YouTube app constant buffering

I already told you I have 500mbps and EVERY OTHER APP WORKS FINE (including Nextflix etc.).  Why are you trolling?

BTW, Youtube works fine on every other device but Roku.

In my case, the issue only occurs when using my Google login account on Youtube. I did a power down reset all of my networking equipment, uninstalled the youtube app, reset the roku 4k+ express, and reinstalled the youtube app. This did not fix the problem. When using a guest login or an account belonging to one of my family members, the video buffer health as displayed in the stats for nerds averages about 25 seconds with a variance of about 5 seconds, and the videos never pauses. With my own account, it averages about 5 seconds with a variance of 5 seconds, and will pause about once a minute when the buffer reaches zero. I ran the same test with two TCL 4 Series Roku TVs, and the results were the same. On a desktop computer, I have plenty of buffer.

It may be that the Youtube Premium support person was not knowledgable about the subject. When I subscribed to Google Music ten years ago, you could only log into a total of ten devices during the lifetime of your membership. While testing various devices, I ran into that limit, and Google reset my device counter as a one-time courtesy. Now the only device limit seems to be associated with the ability to download/cache videos on Youtube Premium as described in the following link (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6308288?hl=en). It does not have anything to do with the buffer health on the Roku. 

Switching topics, I tested the "Link with TV code" under the "Settings" menu on the Roku Youtube Channel. I link it with the same Google account on my phone, and it worked well with the videos that I selected with the phone.  The buffer size was 25 seconds and there were no pauses. However, when I selected videos using the Roku remote, it reverted to the login on the Roku device, and the buffering issues returned.

Yeah, that's a black hole.  Just links for generic help.  The phone number is for YouTube TV support.  No real way to reach out to anyone real/useful.  What is it with support nowadays, there is no way to reach technical/customer support.  They all have links to help that are dead ends.  At least I am able to reach out to the folks @ Roku and I appreciate that.

The only "help" on the app that I could find was youtube.com/tv_help (found in "settings") which points to https://support.google.com/youtube/topic/9257096?hl=en&visit_id=638336898543742891-3172736019&p=yt_tv&rd=2.  Which is back to the same help black hole as before and mostly directed at YouTube TV.  

When you say "technical team through their Social Media platforms" can you provide specific contact info for them.  Not links to dead ends or black holes. 

I guess all in all I'd prefer Roku contact them and figure out since I can't seem to get anywhere with search and dead end links.  This about our 10th comment back/forth and getting nowhere.  Have you contacted them and found a resolution?  That is why I contacted you on this forum in the first place.

Is there any update on this?

BeachGuy1 & pwrcat4000 please keep banging on these people's door until they fix this-- PLEASE.

Our household has the same problem, for the same amount of time, and have attempted (frustratingly) the same solutions.

We like to "go to church" on Sunday mornings via YouTube & Roku. Now we must also use a phone or tablet and cast to Roku. Well, we might as we have just kept the Chrome stick and the AppleTV and never bought our two Roku sticks!

Issue report tracker

Model: 3820X - Streaming Stick 4K

Serial number: X01700R56JW8 (S08Y41956JW8)

Software version: 12.5.0 • build 4178-CU

GC version: 10.3.24

Timestamp: 2023-12-03T15:12:13Z

Please use issue ID W8-484-752 to report the current issue.

La Mirada - 12/3/23

I just paid my service provider for a line test at my residence and every thing was A-OK
SO I made them run a new drop to my house anyway.  I am all new now, so it is not a problem on my end. 

The the "appropriate Roku team" straight up sucks!!!!.  The only time I have any glimmer of hope that something is getting fixed is when BeachGuy1  complains again and I get an email!
PLEASE HELP US  I am talking to you RokuJechealR RokuJohnB  RokuCarly

RokuERey
"We'll make sure to provide an update on this thread once available." Well it has been over a month and I am stream casting from my god **bleep** phone still.

RokuArjiemar  
"get in touch with the channel publisher" Oh yeah I called Alphabet Inc and their number is disconnected what a dumb suggestion.

Thanks for the encouragement OldRadioRob 

"We have passed along the information you provided to the appropriate Roku team"
AKA the Black hole of FU!!!
#FOURweeks #dontbuyrokuproducts #nocustomerservice

I sent the buffering problem to Google.  After much searching I was able to find a URL for them.  I have not heard back and don't expect to of course being as they're such a large company but maybe it will get in their queue.

Send feedback for YouTube on TV

I was advised by Youtube Premium Support that my request for the device limit reset has been denied, and was told to log out of all extra Google account sessions. I have done this, and currently have three logins (Desktop PC, Phone, and one Roku TV). Unfortunately, I still have the buffering issue on the Youtube Roku channel, and it does not seem to be related to the device limit. With my Google account, the buffer size is only five seconds and videos often will pause. With a guest account or another account, the buffer size is 25 seconds, and the videos never pause. 

I have submitted the following Google case ID after a chat conversation with Youtube Premium support.

case ID 4-1228000035570

I can watch YT fine through my smart TVs, but it’s so inconvenient. That’s why I have Rokus. First World Problems. 🤣🤣🤣

I just discovered that there are no buffering issues when playing the "Free" content provided under the "Movies & TV" link, such as "Mork & Mindy" or "Cleopatra (1963)". It only seems to happen with user-supplied content.

I also got Issue ID 16-427-022 and 16-427-2-023 on the Streaming Stick.  It seems each time I ask Issue ID it provides different last numbers.

BeachGuy1 is not the only one having this problem I am having the exact same problem.  I know it's a pain in the ass BeachGuy1 but what I have been doing is just pulling it up on my phone and using Smart view (I have a Samsung Android phone and that's available to me) plus I can watch things in 2x (another annoying "problem" with the Roku TV player IMHO)

I am running a model 6102X TCL 55US5800

hardware 6102X

software version 12.5.0

build 4176-22

GC version 10.2.518
Issue ID 80-445-137

It has been over two weeks since I posted.  Do you have a solution other than "we've sent to appropriate team"?

Hi BeachGuy1,

Thank you for the post.

As per checking with our appropriate Roku team, they're currently still working on this issue on YouTube. We suggest that you still contact the channel partner to report this issue and get help.

If there's anything else that we can do to assist you, please let us know.

All the best,

John

"contact the channel partner to report this issue and get help".  There is no way for the average person to contact YouTube developers (who work for Google).  One month later and no solution?  So this forum is bogus right.  No real solutions, probably not even researching the problem.

My conclusion:

Google (which owns YouTube) is a competitor of Roku.  They have the Chromecast stick which is a competitor of Roku stick and they have TCL/Google which is a competitor of TCL/Roku.  So YouTube/Google has no incentive to fix anything Roku.

It's not an ISP problem.  I have 500mbps.  Every other app/tv etc. runs fine.

Ok.  The point is the YouTube app doesn't work.  Please stay on topic.

Something is wrong in the software no one at Roku cares. They want me to call google yeah that's an option tell me googles number and provide me with the the Roku TV source code, and I will work out the bugs with the google engineers.  While you are getting me googles phone number we should talk about my salary, contract, and health benefits and retirement package since I now work at **bleep**ing roku. I'M REALLY PISSED OFF Roku youtube app is UNUSABLE!

I told you I have plenty of bandwidth (500Mbps) so stop with the fiber optic stuff Troll.  The bandwidth connection is NOT THE ISSUE as has been abundanltly documented.  Anything further from you is TROLLING.

Success! Added 'OwnerofDevices' to ignore list.

Yes I've tried that.  Not a fix for me.  I'm ignoring OwnerofDevices too.

I have to say, I came on this forum to look for a solution to a problem and after months of nothing I've come to the conclusion that this forum is bogus.