Fix: YouTube “We are experiencing problems with our servers”

Muhammad Usman AshrafPublished on November 1, 2025

The message “We are experiencing problems with our servers. Please try again later” appears on YouTube when your browser or app fails to establish a stable connection with YouTube’s playback servers. This usually happens during video loading or while switching between quality options, indicating that the player cannot retrieve the necessary streaming data in time.

Although the message sounds like a server-side outage, it’s more commonly caused by client-side interruptions, such as browser extensions blocking requests or DNS and cache conflicts that stop secure communication with YouTube’s servers. The problem often appears when ad-blockers, VPNs, or privacy filters interfere with network requests that YouTube depends on.

Other potential triggers include expired session cookies, unstable internet routing, or temporary sync failures with Google’s authentication system. These interruptions prevent the player from fetching or decrypting video data even if YouTube itself is running fine.

Before trying any fixes: Check if YouTube’s servers are working properly by visiting Downdetector.

1. Disable Extensions

Many browser extensions, especially ad-blockers or layout modifiers, can interfere with YouTube’s internal scripts responsible for playback and membership verification. These scripts must execute correctly for videos to load. Blocking them breaks the connection between your browser and YouTube’s servers. Disabling the ad-blocker or whitelisting YouTube allows the site’s scripts to run smoothly, restoring playback.

  1. Click the three dots at the top-right corner of your browser.
  2. Select More tools > Extensions.
  3. Temporarily disable all extensions.

2. Copy the Video Link and Open in a New Tab

Videos sometimes fail to load when played from playlists or embedded frames. Opening the video directly in a new tab forces your browser to create a fresh connection with YouTube’s servers. This clears any broken session data and helps start playback correctly.

  1. Right-click the video title.
  2. Select “Open link in new tab” or copy the link manually.
  3. Press Enter to load the video directly.

3. Disable Brave Shield (Brave Browser)

If you’re using the Brave browser, its built-in Shield automatically blocks tracking and background scripts. However, these same protections can also block YouTube’s playback and verification checks, leading to the server error. Turning off Shields for YouTube allows the browser to communicate with the servers correctly.

  1. Open YouTube in the Brave browser.
  2. Click the lion icon in the address bar.
  3. Toggle off “Shields are UP for this site.”
  4. Refresh the page and try playing the video again.

4. Use a Mobile Device

If the issue continues on your desktop, switch to your phone. The YouTube app doesn’t rely on browser extensions or cached sessions, giving it a cleaner connection to YouTube’s servers.

  1. Launch the YouTube app on your phone.
  2. Search for the same video.
  3. Play it to check if the issue is resolved.
Muhammad Usman AshrafPublished on November 1, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Muhammad Usman Ashraf


Muhammad Usman Ashraf is a content writer and website specialist with a strong background in WordPress development, SEO, and troubleshooting guides. At Appuals, he manages and writes in-depth articles that help users solve technical problems in simple, clear steps. Usman is passionate about creating useful content and building websites that are fast, easy to use, and optimized for search engines. With a mix of creativity and technical skills, he focuses on making information accessible and valuable for every reader.