Thanks for reaching out here, StarbucksGhost!
Looks like you're having issues with the playback on YouTube TV, and we're here to help!
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In the meantime, please follow the steps below and see if it'll do the trick.
Keep us posted!
Roku Community Team
Hi,
So I’ve had this problem start almost a year ago, around June 2024. I originally had the problem using the ‘YouTube TV’ app on my Roku. I was told to stop using that app & only use the ‘YouTube’ app which has the YouTube TV within it. Once I switched to that I did not have the problem until about 2 months ago when it started to do the same thing as the ‘YouTube TV app’. Now it’s frequent to the point of being just as unwatchable. I do not have cable so I only use apps on my Roku for content. YouTube TV is how I watch things I would normally require cable for.
My Roku Software version is 14.5 & for reference I have a TLC 55S525 4K TV.
The only changes that fit the timeframe is that I moved to a new location so I had to switch my ISP. However as I stated before, the apps work fine & stream without problems on my iPad & my phone which uses the same WiFi as the TV. I’ve had this TV since Fall of 2021 & never had playback issues with YTTV or YT on the Roku until June 2024.
Other than that I’ve only been updating the Roku & the channel apps themselves as needed.
I’ve had people tell me to use the RoKu stick instead of using the TV as my Roku but I’m not sure how that would be any better. I just want everything to function as it’s intended to.
I have not tried your suggestions yet but I will later today. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for that detailed info, StarbucksGhost!
While you wait, it might be a good idea to start with some troubleshooting steps. If that doesn’t do the trick, try hooking up your Roku device to a different internet connection, like a mobile hotspot, and let us know how that goes.
We get that everything else was working fine with the Wi-Fi, but sometimes, a glitch in the connection could mess with the quality when streaming shows, especially those in high resolution.
Keep us posted!
Roku Community Team
I have uninstalled/reinstalled (after a restart) the YouTube App & for 2 days it worked great but now it’s back to constant buffering & playback at 240SD instead of 720 or 1080. It’s actually worse now because before I only had this problem using the YouTubeTV portion but now even YouTube videos will freeze & buffer which wasn’t a problem before. It’s ridiculous at this point. It’s not the WiFi. I have 1G speed WiFi & nothing else on my WiFi ‘glitches’ just the Roku which means even if it was the WiFi, the fact that I only have a problem with the YouTube playback on my Roku Tv still makes this a Roku specific problem. YouTube App works fine on my iPad & MacBook. Anyway, people have suggested I use the Roku Stick? as they say the Roku TVs often have issues after a few years. When they plug in the stick & use that instead of the TV it works fine. I don’t know how true that is but I’m running out of options. I’ve noticed that I have to manually update the apps as it doesn’t seem like the Roku is doing this automatically.
Also, when I power off my TV I don’t think it actually turns off, I think it goes into a sleep mode which can also be a problem as other apps will have problems until I do a restart. How can I turn off the tv so that it’s like a restart when I power it on?
Thanks again for your suggestions
