Fix videos & games that won't play

If a YouTube video, Facebook game, or other media isn't working, try the steps below to fix it.

These steps can help for:

  • A video or game that won't load
  • A video or game that's blank
  • A gray box that shows instead of a video or game
  • Chrome freezes or crashes while loading a video or game

Important: As of 2021, Adobe has ended support for the Flash Player plugin. Flash content, including audio and video, will no longer play back in any version of Chrome.

Visit the Chrome blog to learn more.

Step 1: Turn on JavaScript

Some media needs JavaScript. YouTube videos, for example, won't run without JavaScript.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More and then Settings.
  3. Select Privacy and security and then Site settings.
  4. Select Javascript and then Sites can use Javascript.
  5. Go back to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

Step 2: Check your extensions, plugins, cache & cookies

Some video or game issues are caused by Chrome extensions, plugins, or something saved in your cache or browser data.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More and then New Incognito Window.
  3. In the Incognito window, go to the site with the video or game.
If the video or game works
  1. Close the Incognito window, and go back to a normal Chrome window.
  2. Select More More and then Extensions and then Manage extensions.
  3. Turn off all of your extensions.
  4. Go to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

If the video or game works, test each extension individually:

  1. Turn on one extension.
  2. Go to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.
  3. If the video or game plays, try the next extension.
  4. When you find the extension causing the problem, select Remove.

If the video or game doesn't work, you can turn your extensions back on and delete your browsing data. Deleting your browsing data will erase some of your settings for websites. Learn more about deleting your browsing data.

  1. At the top right, select More More and then Delete browsing data.
  2. In the box that appears, at the top, choose a time, like Last hour or Last 24 hours. To delete everything, select All time.
  3. Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data. Deselect any other types of information you don't want to remove.
  4. Select Delete data.
If the video or game doesn't work
  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More and then Settings.
    • On Chromebook, Linux, and Mac: Select Reset settings and then Restore settings to their original defaults and thenReset settings.
    • On Windows: Select Reset and cleanup and then Restore settings to their original defaults and then Reset settings.
  3. Go back to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

Step 3: Update Chrome

Videos and games sometimes need the latest version of Chrome.

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More.
  3. Select Update Google Chrome. If you don't see this button, you're on the latest version.
  4. Select Relaunch.
  5. Go back to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

Step 4: Reset Chrome settings

  1. On your computer, open Chrome.
  2. At the top right, select More More and then Settings.
  3. Select Reset settings and then Restore settings to their original defaults and then Reset Settings.
  4. Go back to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

Learn more about resetting your Chrome settings.

Step 5: Reset your Internet connection

Your Internet network could be causing problems with the video or game.

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug your modem. If your wireless router is a separate device, unplug it too.
  3. Wait for about one minute.
  4. Plug in your modem and wait until all the lights have stopped blinking. If your wireless router is a separate device, plug it back in and wait until all the lights have stopped blinking.
  5. Turn on your computer.
  6. Go back to the site with the video or game. At the top left, select Reload Reload.

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