We are having same issue. I notice - it has to do with ads. the grey screen is when an ad is cued before the video i selected to play. Also - it progressively gets worse as the length of time in the app.
It gets to a point where you end a video or go to select a new one, and then it just freezes. rebooting the app helps for a while but it's rinse and repeat. there must be a memory leak in the youtube channel software.
Mudmanrv without knowing the specific model number of your Roku, it's tough to say what the exact problem is. On older devices, YouTube simply doesn't work well, period. Google continues to program the app to use the more powerful chipsets in the newer players, and the older players simply can't keep up. YouTube was the first app/channel that because unusable on my old Roku 2 XS, which is now over 12 years old. I can still hook it up and it works, but it's not a usable device with most channels.
atc98092 while I appreciate your response, our Rokus are Roku 3 devices and so far still occasionally receive updates. I find it irritating for lack of better words that companies do this forced obsolescence. The Roku 3 has been fine for every other service we use, Netflix, Hulu, history, Amazon, Vudu, etc. only YouTube causes this issue. Sure there may be “better” tech out there, but this “tech” still works fine for its purpose with the exception of YouTube. I don’t have a 4k tv so why would I spend money on a 4k Roku just to play one channel? Next I’ll have to replace the tv too. I mean I get it, I work with tech daily, it’s just irritating.
Mudmanrv wrote:
atc98092 while I appreciate your response, our Rokus are Roku 3 devices and so far still occasionally receive updates. I find it irritating for lack of better words that companies do this forced obsolescence. The Roku 3 has been fine for every other service we use, Netflix, Hulu, history, Amazon, Vudu, etc. only YouTube causes this issue. Sure there may be “better” tech out there, but this “tech” still works fine for its purpose with the exception of YouTube. I don’t have a 4k tv so why would I spend money on a 4k Roku just to play one channel? Next I’ll have to replace the tv too. I mean I get it, I work with tech daily, it’s just irritating.
Totally hear you Mudmanrv! Roku 3 was initially released in 2013, so your device is over 10 years old at this point. Keep in mind that channel partners, like YouTube, create their own channels, including memory requirements. Although, we do incentivize partners to keep their channels within parameters for older players.
Shoot me a PM, as a long-time Roku customer, I'm happy to send you a few coupon codes for a discount. 😎
Hi Austin,
With regards to my particular Roku issue, I wound up upgrading to a 4802X - Roku Ultra, so I'm all good now. The only problem with the new box is the remote runs away from time to time (the scroll or volume controls get a mind of their own), but otherwise, things are peachy again. Thanks!
Hi Burnspot,
Thanks for posting here in the Roku Community!
We're glad to know that you're all good now. Regarding your remote, please try to restart the system if it runs away by going to Settings > System > System Restart to fix the issue.
If there's anything else that we can do to assist you, just let us know.
Kind regards,
Eunice
This problem is not solved. A roku reset will temporarily solve the problem but it will come back.
The issue is that the youtube app occasionally takes a long time to start playing the advertisements at the start of video playback. It may take over 60 seconds for the advertisement to load. During that time a gray screen is shown on the TV and clicks are heard on the audio. Once the behavior starts, it happens on every video that has a startup advertisement. Videos without advertisements playback normally.
The problem reproduced as recently as 12/12/2023 and seems like it's been plaguing my Roku for a year.
Mine is just a screen that has the YouTube logo. It won’t even load. Help!!! I have deleted the app, added it back-nothing just a picture. and restarted the Roku and nothing ???? What’s going on with YouTube I need my meditation music to sleep…. 🥺😭
Artsyfartsylady you didn't provide us with any information to assist you. What is the model number of your Roku? Not just the name, as Roku reuses names extensively on very different versions. How are you connected to your network: WiFi or Ethernet?
Still broken. The noise screen freezes started with the YouTube app and now YouTube TV has joined the fun. There is obviously a bug in Google's code because no other app exhibit this problem. I've been a Roku booster for over a decade but I'm probably going to switch to a cheap Google TV box if they don't get this worked out real soon now.
So you’re going to reward Google for their poor app on the Roku by buying a Google product? Remember, Google is responsible for the functionality of the YouTube apps on Roku devices, not Roku.
I've decided the best solution for me is to just upgrade to the latest version of the Ultra. It looks like the YouTube problem has something to do with some core protocol issue in the Roku 3 firmware that that Roku can't or won't update and I prefer the app-first UI of Roku to the content-first UI of the others.
🙂👍SOLUTION FOLKS! I HAD THE SAME ISSUE... ADS GET IN THE WAY OF THE VIDS STARTING... ALSO, IN THE LATEST ROKU YT UPDATE...WHEN YOU WANT TO SAVE A VIDEO TO A PLAYLIST, ETC, THE MENU NOW HAS A THUMBNAIL AT THE TOP! GEEZ I NEW THAT WAS A MEMORY DRAIN. IT ALSO MAKES THE ROKU BOX SLOW. (4200X..LIKE US HERE). JUST STICK AN OLD USB STICK (NO SD THIS MODEL) IN THE SIDE AND RESTART ROKU. JUST LIKE NEW! AND YT TOO!!! (OH...BEFORE YOU DO YOU CAN ADD SOME MUSIC OR MEDIA ON STICK TO PLAY VIA ROKUS MEDIA PLAYER APP!
MAKE SURE YOU SELECT (ALLOW) PROMPT AFTER RESTART. USB WILL BE USED FOR EXTRA MEMORY AND MEDIA FILES!!!
RICK🙂👍 CLEAN THAT DUST OFF TOO!...HEHEHE
BY THE WAY...WHEN PLAYING VIDEOS AND USING THE CONTROLS LIKE PAUSE, FF, ETC, THE POPUP STILL STUTTERS A BIT BUT RECOVERS. THIS APP REALLY NEEDS AN UPDATE...THX!
Sorry RickFromPhila inserting a USB storage device does not add any operational or storage memory to any Roku device. It will not make YouTube or any other channel work better. You can play media from a connected device as long as the media is in a Roku supported format. But it will not be used to extend the operational memory or channel storage.
Some older Roku players had an SD card slot, but it was used solely for additional channel storage, not operational memory. Roku has eliminated the SD card because newer devices have enough channel memory it's no longer needed.
There are only two uses for a USB drive on a Roku device. As mentioned, you can play media from one. Also, on a Roku TV a USB drive can be used to pause live TV. It doesn't act as a DVR, so won't save something broadcast. And when it's used for that purpose I don't believe you can still play media from it. If it's used to pause TV that's all it can be used for.
I am experiencing the same problem. I followed the Roku recommendations on how to fix this and it did not work. Now what?
The model number is 3941X2. Roku Express 4K+
I also replaced my old Roku 3 with a new Roku Ultra. I was having similar issues with Youtube but it seems to be working fine on the new device.
Thanks Jeffy F. for your comments.
I wonder if anyone is still using a Roku 3. Or am I the last person that has not given up???
I guess it still works OK, if you don't pause, or hit the backward/forward buttons.
Thanks again,
Basically youtube app is useless! I've tried everything suggested all other apps work just fine on roku , YouTube works find on computer phone not on roku TV. The issue isn't us or youtube
Destiny777 wrote:Basically youtube app is useless! I've tried everything suggested all other apps work just fine on Roku , YouTube works find on computer phone not on Roku TV. The issue isn't us or YouTube
No, the problem is Google, who owns YouTube and provides the app for Roku devices. It doesn't matter if it works fine on your computer or phone. Those are written in a completely different programming language than what is used on Rokus. Google isn't programming their app/channel well enough to account for the wide range of hardware found on Roku devices, and only they can resolve the problem.
Just for reference, the version of YouTube I am using is 2.20 and the build is 110005159.
Hi @Destiny777!
We appreciate your first post here in the Roku Community!
We understand that you may be facing difficulties using the YouTube app. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and would like to help you resolve the issue. To do that effectively, please provide us with more details about your problem. To verify, are you being prompted with an error message? If you see something different, can you please let us know what you are seeing?
We look forward to hearing from you and looking closely into this issue.
All the best,
Chel
I've got Comcast and 4k express roku stick with YouTube issue too. Only the YouTube app has issues. I've tried so many things to resolve this including those suggestions noted in these posts. Weirder than that is sometimes it works fine.
Hi Ic4rest,
Thanks for your first post in the Roku Community!
We appreciate the troubleshooting steps you've taken so far. For us to provide you with an accurate resolution, could you please elaborate more on this concern? Are you experiencing a black screen when accessing the YouTube app on your Roku device? Was the app unable to load and is experiencing a kickback on your Roku home screen when launched? Are there specific error messages shown?
Additionally, could you provide us with these details:
We're anticipating your response.
All the best,
Janadee
