Best Ways To Fix YouTube Playback Error

Plenty of online video streaming platforms sometimes don’t work or conflict with something. As a result, most users may get errors while trying to play videos or switching between content. The same thing also appears to some of the YouTube viewers, and the YouTube Playback ID Error: “An error occurred. Please try again later.” starts occurring quite randomly. You can follow the solution here if you’re also one of the victims.

It’s also noted that this particular error applies to almost a specific number of third-party web browsers (Chrome, Mozilla, etc) on Windows OS versions like Win7 to Win10. Additionally, the playback ID error code is unique each time, creating a bubble around affected users as to what to do next. We’ve shared all the possible workarounds below that should work for you.

Before heading over to the troubleshooting guide, you should also remember that the YouTube playback error is appearing due to some conflicts or issues from your end in most cases. Such as any DNS cache issue, improper network configuration, corrupted/missing browser files, outdated web browser, browser cache, etc, can cause these kinds of problems with video streaming.

Fix: YouTube Playback ID Error: An error occurred. Please try again later

All the mentioned methods are fully reliable and common as well. So, let’s take a quick look at it. Here we’ll going to’ discuss the fixes of the Chrome browser. But the solution will be the same and applies to all browsers expectedly.

1. Update Web Browser

• Open the Google Chrome browser.
• Click on the Menu (three vertical dots icon) from the upper right side of the browser.
• Now, go to Settings > Click on About Chrome from the left window.
• It will automatically check for available updates. If available, it will automatically download and install the update.
• Once done, restart your Chrome browser.

Now, you can try playing the YouTube videos to check for the issue. If you’re using any other web browser, you just have to check for the latest update and install it from the menu.

2. Disable Chrome Extensions

• Open the Google Chrome browser and click on the Menu (three vertical dots icon).
• Drag your mouse cursor over the More tools option to expand the drop-down list.
• Next, click on Extensions > Disable all the extensions one by one (Turn off toggle).
• Exit the browser and relaunch it.

3. Clear Cookies and Cache

• Launch the Chrome browser and click on the Menu (three vertical dots icon).
• Next, hover over the More tools option to expand the drop-down list.
• Click on Clear browsing data > Now, from the Basic tab, click on Time range according to your preference.
• Click on the checkbox of Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files to select them.
• Now, click on Clear data.
• Finally, restart your Chrome browser and try running the YouTube videos again to check for the issue.

4. Create a new Chrome Profile

Creating a new Chrome profile on the web browser can also fix YouTube Playback ID Error: An error occurred. Please try again later issue.

• Launch the Chrome browser > Click on the User Profile icon from the upper right corner.
• Now, click on the + Add option > Input your details to create the Profile. (Input Name, Choose Avatar, and click on Create a desktop shortcut for this user checkbox)
• Finally, click on Add > Exit Chrome and Double-click on the Profile desktop shortcut to open up a new browser tab.

If none of the above methods worked for you, try the following solutions.

5. Power Cycle your Router

• Simply turn off your Wi-Fi Router and unplug the power cable from the socket.
• Wait for around 30 seconds and then plug back in.
• Turn on the router, connect to the Wi-Fi, and check for the error again.

6. Disable VPN or Proxy Server

If you’re using any of the VPN services or Proxy Server then try to disable them or uninstalling the tool. Due to the VPN or Proxy Server, YouTube videos may not work properly through the filtered connections in some cases. So, PC users can head over to the Program and Features > Uninstall a Program > Click to select VPN program > Click on Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions to properly remove the program from the PC. Once done, reboot your PC and you’re good to go.

• While the Proxy Server users can press Windows + R keys on the keyboard to open up the RUN dialog box.
• Type inetcpl.cpl and hit Enter to open up the Internet Properties window.
• Now, go to Connections > Click on LAN Settings > Click to uncheck Proxy server checkbox.
• Click on OK and Apply to save the changes.
• Finally, restart your PC and check for the issue.

7. Disable Ad Blocker

If you’re using an ad blocker tool or extension on your PC (Chrome Browser) and try to stream content using the Chrome browser then you should disable the AdBlocker extension first. It should fix the issue completely.

8. Update Windows Build

• Go to Start menu > Click on Settings.
• Next, go to Update and Security.
• Click on Check for Updates > If any update is available, simply Download and Install it.
• Once done, restart your computer and check whether the “YouTube Playback ID Error: An error occurred. Please try again later” has been solved or not.

9. Flush DNS

• Press Windows + R keys to open up the Run dialog box.
• Now, type cmd and hit Enter to open up the Command Prompt.
• Then type the following command line in CMD and hit Enter:

ipconfig/flushdns

• Once the DNS resolver cache flushed, simply restart your computer to check for the issue.

10. Use a Public DNS instead of Google DNS

• Press Windows + R keys to open up the Run dialog box.
• Now, type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter to open up the Network Connections interface.
• Click on the active network to select it and right-click on it to choose Properties.
• Go to Networking tab > Double-click on ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’.
• From the General tab, click on the ‘Use the following DNS server address’ checkbox to enable it.
• Next, input 8.8.8.8 for the Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 for the Alternate DNS server.
• Click on OK to save changes > Double-click on ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)’ this time and input 2001:4860:4860::8888 for the Preferred DNS server and 2001:4860:4860::8844 for the Alternate DNS server.
• Once done, click on OK and restart your computer.

This method should work for you. However, if none of the above methods worked for you, try using the below one.

11. Reinstall Google Chrome

• Click on Start > Type Control Panel and select it from the search result.
• Now, click on Uninstall a program > Look for Chrome browser from the list of installed programs.
• Right-click on Google Chrome > Select Uninstall. [You can choose another browser whichever you want]
• Follow on-screen prompts and proceed to the uninstallation process.
• Once the removal process is done, simply restart the PC.
• Then open up any other browser and download Google Chrome and install it on your computer.

12. Perform a System Restore

• Press Windows + S keys to open up the Windows Search option.
• Now, type System Restore and click on Create a restore point.
• From the System Properties interface, click on the System Protection tab.
• Click on the System Restore button > Once the System Restore window appears, click Next.
  • Click on Show more restore points (if any).
• Select your suitable system restore point that you’ve saved earlier.
• Click Next > Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
• You’re good to go.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. Feel free to ask in the comment below for additional queries.