YouTube Keeps Crashing on iPhone X? Here’s How to Fix It

If YouTube keeps crashing on your iPhone X, you’re not alone—and it’s definitely annoying, especially if you rely on the app for videos, music, or running a channel. Whether it crashes when you open it, while watching a video, or randomly in the background, here’s a full set of fixes you can try to get YouTube working smoothly again.

1. Close YouTube and Other Background Apps

Sometimes YouTube crashes because of a minor glitch or a conflict with other apps running in the background.

To clear background apps:

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the App Switcher.
Swipe left or right to find YouTube.
Swipe up on YouTube to close it.
Close other background apps too, just to rule out interference.

After that, restart your iPhone.

2. Restart Your iPhone (Soft Reset)

If it’s a temporary system hiccup, a quick reboot can clear it up.

Here’s how:

Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up (or Down) until you see Slide to Power Off.
Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Open YouTube after the reboot to test.

3. Update the YouTube App

An outdated app may not play well with the current iOS version and could crash unexpectedly.

To update YouTube:

Open the App Store.
Tap your profile picture at the top right.
Scroll to see pending updates.
If YouTube is listed, tap Update.

If there are other app updates, hit Update All to keep everything optimized.

4. Reset All Settings

Sometimes, crashing apps are caused by system-level conflicts or incorrect settings—especially after a recent iOS update.

To reset all settings (no data loss):

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

This will reset system preferences, network settings, and more—without deleting your photos, videos, or apps.

5. Delete and Reinstall YouTube

If the YouTube app itself is corrupted or glitched, a fresh install may fix it.

To uninstall and reinstall:

Tap and hold the YouTube icon.
Tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete.
Restart your iPhone.
Go to the App Store, search for YouTube, and reinstall it.

After reinstalling, open the app and sign back in to see if it works properly.

6. Check for iOS Updates

An outdated iOS version can cause compatibility issues with apps like YouTube.

To update iOS:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If available, tap Download and Install.

After updating, restart your device and test the app.

7. Try YouTube in Safari (as a temporary fix)

If nothing is working and you urgently need to access YouTube, open it in Safari:

Launch Safari.
Go to www.youtube.com.

It’s not as smooth as the app, but you’ll still have full access until the issue is resolved.

8. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If YouTube still crashes after all else fails, and other apps are acting up too, it might be a deeper system problem.

To reset your iPhone to factory settings:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Back up your data before doing this.

Or use iTunes/Finder on a computer to do a full restore.

Still Not Fixed? Contact Apple or YouTube Support

If the problem started right after a software update, it may be a known bug. Report it to:

Apple Support for device/system issues
YouTube Support via their in-app Help & Feedback