
Recently, Google publicly advised iPhone users to delete and reinstall the YouTube app. If your app was crashing or freezing, this is the fix — far more than just typical troubleshooting. Here’s everything you need to know.
1. 🧩 The Crashing Glitch – What Happened
- Around mid-June 2025, a bug in YouTube’s recent update (around version 20.23.3 or 20.20.4) began causing the app to crash immediately at launch, or freeze mid-scroll or video play, affecting both iPhone and Android users newsbytesapp.com+5indiatoday.in+5x.com+5financialexpress.com.
- Google acknowledged the issue on its support forums and decided to issue a system-wide fix instead of a silent update moneycontrol.com+1financialexpress.com+1.
2. 🛠️ Why Reinstall? The Fixology Unpacked
- Complete refresh: Reinstallation wipes away any corrupted data or residual glitches from previous versions hindustantimes.com.
- Fetch latest stable build: A clean download pulls the corrected and fully patched version from the App Store — currently 20.20.4 for iOS indiatoday.in+1instagram.com+1.
- Extra layer of assurance: While Android users could update in-place, iOS required a reinstall to fully clear the faulty cache .
3. 📋 Step-by‑Step Guide to Reinstalling YouTube
- Long-press the YouTube icon on your iPhone.
- Tap “Remove App” → “Delete App” to uninstall.
- Go to the App Store, search “YouTube”, and tap “Install”.
- Open the app and sign in again.
- Enjoy a crash-free experience financialexpress.com+1hindustantimes.com+1x.com+4hindustantimes.com+4indiatoday.in+4.
4. 🛡️ Is It Related to Ad Blockers or Third‑Party Plugins?
No—rumors on platforms like Reddit speculated about ad blockers or plug‑ins being at fault. But Google confirmed the issue stemmed from a minor bug in the update, not external interference instagram.com+4letemsvetemapplem.eu+4hindustantimes.com+4. Installing the fresh version resolves everything.
5. ✅ What Should You Do Now?
- If your YouTube works fine: No action needed.
- If the app crashes or freezes: Delete → Reinstall as per the instructions above.
- Still facing problems? Check for iOS updates and then contact Google Support.
🚨 TL;DR Summary
- Problem: YouTube app crashing on iPhone after a recent update.
- Google’s advice: Delete app and reinstall to clean out bugs.
- Result: Fresh install = Crash-free viewing.
- Why: Ensures users have the fixed, stable version from App Store.
✅ Stay Smooth on YouTube
If you’ve been struggling with YouTube on your iPhone — don’t just wait for another patch. Do a clean uninstall/reinstall now and enjoy uninterrupted videos again.