2026-09-30T15:01:52Z")
mine does this also. I just do the refresh button icon several times, then it is ok, it seems to only happen to a new youtube owner that I have not watched. The ones ( subscribed ) do not do this. ---
**Author:** ![Mattches](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/mattches/32/25189_2.png) [@Mattches](https://community.brave.app/u/Mattches)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/7 "2026-09-30T17:46:19Z")
It’s worth noting that this is not an issue with Brave, but is a result of Youtube/Google continuing to make life difficult for user’s running ad-block software. > [@PSA: Fix YouTube Ad Block Detection](https://community.brave.app/t/psa-fix-youtube-ad-block-detection/641956): > > Explanation after, but steps are below. Sometimes can resolve just in the first step. If not, go to second. Step One Make sure Brave is updated. Go to brave://components and hit Check For Updates on everything. If you have any update errors on components, then you likely need to follow instructions as you can see at [Brave doesn't start when I run it as administrator and Brave Shield doesn't work - #41 by clifton](https://community.brave.app/t/brave-doesnt-start-when-i-run-it-as-administrator-and-brave-shield-doesnt-work/628494/41) Step Two Go to Settings - \> Privacy & Security → Site And Shields Settings → … ---
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/8 "2026-09-30T17:53:36Z")
You sure about that? All videos I test play on Chrome instantly start, zero issue, even with add blockers. Any video on Brave I click on attempts to stop it from loading. ---
**Author:** ![Saoiray](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/saoiray/32/212354_2.png) [@Saoiray](https://community.brave.app/u/Saoiray)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/9 "2026-09-30T18:18:19Z")
> [@Elcarim](#): > > You sure about that? Yep. I watch on YouTube on Brave all the time and have absolutely no issues. This is on my Windows PC and my iPhone. That isn’t to say you aren’t caught up in some A/B testing from YouTube/Google but that can happen to anyone. Another thing you can do is test private window, which you haven’t mentioned. Determine if your issue is only happening when signed in or signed out as well. Other critical would be to ask if you’re running multiple extensions which could be having issues along with Shields. This is especially true if you’re using any other adblockers. Individual Shields settings or custom rules as well. Test in new window, check in a guest profile (if you’re on desktop), and also might be helpful if you provide a lot more details like your OS, version of Brave used, and other details. **NOTE** In addition to what Mattches linked from me a while ago, there’s also another post I made last year which could potentially be related. [PSA: YouTube not loading or content not available](https://community.brave.app/t/psa-youtube-not-loading-or-content-not-available/644583) ---
**Author:** ![Elcarim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@Elcarim](https://community.brave.app/u/Elcarim)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/youtube-is-auto-refreshing-wont-play-videos/658755/10 "2026-09-30T18:32:41Z")
This link seems to have fixed the issue, thanks Mattches