Watching YouTube on your Sharp TV can be a great way to relax and unwind. When the YouTube app doesn’t work, this can quite easily become a frustrating experience and it is difficult to know where to start to fix it. To make things easier, I have outlined a number of troubleshooting tips in this article that can help you when YouTube stops working.
YouTube may not work on Sharp TVs made prior to 2013. For newer models, you may need to update the firmware, reinstall the YouTube app, improve your internet connection, reset the TV or clear the app cache. If the sound is not working, you should alter the audio settings and check all audio cables.
You can find out exactly how to perform these troubleshooting steps below. It is also a good idea to understand the minimum internet requirements for the YouTube app to function properly and stream videos. I have included this below.
Sharp TV YouTube Not Working
The first thing you should try if YouTube is not working on your Sharp TV is to restart the app. This is very simple and can fix minor issues with your connection. However, most issues require more than just restarting the app, which I will explain throughout this article. Below are a number of basic troubleshooting methods that work for most issues with the YouTube app.
Check for Updates
You should regularly update both your Sharp TV and the YouTube app. This will ensure you have the latest firmware installed and that any previous bugs can be fixed. Follow the steps below to update your Sharp TV.
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button on your remote.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > About > System Update’.
Step 3: Follow the instructions on the screen.
Step 4: Wait for your TV to restart.
Updating your YouTube app is done through the Google Play Store. You can find the steps below to update the app manually. Only apps that are not up to date will say ‘Update Available’.
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button on your remote.
Step 2: Open Google Play Store.
Step 3: Select the profile icon in the top right of the screen.
Step 4: Select ‘Manage Apps & Device’.
Step 5: Find the YouTube app and select ‘Update’.
Reinstall the YouTube App
Reinstalling the YouTube app will install the latest firmware as well as clear the cache. Sometimes if the cache is too full, it can cause the app to crash or freeze. To reinstall the YouTube app, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open the Google Play Store.
Step 2: Find and select the YouTube app.
Step 3: Select ‘Uninstall’.
Step 4: Press the ‘Home’ button on your remote.
Step 5: Navigate to ‘Settings > Device Preferences > About > Restart’.
Step 6: When your TV has restarted, return to the Google Play Store.
Step 7: Find and select the YouTube app.
Step 8: Select ‘Install’.
Hard Reset your Sharp TV
A hard reset for a TV involves draining all residual power so that the TV has a chance to reset itself. This clears any small errors that may have occurred in the system that is preventing your YouTube app from working. To perform a hard reset, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Unplug your TV from the power and disconnect all devices.
Step 2: Press and hold the power button on the TV for 30 seconds.
Step 3: Wait another 10 minutes to ensure the TV is fully discharged.
Step 4: Plug the TV back into the power.
Step 5: Reconnect all devices.
Factory Reset your Sharp TV
A factory reset will erase all downloaded content and system preferences from your TV, restoring it to its original settings. This is very effective at fixing any issues you are experiencing, but it can be time consuming setting your TV back up. If you still want to perform a factory reset, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button on your remote.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > Storage & Reset > Factory Data Reset’.
Step 3: Select ‘Erase Everything’ and confirm your choice.
Sharp TV YouTube Not Loading/Opening
Having a solid internet connection is key to loading or opening the YouTube app on your Sharp TV. If you are experiencing connectivity issues with your network, you should notice other devices on the same network will have the same problem. To improve your WiFi signal, try some of the troubleshooting methods below.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on August 12, 2021.
Restart the Modem
Step 1: Unplug your modem (and/or router) from the power.
Step 2: Wait at least one minute.
Step 3: Plug the modem back in and wait for it to restart.
Step 4: Once the modem has fully restarted, plug in the router.
Step 5: Wait for the router to fully restart before checking your connection.
Minimise Interference
Interference can be caused by a number of factors within your home. Firstly, make sure your modem or router is close enough to the TV. It should be at least one foot away from the TV, but no more than 30 feet away. Ideally, it should be in the same room.
Secondly, check for solid objects that may be blocking or weakening the signal. Making sure the following do not obstruct the path between your TV and modem will ensure your signal remains strong.
- Solid timber or concrete walls
- Heated flooring
- Aquariums or hydronic heating systems (large bodies of water)
- Metal
There may also be other signals nearby that are disrupting your WiFi signal. These signals, or devices that transmit these signals, include the following and should be minimised where possible.
- Other WiFi networks
- Bluetooth devices (such as headphones)
- Radios (such as baby monitors)
- Microwaves
Connect via Ethernet
Another option is to use an Ethernet connection instead of WiFI. This offers the fastest and most reliable connection for your network. Unless you have Ethernet wiring throughout your home, you will need to plug the cable from your TV to a router.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 12, 2021.
YouTube Not Connecting on Sharp TV
When YouTube is not connecting, this could again be due to issues with your internet or with the YouTube servers. If you notice other devices are not connecting to the internet, try the troubleshooting methods above. You should also make sure your TV and YouTube app are up to date.
Check the YouTube Servers
Sometimes the YouTube server will require maintenance or will be overloaded by too many users. If this is the case, you will not be able to connect to YouTube, regardless of whether or not your own internet is working.
To check YouTube’s servers, you can check websites such as Down Detector (link to website) or call YouTube support directly. If the servers are down, there is nothing you can do until they are back up and running.
Sharp TV Won’t Play YouTube
Unfortunately, there are some models of Sharp TVs that are too old to support YouTube. These models include those built before 2013, which you can find in this service announcement from Sharp.
These older TVs have the Flash version of the YouTube app and do not support the new HTML5 app. Unless you are willing to purchase a new smart TV, your options are to use a gaming console to stream the YouTube app or use another streaming device, such as Roku or Firestick. You could also use a Chromecast device to cast the YouTube app from a phone or tablet onto your TV.
YouTube Frozen/Freezing/Crashing on Sharp TV
YouTube will freeze or crash on your Sharp TV if your internet connection is too slow or if the cache is too full. I will explain these in more detail below.
Check your Internet Speed
YouTube requires a minimum download speed in order to stream without interruption. These speeds vary depending on the quality of the video you are watching. You can change the quality to meet the capability of your network in the YouTube settings, but should keep the following requirements in mind.
- 3MB/s minimum for Standard Definition videos
- 7MB/s minimum to for High Definition stream on one device
- 13MB/s minimum for High Definition streaming over multiple devices
- 25MB/s minimum to stream 4K videos
If you are unsure of your network’s download speed, you can check this by downloading a speed testing app through the Google Play Store. Alternatively, you can use a Speed Test website on another device connected to your network. The troubleshooting methods mentioned above can help improve download speeds, as well as signal strength.
Clear the App Cache
As I mentioned earlier in this article, the YouTube app cache can become overloaded and cause the app to crash or freeze. Normally the cache stores temporary data to improve the performance of the app, but over time it may become too full. To clear the cache, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button on your remote.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > Apps > System Apps’.
Step 3: Find and select the YouTube app.
Step 4: Select ‘Clear Data’ followed by selecting ‘Clear Cache’.
Sharp TV YouTube No Sound
If YouTube has no sound on your TV, first make sure the volume is not too low on your TV or speaker. You should also make sure you do not have the sound on ‘Mute’ on the TV, speaker or in the YouTube app.
A loose or faulty cable between the TV and speaker can also cause the sound to drop out. However, if any of the above is the cause (except muting the YouTube app), you should notice none of the channels have sound.
If it is just the YouTube app, it is likely that your TV’s audio settings are affecting the sound. Below is a list of features in the ‘Audio Settings’ that you should disable.
- Auto Volume
- 3D Surround
- Clear Voice/Balance
- Bass Enhancer
- TotalSurround, TotalVolume & TotalSonics
You should also ensure that the digital output is set to ‘stereo’ or ‘PCM’, instead of Dolby Digital, and that the sound style is set to ‘Standard’.
Sharp Aquos TV YouTube Not Working
A common issue with the Sharp Aquos TV not accessing YouTube is due to outdated software or firmware. Software updates often include fixes for streaming service compatibility. To resolve this, navigate to the TV’s settings menu and look for the option to update the system software or firmware, then follow the prompts to complete the update.
Connectivity issues can also result in the YouTube app not functioning on Sharp Aquos TVs. If the TV isn’t connecting to the internet properly, YouTube won’t be accessible. Ensure the TV is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. If it’s already connected, consider rebooting the router or checking for network obstructions to improve connectivity.
Corrupted app data can hinder the YouTube app’s performance on Sharp Aquos TVs. If YouTube is malfunctioning or not loading, resetting the app can be beneficial. Navigate to the app settings on the TV, select YouTube, and look for an option to clear cache or data. Once cleared, relaunch the app to check its functionality.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on August 12, 2021.