YouTube was launched in December 2005, and since then it has become the biggest video-streaming platform as well as the second-biggest search engine. It went from having 20 million monthly users in 2006 to more than 2 billion monthly users in 2021 and ranks second to Google in terms of overall traffic. It has rightfully gained its place on the Internet as it allows users to connect in a unique way, to post and view any type of video they wish and interact with it.
However, YouTube users may occasionally experience some issues, which although are mostly easy to fix, could be annoying. One of the widely reported issues is that YouTube keeps pausing while streaming videos. There could be a number of different reasons behind this, which we will cover in this article as well as their solutions.
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YouTube Keeps Pausing – Why?
If the YouTube videos that you stream keep pausing by themselves in a few instances, it could be due to a temporary issue with your network connection. However, if this happens more than just a few times, then there could be a different problem. Below are all the possible reasons why YouTube keeps pausing:
1. YouTube Default Settings
YouTube provides its users with an Auto-Pause feature that pauses the video if the user doesn’t interact for some time. This feature prevents users from missing parts of the video. YouTube may automatically assume that if a user is not interacting with the video for some time then that probably means that they are away from their device. This, obviously, is not always the case. Most users find the feature a disturbance as it interrupts a music playlist, for example. So, there’s a chance it’s this feature that is causing YouTube to pause repeatedly.
2. Unstable Internet Connection
Check whether the issue lies within your Internet connection by conducting a speed test using speedtest.net or fast.com. If there is a slow internet connection of less than 500 kbps, then your video will fail to stream. You can get an idea of the connection speed needed for YouTube videos of different resolutions from this table.
| Video resolution | Recommended net speed |
| 360p | 0.7 Mbps |
| 480p | 1.1 Mbps |
| HD 720p | 2.5 Mbps |
| HD 1080p | 5 Mbps |
| 4K | 20 Mbps |
Alternatively, you can try to play other videos on other devices. If they’re facing difficulty in buffering on other devices as well, and the video quality is dropping then it is most likely your unstable or poor internet connection that is resulting in the YouTube keeps pausing issue.
3. Outdated Youtube App
You have probably noticed that not updating an app causes it to act up and behave strangely. It could lag often or randomly crash. The same is the case with the YouTube app. If you’re using YouTube via the mobile app, using an outdated version may cause several problems, including playback and streaming issues, and it may be the reason why YouTube keeps pausing.
4. Browser Issues
Similar to an outdated app, using an old version of your web browser can cause websites to not work properly. If you’re facing this issue while using YouTube on your laptop or PC, try switching to a different browser. If you do not face the issue on a different browser, then your current browser is outdated and you need to update it.
5.”Remind Me to Take a Break” Is On
There is a certain feature on YouTube that reminds the user to take a break when they have been watching videos constantly for a specific amount of time. When it shows the reminder, it pauses the video that’s currently playing. This feature is only available on the app, so if you’re using YouTube on the web, this can not be a possible reason as to why YouTube keeps pausing.
6. Faulty Headphones
You have probably noticed that when you unplug your headphones from your phone, laptop, or computer, the video or song that is currently playing gets paused. This is not just a YouTube thing but happens for all music and video streaming applications. So if your headphone wire is damaged, the jack is broken or the port on your device is damaged or dirty, your YouTube video will keep on pausing.
7. Interruptions by Extensions or Antivirus
Sometimes, your extensions or antivirus may act out and interfere with your YouTube streaming. For example, your antivirus might perceive YouTube as a threat due to some error, hence, constantly pausing YouTube videos.
8. Excess Cache and Cookies
“Cache” is the temporary data stored on phones and PCs to help certain applications and websites load faster. However, if too much cache is accumulated, it may do more harm than good. Too much browser cache can significantly slow downloading speed with low network bandwidth, and this could be the hidden culprit behind your YouTube keeps pausing issue.
9. YouTube Faults
If you’re sure that everything is working fine at your end, then it is probably some issue on YouTube’s side. After all, no website is perfect, and YouTube has undoubtedly been gaining a lot of traffic. On some occasions, lots of people might log in to YouTube at the same time, and this sudden increase in traffic could overwhelm YouTube’s servers, giving rise to these errors.
How to Stop YouTube From Constantly Pausing?
Once you’ve figured out why YouTube keeps pausing, the solution is quite simple. Here, we have listed all the ways to easily fix the issue so you can watch your videos without interruptions:
1. Turn off Auto-Pause
Unfortunately, there is no official way to turn off the Auto-Pause feature on YouTube. However, you can install an extension that could work. One such extension is called AutoTube, and it is available for both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The Chrome extension can be added to Microsoft Edge as well.
a. AutoTube on Google Chrome
To add the extension on Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge:
- Go to the AutoTube page in the Store by clicking the link given here.
- Click Add to Chrome.
- A pop-up will appear with a list of permissions for the extension. Click Add extension.
- The extension will be added to your browser.
b. AutoTube on Mozilla Firefox
To add the extension on Mozilla Firefox:
- Go to the AutoTube page in the Store by clicking the link given above.
- Click Add to Firefox.
- A pop-up will appear with a list of permissions for the extension. Click Add.
- The extension will be added to your browser.
2. Fix Your Internet Connection
If your Internet connection is unstable, try restarting the router by simply pressing the power button for a few seconds. If too many devices are connected to the same network it can give rise to network issues. Disconnect them and try loading the video again. This should significantly improve your internet speed.
If the problem persists, report it to your Internet Service Provider. Alternatively, you can try switching to a higher network bandwidth to permanently solve buffering issues on YouTube.
3. Update the App
If auto-update is turned on, your YouTube app will automatically download new updates. However, if it is not turned on, then you will have to manually update it. To update the YouTube app, all you have to do is search YouTube on Play Store or App Store and then tap on the Update button. If you can’t see the Update button, then your app is already up-to-date. In that case, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
4. Update your Browser
If you noticed that YouTube works fine on a different browser, you can either continue to use it on that browser or update your current one. You can check if your browser is outdated and download the update here. If your browser is up-to-date, then try reinstalling it.
To update your Google Chrome browser, you can follow these steps:
- Click on the menu button (three dots) on the top-right corner of your Google Chrome home screen.
- Go to Settings.
- From the left panel, go to About Chrome.
- At this point, if you had been using an older version of Google Chrome, your browser will begin updating automatically.
5. Turn Off the “Remind Me to Take a Break” Feature
If you have turned on the “Remind Me to Take a Break” feature on your app, it probably keeps popping up after the time you’ve specified to remind you to take a break. If this is interrupting your streaming, then you can easily turn it off by following these steps:
- Open the YouTube app on your phone.
- Tap on your profile icon on the top right and then tap Settings.
- Go to General and toggle off “Remind me to take a break”.
6. Check Your Headphones
If you often use your phone or PC with headphones on, check whether they’re causing YouTube to keep pausing by using your device’s original speakers. If doing this fixes your issue, then the problem lies within your headphone jack or port. Try using different headphones, and if the issue persists, show the headphones port to a professional and get it fixed.
7. Disable Your Antivirus
You can temporarily disable the antivirus on your computer if you have administrator access. To turn off Microsoft Defender antivirus, follow the steps mentioned below:
- Click on the Start button and then go to Settings.
- Click on Updates and Security.
- From the menu on the left, click Windows Security and then click on Virus & threat protection.
- On the new window that appears, click Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.
- Toggle off Real-time protection.
- On the User Account Control window that appears, click Yes.
8. Disable your Extensions
If you have a number of browser extensions on then this could be a possible reason for why YouTube keeps pausing as these extensions tend to get in the way of the normal functioning of a website. You can turn your browser extensions off by following these steps:
a. Disabling Extensions on Google Chrome
To disable your extensions on Google Chrome:
- Click on the Extensions icon on your Google Chrome browser home screen.
- Go to Manage extensions.
- You can also simply type chrome://extensions in the address bar and click enter.
- A list of all your extensions will appear. Simply toggle them all off (The toggle button of enabled extensions will be blue, while the toggle buttons of disabled extensions will turn grey.)
b. Disabling Extensions on Microsoft Edge
To disable your extensions on Microsoft Edge:
- Go to your Microsoft Edge home screen.
- Click on the Extensions icon.
- Go to Manage extensions.
- You can also simply type edge://extensions/ in the search bar and click enter.
- A list of all your extensions will appear. Simply toggle them all off (The toggle button of enabled extensions will be blue, while the toggle buttons of disabled extensions will turn grey.)
9. Clear YouTube Cache
As mentioned above, an excessive amount of cache for a website or an application can do more harm than good. It is best to keep removing it from time to time. Here is how:
a. Removing YouTube Cache from a PC
Here are the steps you need to follow to clear the YouTube cache on a PC:
- Open the Google Chrome browser on your PC.
- Click on the menu button (three dots) at the top-right corner of the window.
- Go to More Tools and select Clear browsing data.
- Under the Basic tab, specify the time range. To delete everything, select All time.
- Tick the boxes next to Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. You can also choose to delete your browsing history, however, this step is not needed for simply removing cache and cookies.
- Click Clear data. This will perform the intended function.
b. Removing YouTube Cache from a Mobile Application
Follow these steps to delete the app cache on your Android device:
- Go to your phone’s settings.
- Tap on Apps.
- Scroll down on the apps list until you find YouTube.
- Tap on Storage.
- In the bottom right, tap on Clear cache.
To learn how to clear cache and cookies on all devices and browsers, you can consult this detailed article.
10. Reboot Your Device
Rebooting your device is often the easiest solution when a program or feature is not working properly. This is because rebooting your device cleans the RAM and brings your device to a fresh state.This fact remains true for your computer, laptop, phone, individual programs and apps, and Wi-Fi router as well.
11. Report the Issue to YouTube
If all else fails and none of the solutions worked for you, then it’s probably YouTube itself that’s responsible for this problem. All you can do is report it and wait for YouTube to take some action. To do this, you can either search for your issue on the YouTube Help Centre or you can directly send a report to YouTube.
a. Reporting the YouTube keeps Pausing Issue on PC
To send a report on PC:
- Open your browser and go to youtube.com.
- Make sure you’re signed in. If not, click on the Sign in button on the top right and enter your login information.
- Once you’re logged in, click on your profile picture icon on the top-right.
- From the menu that appears, click Send feedback.
- A “Send Feedback” window will appear. Describe your issue, attach any screenshots if you wish, and then click Send.
b. Reporting the YouTube keeps Pausing Issue on a Mobile Device
To send a report on your phone:
- Open the YouTube app on your phone.
- Make sure you are signed in. If not, tap on the profile icon on the top right corner, tap sign in, and then tap Add account. Enter your login details to sign in.
- Tap on your profile icon on the top right.
- Go to Help and Feedback. Then, tap Send Feedback.
- Confirm the email of your YouTube account on the top. Then, describe your issue, attach any screenshots if you wish, and then click Send.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How do I stop YouTube from auto pausing?
Unfortunately, there is no official way to stop YouTube from auto-pausing. However, you can download an extension called AutoTube, available on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox which will fix this problem for you. This extension will prevent the pop-up from interrupting your video.
Q. Why does YouTube keep pausing when I switch tabs?
If YouTube keeps pausing for you when you switch tabs, there is an easy solution.
If you’re using Google Chrome:
- Click on the three dots on the top right corner of the window and click Settings.
- Then go to Advanced and click System.
- Toggle on Use hardware acceleration when available.
If you’re using Microsoft Edge:
- Click on the three dots on the top right corner of the window and click Settings.
- From the menu on the left, click System and performance.
- Under System and performance, toggle on Use hardware acceleration when available.
Q. Why does YouTube keep pausing every few seconds?
There could be several reasons why YouTube keeps pausing while you are watching videos. Some of these reasons include YouTube default settings, unstable Internet connection, outdated YouTube app, browser issues, a switched-on Remind Me to Take a Break feature, faulty headphones, interruptions by extensions or antivirus, excess cache, and cookies, and YouTube faults.