Fix the “YouTube 360-Degree Video not Working” Issue

Read time 7 minutes

If you seek a smooth experience when playing a YouTube 360-degree video, free from problems such as stuttering, unevenness, defects, or screen distortions, then peruse this blog attentively for solutions to your inquiries on this matter.

What is a 360-degree video?

360-degree videos, also referred to as spherical or immersive videos, are recorded using omnidirectional cameras or multiple cameras to capture a complete view in every direction simultaneously. These recordings can be easily explored from any angle by a simple dragging motion.

• Outdated graphics card driver
• Hardware acceleration is not enabled
• Incompatible browser
• Outdated YouTube application
• Cached and temporary file issues
• Corrupted 360-degree video file

Clear history and cache from the browser & app

It is advised to clear the cache and history from both the web browser and installed YouTube application as the temporary files may hinder the smooth functioning of the YouTube 360-degree video files.

“To clear cached files and history in the web browser”

Suppose you are using Chrome as the web browser. Follow these steps to clear history and cached files.

1. Click on the three vertical dots from the top right of the Chrome application.
2. Click the Settings option from the drop-down list.



3. Go to the Privacy and Security section and click on the Clear browsing data option.



4. Next, make sure all the options are selected; click on the Clear data option.



5. Wait for the process to complete.

To clear cached files and history in the YouTube application

If you have installed the YouTube app on your mobile phone and the error occurred, then try deleting the cached files using this procedure.

1. Go to the Settings on your android mobile phone.
2. Move to the Apps folder and open it.
3. Next, click YouTube>Storage>Clear cache to clear the temporary files created by the application.

Check your browser compatibility with HTML5

To run 360-degree video files, browsers need HTML5 support. This compatibility check is a must to eliminate this cause or correct the problem if the browser HTML5 format is not available.

Switch to another web browser

Make certain you utilize a commonly used web browser that supports YouTube’s 360-degree videos, such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, or Safari. If you opt for a different web browser for playing the video, it is advisable to select one from the aforementioned options, taking into consideration your operating system, to ensure a seamless video playback experience.

Re-install the YouTube application

Due to the incorrect installation of the YouTube application, the issue may arise. So, it is suggested to uninstall the updated application and then re-install it on the phone.

1. Go to the Settings on your android phone.
2. Click on the Apps and Notifications option.
3. Navigate to the YouTube application and click on the Uninstall option.
4. Click OK to confirm the uninstallation.
5. Once the uninstallation is completed, re-install the YouTube application and check if the video is playable or not.

Update the YouTube application

Suppose you are trying to run a 360-degree video on the YouTube app on your phone and getting issues in its working. In that case, one solution can be checking the available update for the YouTube application and then update the same.

1. On your Android phone, move to the Google Play Store and open it.
2. Now navigate to Menu>My apps & games.
3. Find the YouTube application and check for the Update option against it.
4. If the Update option is not available, then your installed application is up-to-date, and you need to think about another solution.
5. But if the Update option is available, click on it to progress to the new version update.
6. Once the update is completed, try to play the 360-degree video again.

Turn on the Windows Hardware Acceleration

It is possible that the Windows Hardware Acceleration feature is disabled on your system. You can manually enable it by performing these steps.

1. Open Control Panel on your system.
2. Choose the Large icons option against View by on the top right of the screen.



3. Click on the Display option.



4. Now, , click on the Change display settings option.



5. Click on the Advanced settings option.



6. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab. Next, slide the Hardware Acceleration bar with the drag action of the mouse to the rightmost side to set it as ON. Click OK.
7. Restart your Windows system, and then try to play your 360-degree video on YouTube.

Update Graphics Card drivers on the system

Sometimes system driver issues like outdated graphic card drivers can create trouble for the users. You can update the drivers as follows.

1. First, ensure that you have the latest graphics driver available with you for installation.
2. Go to Device Manager on your system.
3. On the left panel, move to the Display Adapters section, expand it, and then right-click on your installed graphics card to select the Update Driver Software option.



4. The new graphics card driver will be installed when you restart your Windows system.

Your 360-degree video may have encountered corruption issues. If traditional methods fail to rectify the problem, consider utilizing the free edition of Kernel Video Repair. This software accommodates a wide range of popular video file formats, including those from various devices, such as 360-degree videos. Its uncomplicated repair procedure preserves the video’s resolution and attributes intact. Give it a go to see if it resolves your issue.

End Words

360-degree videos have gained widespread popularity across various domains such as sports, cinema, and the medical industry. It can be frustrating when these videos fail to function as anticipated. This blog aims to elucidate a comprehensive range of potential remedies for addressing the problem of “YouTube 360-degree video malfunction.”