Fix: “This Video Requires Payment to Watch” on YouTube TV

The YouTube TV playback error “This video requires payment to watch” mainly occurs due to issues with the YouTube TV app or because of corrupt firmware of the router. The YouTube TV app issues might range from a glitch to the corrupt installation of the app.

The issue occurs when you try to watch a YouTube TV movie or a show that you have already purchased but now it shows the playback error. The error is mainly reported on YouTube TV on TVs or streaming devices. The issue is not limited to a particular brand of TVs or streaming devices.

Note: We are discussing an instance where the video you are trying to play is either free to play or you already have a subscription.

The YouTube TV app might show the playback error due to the following main factors:

1. Perform a Cold Restart of the Devices and Router

A temporary glitch of your devices (TV, streaming device, router, etc.) may cause the Playback error that this video requires a payment to watch on YouTube TV and performing a cold restart of the devices along with your router may solve the problem.

1. Power off your streaming device and TV.
2. Now remove the streaming device from the TV.
3. Then power off your networking equipment (router or any Wi-Fi extenders etc.) and unplug all the related devices (TV, streaming device, router, etc.) from the power source.

   

4. Now wait for 5 minutes and then connect the power cables back to the devices.
5. Then power on the router or any other networking equipment and wait till the networking equipment is properly powered on.
6. Once done, power your TV and wait until it is properly powered on.
7. Then insert your streaming device (like a Roku) into the TV and power it on.
8. Once powered on, check if the playback error of YouTube is cleared.

If the issue reoccurs but gets cleared after performing a restart of the devices, then it would be better not to power off the TV when YouTube TV is streaming but hit the Home button on the remote and then power off the TV.

2. Relaunch YouTube TV After Force Closing it

A temporary glitch in the YouTube TV’s modules could result in the playback error at hand and relaunching the YouTube TV after force closing it may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for a Roku device.

1. Launch the YouTube TV and click on Retry or press the OK button on the remote when the error is shown. You may try 4 to 5 times.
2. If that did not work, press the Home button on the Roku remote (which force closes the running app and nothing runs in the background) and then launch the YouTube TV to check if it is clear of the playback error.

   

3. If the issue persists, then open the YouTube TV on another device (like a laptop) and check if a small blue button is shown to start the rental period on the problematic movie/show.
4. If so, click on the blue button to confirm the start of the rental period, and afterward, check if the problematic movie/show works fine on the TV (you may hit the OK button on the remote when the error is shown on the TV).

3. Re-log into the YouTube TV

The YouTube TV might show the issue due to a temporary glitch with the user data on the server-side and re-logging into YouTube TV may clear the error at hand.

1. Launch YouTube TV and expand its Menu.
2. Now click on your profile picture and the account page, and select Sign Out.

   

3. Then confirm to sign out of YouTube TV and, afterward, relaunch the YouTube TV.
4. Upon relaunch, re-log into the YouTube TV and check if it is clear of the payment required error.
5. If that did not work, check if logging into another account on YouTube TV and logging in with your problematic account to check if that resolves the issue under discussion.

4. Update Your TV’s OS to the Latest Build

If your TV’s OS is outdated, its incompatibility with the latest YouTube TV modules could lead to the playback error under discussion. Here, updating the TV’s OS to the latest build may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process of updating the firmware of an Apple TV.

1. Launch your Apple TV Settings and select General.

   

2. Now select Update Software and if an update to Apple TV OS is available, download and install it.

   

3. Once updated, restart your Apple TV, and upon restart, check if the YouTube’s playback error due to the payment required is cleared.

5. Reinstall the YouTube TV

YouTube TV might also pop this error if the installation of the YouTube TV has gone corrupt and is failing to access its essential modules. In this scenario, reinstalling the YouTube TV app may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for an Android TV.

1. Launch the Android TV Settings and select Apps.
2. Now locate the YouTube TV app and open it.
3. Then click on Uninstall and afterward, confirm to uninstall the YouTube TV app.

   

4. Once done, uninstall the YouTube app (if possible) as well.
5. Now restart your TV and upon restart, reinstall the YouTube app.
6. Then reinstall the YouTube TV app and upon reinstall, launch the YouTube TV app and log in using your credentials.
7. Now check if the YouTube payment required playback error is cleared.

If you are encountering the issue on a Roku device, remove YouTube TV and YouTube channels on the TV, perform a cold restart of the devices, re-add the YouTube TV and YouTube channels on the TV, and afterward, check if the YouTube TV playback error is cleared.

6. Try Another Network or Use a VPN

If your ISP is interfering with YouTube’s ability to communicate with its servers properly, then there is also a chance that you will encounter this issue. Here, trying another network or using a VPN may solve the problem.

1. Disconnect your devices (TV, streaming devices, etc.) from the current network and connect to another network (like a phone’s hotspot). If no other network is available, you may use a VPN app.

   

2. Now check if the YouTube TV is clear of the payment required playback error. If so, then you may contacts your ISP’s support to resolve the issue permanently. 

7. Reset Your Router to Factory Defaults

The playback error might also occur if any customization to the router’s settings hinders YouTube’s communication with its servers or if the router’s firmware has gone corrupt. In such a case, resetting your router to the factory defaults may clear the YouTube error at hand. Before proceeding, make sure to note down the OEM configurations required to set up the router after factory resetting it.

1. Firstly, try to find out the reset button of your router. It can be on the back or bottom of the router. For some models, the power button works as the router reset button if the power button is pressed/held for a particular time (like 30 seconds).

   

2. Once the reset button is found, press/hold the router’s reset button. You may need a pointy thing like a paperclip to press the reset button.
3. Now wait for 30 seconds and then release the reset button. Then let the router power on and once done, configure it as per your OEM instructions.
4. Now check if the YouTube TV is working fine without the playback error due to the payment requirement.

8. Reset the Streaming Device to the Factory Defaults

If the firmware of your streaming device is corrupt, then its failure to execute the modules essential for YouTube’s operation could result in the issue at hand. In this scenario, resetting your streaming device to the factory defaults may clear the playback error before proceeding, back up the essential info, and note down the apps’ logins. For illustration, we will discuss the process of resetting a Roku device to its factory defaults.

1. Launch the Settings of your Roku device and open System.
2. Now select Advanced System Settings and click on the Factory Reset button.
3. Afterward, confirm to perform a factory reset on your Roku device, and once done, configure the Roku device as per your requirements.

   

4. Now install the YouTube TV app and sign in using your credentials.
5. Then check if YouTube’s playback error due to payment requirement is cleared.

9. Reset Your TV to the Factory Defaults

If nothing works, it might be possible that the TV’s firmware is corrupt, and due to this corruption, the TV may not let the execution of modules essential for the YouTube TV. In this context, resetting your TV to the factory defaults may clear the playback error. Make sure to back up the essential info and apps’ logins installed on the TV. For elucidation, we will guide you through the process of resetting a Vizio TV to the factory defaults.

1. Go to the Vizio TV’s Settings and select System.
2. Then open Reset and Admin.

   

3. Now select Reset TV to Factory Defaults and confirm to reset the Vizio TV. If asked to, enter the parental control PIN of the TV.

   

4. Once done, re-setup the TV as per your requirements, and hopefully, the YouTube TV will operate fine without the playback error.

If the issue persists, you may contact the streaming device, TV, or YouTube support.