YouTube is a popular platform for streaming videos, but sometimes you may encounter an issue where the video freezes while the audio continues to play. This can be frustrating, disrupting your viewing experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various solutions to fix YouTube video freezing with continuous audio on Android, Windows 10 and 11, and Firefox. We’ll also address freezing that occurs every few seconds.
Clear Cache and Cookies
Clearing cache and cookies is a common solution for resolving playback issues on YouTube. Here’s how to do it:
- Android: Open the YouTube app, tap on your profile picture, go to ‘Settings’, select ‘Privacy’, and tap on ‘Clear cache’ and ‘Clear cookies’.
- Windows 10 and 11: Open your web browser, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the Clear browsing data menu, select ‘Cached images and files’ and ‘Cookies and other site data’, and click ‘Clear data’.
- Firefox: Click on the menu button (three horizontal lines), select ‘Options’, go to ‘Privacy & Security’, under ‘Cookies and Site Data’ click on ‘Clear Data’, and select ‘Cookies and Site Data’ and ‘Cached Web Content’, then click ‘Clear’.
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Enabling hardware acceleration can sometimes cause conflicts with video playback. To disable it:
- Windows 10 and 11: Right-click on the desktop, select ‘Display settings’, scroll down and click on ‘Graphics settings’, select ‘Classic app’ and click on ‘Browse’, locate your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox), click ‘Options’, and disable ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling’.
- Firefox: Click on the menu button, select ‘Options’, go to ‘General’, scroll down to ‘Performance’, uncheck ‘Use recommended performance settings’, and uncheck ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’.
Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause video freezing issues. Follow these steps to update your drivers:
- Windows 10 and 11: Right-click on the Start button, select ‘Device Manager’, expand the ‘Display adapters’ category, right-click on your graphics card, and select ‘Update driver’. Choose the option to search for updated drivers automatically.
- Android: Open the Google Play Store, search for ‘Driver Updater’ apps, select a reliable one, and follow the instructions to scan and update your graphics drivers.
Try a Different Web Browser
Sometimes the issue is specific to a particular web browser. Switching to a different browser can help resolve the problem. Consider trying Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Opera to see if the freezing issue persists.
Check Internet Connection
A poor internet connection can cause buffering and freezing issues on YouTube. Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection. You can try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network or restarting your router.
Conclusion
Experiencing YouTube videos freezing while the audio continues can be frustrating, but there are several troubleshooting steps you can take.
Clearing cache and cookies, disabling hardware acceleration, updating graphics drivers, trying a different web browser, and checking your internet connection are effective ways to resolve this issue on Android, Windows 10 and 11, and Firefox.
By following these solutions, you can enjoy uninterrupted video playback on YouTube.
