The fastest way to restart YouTube TV
Restarting the YouTube TV app clears temporary files and refreshes your connection, which fixes most playback problems, login issues, and freezing. The method depends on what device you are using — a phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming device — but the principle is the same: close the app completely and open it again.
A restart is different from just closing the app and reopening it when ready. You need to wait a few seconds or force the app to shut down entirely so it does not stay running in the background. This matters because YouTube TV may keep running even after you think you closed it.
Key Takeaways
- On phones and tablets, swipe the app away from the recent apps list or use Settings to force it to close, then wait five seconds before reopening.
- On Android TV and Google TV devices, go to Settings, select Apps, find YouTube TV, and choose "Force Stop" to fully close the app.
- On Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV, highlight the YouTube TV app, press the Options or Menu button, and select "Remove channel" or "Force Stop," then reinstall it if needed.
- If restarting the app does not fix the problem, restart your entire device by unplugging it for 30 seconds or using the device's power menu.
- Clearing the app's cache through Settings can help if the app is slow or crashes repeatedly, though this does not delete your login information.
Restart YouTube TV on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, the fastest way is to swipe the app away from your recent apps. Double-tap the home button (or swipe up from the bottom on newer models without a home button) to open the app switcher. Find YouTube TV in the list and swipe it upward to close it completely.
Wait five seconds, then tap the YouTube TV icon on your home screen to reopen it. This forces the app to start fresh rather than resuming where it left off. If you cannot find the app switcher, you can also go to Settings, select YouTube TV, and toggle "Offload App" on and then off again — this clears the app's data without deleting your login.
Restart YouTube TV on Android phones and tablets
On Android, open your Settings app and scroll down to Apps or process Manager. Find YouTube TV in the list and tap it. You will see a button labeled "Force Stop" — tap it to shut down the app completely.
Wait a few seconds, then return to your home screen and tap the YouTube TV icon to reopen it. If you want to clear the app's stored data as well, tap "Storage" or "Storage and Cache" on the same screen and select "Clear Cache." This removes temporary files but keeps your login information intact.
Restart YouTube TV on Android TV and Google TV
On Android TV or Google TV devices (like Sony, TCL, or Nvidia Shield), use your remote to navigate to Settings. Scroll down and select Apps or Applications, then find YouTube TV in the list.
Highlight YouTube TV and press the Select or OK button on your remote. Choose "Force Stop" to close the app completely. Wait a few seconds, then press the Home button on your remote and select YouTube TV again to reopen it. If the app is still having problems, you can also select "Clear Cache" from the same menu.
Restart YouTube TV on Roku
On Roku, press the Home button on your remote to go to the home screen. Scroll to find YouTube TV and highlight it. Press the Options button (the star icon on most Roku remotes) and select "Remove channel."
After you remove it, go to the Roku Channel Store, search for YouTube TV, and select "Add Channel" to reinstall it. This is more thorough than a straightforward restart and fixes most app problems on Roku. When you open YouTube TV again, you will be logged in automatically if you were before.
Restart YouTube TV on Apple TV
On Apple TV, highlight the YouTube TV app on your home screen. Press and hold the Select button (the center of the touchpad) until a menu appears. Select "Remove" to delete the app from your home screen.
Go to the App Store, search for YouTube TV, and select "Get" to reinstall it. This fully closes and restarts the app. Alternatively, you can restart your entire Apple TV by going to Settings, selecting System, and choosing "Restart." This takes longer but fixes deeper problems.
Restart YouTube TV on Fire TV
On Fire TV, go to your home screen and highlight YouTube TV. Press the Menu button on your remote (the three horizontal lines). Select "Uninstall" to remove the app.
Open the Appstore, search for YouTube TV, and select "read" to reinstall it. Once it is installed, select "Open" to launch it. If you do not want to uninstall, you can also go to Settings, select Applications, find YouTube TV, and choose "Force Stop" to close it without removing it.
When to restart your entire device instead
If restarting the YouTube TV app does not fix the problem, the issue may be with your internet connection or your device itself. Restart your entire device by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. This clears your device's memory and resets your network connection.
On phones and tablets, you can also restart through Settings: go to Settings, select System or About, and look for a Restart or Reboot option. On smart TVs and streaming devices, go to Settings, select System or Power, and choose Restart. Wait for the device to fully boot up before opening YouTube TV again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting the app delete my login or saved preferences?
No. Restarting the app closes it and reopens it, but your login information and preferences stay saved. You will not have to sign in again unless you specifically clear the app's data or log out manually.
What is the difference between restarting the app and clearing the cache?
Restarting closes and reopens the app. Clearing the cache removes temporary files the app has stored, which can help if the app is slow or crashes. Clearing the cache does not delete your login. Clearing all data removes everything, including your login, so avoid that unless you are trying to fix a serious problem.
How long should I wait between closing the app and reopening it?
Wait at least five seconds. This gives your device time to fully close the app and free up memory. If you reopen it when ready, it may resume from where it left off instead of starting fresh.
What should I do if YouTube TV still does not work after restarting?
Restart your entire device by unplugging it or using the power menu. Check that your internet connection is working by opening another app or website. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall YouTube TV from your device's app store, or contact YouTube TV support through the app's Help section.
Can I restart YouTube TV on my computer or web browser?
Yes. Close the browser tab or window where YouTube TV is open. Wait a few seconds, then go to youtube.com/tv and sign in again. If you are using the YouTube TV website, you can also press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac) to clear your browser cache, then refresh the page.