Factsheet
Videos
Whenever I receive a link for a YouTube-Video (via WhatsApp, Signal, SMS,...) and I try opening it in the YouTube-App by tapping on it, it opens the app, but I just get directed to the homescreen of YouTube, instead of getting forwarded to the video I'm trying to open.
To fix this issue I tried several things:
reinstalling the YouTube-App
clearing cache for Safari and Chrome
rebooting the device
factory resetting the data privacy settings
trying opening the video from different sources
trying different links
verifying, that it is an issue specific to the YouTube-App by trying to reproduce the issue with Spotify or Instagram
updating all apps and the OS
I'm running out of possible things to do to fix this issue and hope someone has had similar issues and found a fix or at least a workaround. Both the official Apple support and Google support could not help me. Does anybody have any other idea?
iPhone 16 Pro Max iOS 26.1 Youtube 20.45.3 Safari up to date, can't find the version
Edit: This looks to be fixed for me as of the latest YouTube app update on 11/17. So far so good!
Using an iPhone 16 pro max on the latest iOS. Somehow the YouTube app has broken within the past few weeks. Now when I try to open any link on the phone outside of the app (like in messenger or in safari) it’ll open the app but it won’t go to the video. Instead it just goes to the Home Screen.
I’ve cleared my safari browser files, reinstalled the YouTube app, restarted the phone etc. I’m not sure what else to try but it sucks. Anyone have any suggestions that don’t involve factory resetting my phone?
Hi StageWorks -
I'm Kevin B., I do apologize for the inconvenience that you're experiencing right now, let me help you sort things out.
Kindly follow the steps below and check if the startup folder contains anything
Press windows key + R
Type shell:startup and press enter
Startup folder will pop-up, check the content and delete anything that has a browser on it
Close the folder
After deleting, kindly perform clean boot on your windows computer and check if the same issue appears
Perform Clean Boot
- This process will eliminate 3rd party application running in the background of your computer along with services that are not needed to run windows. If there's any conflicting 3rd party application that causes the issue on your computer, this process will stop it.
- Open the run box by pressing the Windows Key + R and type msconfig
- System Configuration Utility box will open and by default you are on general tab.
- On the General tab, click the selective startup and make sure that load system service and load startup items both have checked mark.
- Click on services tab
- Put a check mark on Hide All Microsoft Services > This is a very important part as if you miss to click on this, computer might not boot properly or permanently and will end up on clean installation.
- Once Hide all Microsoft Services have checked mark on it, click on Disable All
- Click on the Startup Tab and click open task manager. This will open another window which contains all your startup applications on the administrator account.
- Disable all application that you're not using. You can simply just click on them and select disable.
- Click OK , Apply and close the configuration utility
Restart the computer normally and check if the same issue appears
Hope this will help and have a bless day!
Thanks.
Kevin B.
Independent advisor
The same issue is still appearing after I have done that. The unknown option on my right click menu is still appearing as well.