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How to Fix Microsoft Edge Not Playing YouTube Videos

By: Waseem Patwegar

Sometimes Microsoft Edge browser refuses to play YouTube Videos and there are a number of reasons for this. You will find below the methods to fix the problem of Microsoft Edge not playing YouTube Videos.

Microsoft Edge Not Playing YouTube Videos

Microsoft Edge Not Playing YouTube Videos

Depending on your computer, the problem of Microsoft Edge not playing YouTube Videos can manifest in different ways.

Some users have reported about YouTube videos not at all loading, while others have reported seeing a black screen, no sound or no video while trying to play YouTube videos on Microsoft Edge browser.

In certain cases, you may see an error message reading “An error has occurred”, while trying to play YouTube Videos in Microsoft Edge browser.

You should be able to fix all such problems by using some of the methods as listed below to fix the problem of YouTube Videos not playing in Microsoft Edge browser.

1. Clear Edge Cache

Most browser related problems can be fixed by clearing the browser cache.

Click on the 3-dots menu icon located at the top-right corner of your screen and then click on Settings in the drop-down menu.

Open Microsoft Edge Settings

On the Settings screen, scroll down to “Clear browsing data” section and click on Choose what to clear.

Choose Browsing Data to Clear on Microsoft Edge

On the next screen, make sure “Cached data and files” and “Cookies and saved website data” options are selected and click on the Clear button.

Clear Browsing Data on Microsoft Edge Browser

Once the Cache is cleared, Restart Microsoft Edge browser and see if you can play YouTube videos.

2. Reset Edge Flags to Default

Most problems with YouTube on Microsoft Edge browser are related to “about:flags” settings in Microsoft Edge browser.

To fix this issue, type about:flags in the Address bar of Edge browser and press the Enter Key on the keyboard of your computer.

Reset Microsoft Edge Flags to Default

Next, click on Reset all flags to default option and this will set Flags to their default settings.

3. Disable GPU Rendering and Use software Rendering

While Microsoft Edge browser can take advantage of GPU acceleration, this setting is known to cause problems while playing YouTube and other videos on Microsoft Edge browser.

To fix this issue, type “Internet options” in the Windows search bar and click on Internet Options (Control Panel) in the search results.

Open Internet Option in Windows 10

On the next screen, click on the Advanced tab, select Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering option and click on Apply and OK to save this setting.

Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering in Windows 10

Make sure you Restart your computer, in order for this change to affect your computer.

4. Disable Flash in Edge Browser

Due to vulnerabilities in Flash, most websites are focusing more on optimizing for HTML5, while neglecting flash or extending customary support for flash until its scheduled end in 2020.

Hence, disable Flash in Microsoft Edge browser and see if this helps in fixing the problem of YouTube Videos not playing in Microsoft Edge browser.

Open Microsoft Edge browser, click on the 3-dots menu icon and click on Settings in the drop-down menu. On the settings screen, scroll down and click on View Advanced Settings.

View Advanced Settings in Microsoft Edge

On the Advanced settings screen, scroll down and turn OFF the option to Use Adobe Flash Player.

Disable Flash Player in Microsoft Edge Browser

Restart Edge browser and see if the problem of Microsoft Edge not playing YouTube Videos is fixed on your computer.

5. Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen

The SmartScreen Filter in Windows Defender is designed to protect users from malicious websites by scanning URLs before they are opened.

However, this feature can sometimes cause problems in Edge browser and prevent YouTube videos from loading. Hence, disable SmartScreen in Edge Browser and see if this fixes the problem.

To disable SmartScreen Filter in Microsoft Edge, click on the 3-dots menu icon > Settings > View Advanced Settings.

View Advanced Settings in Microsoft Edge

On the Advanced settings screen, scroll down and turn OFF the option for “Help protect me from malicious sites and downloads with Windows Defender SmartScreen”.

Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen Protection in Microsoft Edge

As you must have realized, disabling SmartScreen might reduce your online security. Hence, make sure you re-enable Windows Defender SmartScreen protection after you are done playing YouTube videos.

6. Set Correct Default Audio Device

In case you are unable to hear Audio while playing YouTube Videos on Microsoft Edge, the problem might be due incorrect Audio device being set as the main Audio Processor.

Right-click on the Sound icon located in the bottom right corner of the Taskbar and click on Sounds in the menu that appears.

Sound Icon in Taskbar of Windows Computer

On the next screen, right-click on the right Speaker or Headphones from the list of devices and click on Set as Default Device in the contextual menu.

Set Default Audio Device on Windows Computer

Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

7. Install Media Feature Pack

If none of the above solutions are working, the problem of Microsoft Edge not playing YouTube Videos might be related to Media Feature Pack not being installed on your computer.

This issue is reported by users in Europe using 10 N and KN version of Windows operating system. These versions of Windows do not have Media features available by default.

Microsoft offers Media Feature Pack for N and KN versions of Windows 10 on its website and you can download the right Media Feature Pack for your version of Windows from this Microsoft’s Support Site.

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