YouTube is one of the most popular video streaming platforms where you can spend hours without getting bored. The amount and variety of content you will find on YouTube is just unmatchable. From educational, traditional, entertainment, religious, to sports, you can find videos of all kinds on the world’s biggest video streaming platform.
However, like any other application present on the internet, YouTube is also prone to bugs and glitches. If you have been using YouTube for a long time, then you must have encountered “An error occurred playback ID” at least once. In the majority of cases, you will notice that this error will occur in every video that you are trying to play. Whereas, in some cases, it might occur in some specific videos.
The worst part about this YouTube error is that it isn’t Windows or browser-specific. It can occur on Windows versions from 7 to 11, and on browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Maxthon. So, are there any working solutions to fix this issue?
Fortunately, there is, and this post is all about that. Here, we are going to talk about how to fix YouTube an error occurred playback ID. So let’s begin.
How to Fix YouTube an Error Occurred Playback ID?
In the first instance, the issue might look very complex, but thankfully, its workarounds are very simple and straightforward. So, here are different troubleshooting methods that have helped most of the users who have encountered YouTube an error occurred playback ID error, and hopefully, they will work for you as well.
Fix 1: Reinstall Your Browser
The first and foremost step you should take to fix the YouTube an error occurred playback ID error is to reinstall your browser. It has been noticed that this YouTube error occurs in most third-party browsers. Yes, you can switch the browser anytime, but why go for it when you can just reinstall your current browser to fix the issue? Nevertheless, here are the steps you need to follow to get the work done.
- Open the run dialogue box by using the “Windows + R” shortcut key.
- In the search bar, type “appwiz.cpl” and press “Enter”.
- The Program and Features window will open up, containing all the applications installed on your computer. Right-click on the browser that you are using to stream YouTube, and tap on “Uninstall”.
That’s it. Now re-download the browser from its official website. For your convenience, here are the download links of popular web browsers.
Once the download is complete, stream YouTube and check whether the issue is resolved or not. If not, move on to the next step.
Fix 2: Restart the Connection Source
If you are facing a YouTube error, occurred playback ID error, the very next thing you should do is to check whether your internet is working or not. To check, open a new page and search for something. If the page doesn’t open up, then it indicates that your internet is not working.
As a workaround, reboot your connection source. If you are using a router or modem, simply restart it by pressing the power button. And if you are using your mobile hotspot to access the internet, turn off-on the internet connection.
After restarting, try streaming the video that was throwing the error, and see if the problem persists.
Fix 3: Clear Browser Cache Data and Cookies
Clearing browsing cache data is one of the best ways by which you can fix most of the browser-related issues, including YouTube an error that occurred playback ID error. That’s why it’s always recommended to keep on clearing the cache data at a regular interval. The methods below are the ways to clear cache data in Google Chrome. The method will be almost similar in any other browser that you are using. Nevertheless, here are the steps you need to follow.
- Tap on the three-dots present in the top right corner.
- Select “More Tools” and then “Clear browsing data”.
- Checkmark “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”.
- Lastly, tap on “Clear Data.”
After you’ve cleared your browser’s cache and cookies, re-play the video that was causing the error. If the problem still continues, carry on with the article.
Fix 4: Clear DNS Cache
Similar to clearing the browser cache data, it’s important to keep on clearing the DNS cache to avoid any browser-related issues. If by any chance, the DNS cache data gets corrupted, you will not be able to visit any website. As a solution to it, you need to keep on flushing the DNS cache at a regular interval. So, here are the steps you need to follow to get the work done.
- Open the “Run” dialogue box on your computer.
- In the search bar, type “CMD” and press Enter.
- The Command Prompt window will open up. Type the below-mentioned command and press Enter to execute the command.
ipconfig/flushdns
Now, again play the video that was throwing the YouTube an error occurred playback ID error, and see if the problem persists. If so, move on to the next method.
The problem that you are currently facing can also be a result of a bad codec that you recently installed on your device. However, the worst thing is that you can’t specify the software that has installed the codec. As a solution to this, it’s recommended to restore the system to the point where everything was working fine for your system. So, here are the steps you need to follow.
- Launch the Run dialog box.
- In the search bar, type “rstrui” and hit enter.
- The System Restore wizard window will open up. Tap on “Next” on the first page that pops up.
- On the following page, you will be asked to confirm your restore point. The description contains the last state to which your Windows will be restored. Tap on “Finish” to start the restoration process.
The restoration process will take a few minutes. Once it has been done, check whether the problem is fixed or not.
Fix 6: Try a Different Account
If you are facing the issue, even after restoring the system, the chances are high that the problem is with the connected account and not with the browser. So, as a solution, connect a new Google account to YouTube, and see whether the YouTube error occurred playback ID error is resolved or not. Here are the steps you need to follow to connect a new account to YouTube.
- Open a web browser.
- Tap on your “Profile”, which is present at the top right corner.
- Select “Add”.
- Enter your credentials and sign in with a new account.
Now, open YouTube with the new account and see if the problem continues. If so, move on to the next method.
Fix 7: Turn On-Off Autoplay
YouTube comes with an autoplay feature that automatically plays the next video. According to many users, YouTube an error occurred playback ID issue can be fixed just by turning off-on the autoplay feature. So, here’s how you can turn off-on the autoplay feature on YouTube.
- Open YouTube and play any video you want.
- The autoplay button is available just below the video. If the toggle is on, turn it off and vice versa.
Now, relaunch Google Chrome, and see if the problem persists.
Fix 8: Uninstall Unnecessary Extensions
Each extension present on the internet has its own pros and cons. However, most of them can result in the malfunctioning of your web browser. So, make sure you only have the necessary extensions installed in your web browser. And don’t forget to remove any unnecessary extensions.
So, here’s how to uninstall an extension on a web browser.
- Open your web browser, and tap on the three-dots present in the top right corner.
- Select More Tools and then Extensions.
- Tap on “Remove” to remove any unnecessary extension.
Final Words
This was how to fix YouTube, an error occurred playback ID issue. Let us know whether the above-mentioned methods fixed the issue or not. And if you are aware of any other working workaround, feel free to share it with our fellow readers in the comments.
