To check if YouTube is down, visit DownDetector.com/status/youtube for real-time outage reports, check @TeamYouTube on Twitter for official updates, or test YouTube from a different network or device. If reports show elevated issues and you're experiencing problems, YouTube is likely having a server outage that will be resolved by their team.
Key Takeaways
- DownDetector shows real-time user reports of YouTube issues
- @TeamYouTube on Twitter/X posts official outage updates
- If YouTube works on mobile data but not WiFi, it's your network
- Major outages typically resolve within 1-2 hours
- During outages, no troubleshooting helps—just wait
- Check multiple sources before concluding YouTube is down
How to Check YouTube Status
Method 1: DownDetector (Fastest)
Steps:
- 1.Go to downdetector.com/status/youtube
- 2.View the outage graph
- 3.Check user report numbers
- 4.Read recent comments
Interpreting Results:
| Report Level | Status |
|---|
| <100 reports | YouTube is up (local issues) |
| 100-1,000 | Possible minor issues |
| 1,000-10,000 | Significant outage |
| 10,000+ | Major global outage |
DownDetector Pros:
- Real-time user reports
- Shows geographic distribution
- Comment section with details
- Historical outage data
Steps:
- 1.Go to twitter.com/TeamYouTube
- 2.Check recent tweets
- 3.Look for acknowledgment of issues
- 4.Check replies for user reports
What to look for:
- Official acknowledgment: "We're aware of issues..."
- Resolution updates: "The issue has been fixed..."
- Silence during user complaints = likely just your issue
Method 3: Google Search
Steps:
- 1.Search "is YouTube down"
- 2.Check news results
- 3.Look for recent reports
- 4.Check outage tracking sites
Reliable sources in results:
- News outlets reporting outages
- Tech sites (The Verge, TechCrunch)
- DownDetector featured snippet
Method 4: Test Different Network/Device
Steps:
- 1.Try YouTube on mobile data (not WiFi)
- 2.Try YouTube on different device
- 3.Ask friend/family if YouTube works for them
- 4.Try YouTube on different browser
Results interpretation:
- Works on mobile data, not WiFi = Your network issue
- Doesn't work on any device = Possible outage
- Works for others, not you = Your device/account issue
Signs YouTube Is Down vs. Your Problem
YouTube Is Down If:
- DownDetector shows thousands of reports
- @TeamYouTube acknowledges issues
- Multiple news sites report outage
- Doesn't work on any device/network
- Others in different locations also affected
It's Your Problem If:
- DownDetector shows normal levels
- Works on mobile data but not WiFi
- Works for friends/family
- One device fails, others work
- Only your account affected
What Causes YouTube Outages?
Common Causes
| Cause | Frequency | Duration |
|---|
| Server maintenance | Rare | 15-60 minutes |
| Technical glitch | Occasional | 30 min - 2 hours |
| DDoS attack | Rare | 1-4 hours |
| Infrastructure issue | Rare | 2-8 hours |
| Regional issue | Occasional | Varies |
Major YouTube Outages History
YouTube has experienced several notable outages:
- Global outages affecting millions of users
- Regional outages affecting specific countries
- Partial outages affecting specific features
Most outages are resolved within 1-2 hours.
What To Do During an Outage
While YouTube Is Down
Productive Options:
- 1.Check back in 15-30 minutes
- 2.Follow @TeamYouTube for updates
- 3.Use alternatives if urgent
- 4.Catch up on other tasks
What NOT To Do:
- Don't repeatedly refresh (wastes time)
- Don't reinstall app (won't help)
- Don't reset network (won't help if global)
- Don't panic
If you need video content during outage:
| Platform | Best For |
|---|
| Vimeo | Professional videos |
| Dailymotion | General video content |
| Twitch | Gaming and live streams |
| TikTok | Short-form content |
| Netflix/Prime | Entertainment |
Checking YouTube Status by Feature
Different Parts of YouTube
| Feature | Where to Check |
|---|
| Video playback | DownDetector main reports |
| YouTube Music | DownDetector YouTube Music |
| YouTube TV | DownDetector YouTube TV |
| YouTube Studio | Creator Twitter reports |
| YouTube Premium | DownDetector YouTube |
Feature-Specific Issues
Sometimes only parts of YouTube are down:
- Videos play but comments don't load
- Homepage loads but search broken
- Desktop works but mobile doesn't
- YouTube main works but YouTube Music doesn't
Check if your specific issue is reported.
Real-Time Status Sites
| Site | URL | Features |
|---|
| DownDetector | downdetector.com/status/youtube | User reports, map |
| IsItDownRightNow | isitdownrightnow.com/youtube.com | Response time |
| Outage.Report | outage.report/youtube | Social tracking |
Browser Extensions
Some extensions monitor service status:
- Status notifications
- Automatic checks
- Alert when services are down
Mobile Apps
DownDetector has mobile app:
- Push notifications for outages
- Favorite services monitoring
- Quick status checks
What YouTube Does During Outages
YouTube's Response
Typical process:
- 1.Internal monitoring detects issue
- 2.Engineers investigate
- 3.Issue acknowledged on @TeamYouTube
- 4.Fix deployed
- 5.Confirmation posted when resolved
Communication
- @TeamYouTube Twitter: Official updates
- YouTube Support: May respond to queries
- Google Workspace Status: For business accounts
Q1How do I know if YouTube is down?
Check DownDetector.com/status/youtube for real-time user reports. If thousands of users are reporting issues and the outage graph shows a spike, YouTube is likely experiencing problems. Also check @TeamYouTube on Twitter for official acknowledgment.
Q2How long do YouTube outages last?
Most YouTube outages last 30 minutes to 2 hours. Major global outages have historically been resolved within 4 hours. Minor issues affecting specific features may resolve faster. Follow @TeamYouTube for updates during active outages.
Q3Is YouTube down right now?
To check current status: (1) Visit downdetector.com/status/youtube, (2) Check @TeamYouTube on Twitter, (3) Try YouTube on different device or network. If DownDetector shows elevated reports and YouTube confirms issues, there's an active outage.
Q4What should I do if YouTube is down?
Wait. During confirmed outages, no troubleshooting will help—the problem is on YouTube's end. Check @TeamYouTube for updates, try again in 15-30 minutes, and use alternative platforms if you urgently need video content.
Q5Why does YouTube keep going down?
YouTube outages are actually rare given the platform's scale (billions of users). When they occur, causes include server maintenance, technical glitches, infrastructure problems, or overwhelming traffic. YouTube's engineering teams work to maintain 99.9%+ uptime.
Q6Does YouTube go down often?
No. Major YouTube outages are rare—typically only a few significant ones per year. The platform is highly reliable, but when billions of users depend on a service, even brief issues become major news.
When YouTube seems down, check these sources in order:
- 1.DownDetector - Real-time user reports
- 2.@TeamYouTube - Official acknowledgment
- 3.Different device/network - Rule out local issues
If it's a confirmed outage, there's nothing to do but wait. YouTube's engineering team is notified automatically and works to resolve issues quickly. Most outages last under 2 hours.
Quick Status Check:
- ✅ Check DownDetector first
- ✅ Look for official Twitter updates
- ✅ Try different network to rule out local issues
- ✅ Wait 15-30 minutes and try again
- ❌ Don't reinstall apps during outages
- ❌ Don't reset your network if global outage
Related Resources:
- YouTube Not Working: 15 Fixes
- YouTube Alternatives
- YouTube Troubleshooting Guide