If you are having issues with a Youtube music playlist not working properly, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the problem. Here are some of the most common reasons a Youtube playlist may stop working and how to fix them.
Video unavailable or private
One of the most common reasons a Youtube playlist stops working is that one or more of the videos in the playlist has been removed by the user who uploaded it or has been set to private. When this happens, you’ll see a “Video unavailable” or “Video is private” message where that video used to be in the playlist.
Unfortunately, there is no way to restore access to a video that has been removed or made private. Your only options are to remove the unavailable video from your playlist or replace it with a different video if you still want a complete playlist.
Copyright claim
Youtube playlists containing copyrighted music are often subject to copyright claims. When this happens, the video remains on Youtube but the audio will be muted or replaced with a generic audio track.
If you find videos in your music playlist have suddenly lost their original audio, a copyright claim is likely the culprit. The only way to restore the original audio is if the claim is removed by the copyright holder. Otherwise, you’ll need to remove or replace the video in your playlist.
Region blocking
Some videos on Youtube limit availability based on geographical region. If you’ve created a playlist while traveling abroad or using a VPN, some of the videos may become unavailable when you return home or turn off your VPN.
To fix region-blocked videos, you’ll need to either use a VPN to appear in the supported country or replace those videos in your playlist with versions that are available in your region.
Account suspension or termination
In rare cases, your entire Youtube account may be suspended or terminated due to violations of Youtube’s rules, such as copyright strikes. If this happens, all your Youtube playlists will stop working.
You can appeal account terminations through Youtube’s appeals process. For suspensions, you’ll need to wait out the duration before your account and playlists start working again.
Log out and log back in
Sometimes just logging out of your Youtube or Google account and then logging back in is enough to resolve a problem with a video or playlist not playing correctly. This refreshes your credentials and reconnects to Youtube’s servers.
If a playlist stops working for no clear reason, try logging out and back in to see if it resolves the issue before troubleshooting other potential causes.
Check for updates
The Youtube mobile app and website are constantly updated with bug fixes and new features. It’s possible an update introduced a new bug that’s causing your music playlist to malfunction.
Check that both the Youtube app and your phone’s OS are fully updated to the latest versions. Also try using Youtube in a different browser or clearing your browser cache and cookies.
Disable extensions/add-ons
Browser extensions and add-ons, like ad blockers, can sometimes interfere with Youtube’s functionality. If a playlist stops working, try disabling all extensions and add-ons temporarily to see if that’s the issue.
If the playlist starts working after disabling extensions, you’ll need to determine which extension is causing the conflict and either reconfigure it or remove it.
Check playlist privacy settings
If you’ve set a playlist to private, only you will be able to view it while logged into your account. Double check your playlist privacy settings to make sure it’s not set to private if you want to share it publicly.
Open the playlist, go to the menu icon next to the title, and make sure the privacy is not set to “Private.” Set it to “Public” or “Unlisted” if you want to be able to share it.
Try incognito/private browsing
Your main browser profile could have cached data or cookies that are interfering with the ability to play a Youtube playlist correctly. Try opening the playlist in an incognito or private browsing window.
If the playlist works in incognito mode, then there is likely an extension or browsing data causing problems in your main browser. You’ll need to troubleshoot your main browser profile.
Check playlist URLs
If you have shared your playlist’s URL link with others, verify the link still works. Youtube sometimes changes playlists URL’s, so old links may no longer work.
You can regenerate the sharable link by opening the playlist menu and selecting “Share” to grab an updated URL. Make sure any old links are removed.
Factory reset device
For mobile app issues that persist across updates, you may need to factory reset your device as a last resort. Backup your data and then reset the device to default settings.
Reinstall the Youtube app from the app store and try your playlist again. If it still doesn’t work, the playlist itself is likely corrupted.
Recreate the playlist
In rare cases, a Youtube playlist can become so glitched or corrupted that it simply stops functioning. Your only option then is to delete the old playlist and recreate it from scratch.
Save a list of the playlist contents, delete the playlist, then gradually add the videos back into a new playlist. With a fresh start, the new playlist should work normally.
Troubleshooting finicky Youtube music playlists can be tedious. But in most cases, the problem can be resolved with one of the steps above. Be patient and methodical to avoid losing your carefully curated playlists.
