Video stuck loading or cutting out: how to fix it
Updated: November 9, 2026
The endlessly spinning circle is about as frustrating as it gets. The good news is it can almost always be fixed in a minute. Try these fixes in order, from quickest to most thorough.
Quick fixes
- 1Reload the page.
- 2Lower the quality: in the player, open settings (the gear) and choose a lower quality, like 480p or 360p.
- 3Pause for a few seconds to let some of the video load, then press play again.
- 4If you’re on mobile data, try wifi (or vice versa).
If it still doesn’t work
- Briefly turn off your ad blocker or browser extensions: some block parts of the player.
- Turn off data saver mode in the browser or on your phone.
- Try another browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari) or incognito mode.
- Update your browser: very old versions may not play modern video.
- Restart your router or phone if no website loads properly.
If you see “Processing” or an error
- “Processing”: the video was just uploaded and isn’t public yet. Come back in a few minutes; the page updates itself.
- “This video is not available”: the uploader deleted it or it was blocked for breaking the rules.
- “The video could not be played”: reload; if it persists, the file may be in a format your browser doesn’t support.
If you’re the uploader
- Upload MP4 with H.264 + AAC: it works best in every browser.
- Avoid files with excessive quality: a well-exported 1080p is enough.
- Check that the video plays well on your own phone over mobile data.
Frequently asked questions
With automatic quality, the player may start at a low quality to begin quickly and step up once it checks your connection.