Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

YouTube incredibly slow and won't load videos in new tabs/windows

gianni35011
gianni35011
more options

I've tried on both my desktop pc and laptop running the latest versions of Firefox and Windows 10 and both have the same issue. Google Chrome and Edge both work fine, and loading embedded YouTube videos on Reddit/Facebook also works fine but when I try to load a video on the YouTube website I get a playback error.


I've tried:

Clearing my cookies/cache

Running Firefox in 'Safe Mode' so all the addons are disabled

Uninstalling/reinstalling Firefox

Checking for malware

I've tried on both my desktop pc and laptop running the latest versions of Firefox and Windows 10 and both have the same issue. Google Chrome and Edge both work fine, and loading embedded YouTube videos on Reddit/Facebook also works fine but when I try to load a video on the YouTube website I get a playback error. I've tried: Clearing my cookies/cache Running Firefox in 'Safe Mode' so all the addons are disabled Uninstalling/reinstalling Firefox Checking for malware

Modified by gianni35011

Chosen solution

Do other video sites, such as Vimeo, work normally?

Recently, several users have reported that YouTube generally works more poorly in Firefox since YouTube introduced the "Polymer" design. You could try reverting Firefox to the old design using the following URL or an add-on:

Any difference?

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Suluhisho teule

Do other video sites, such as Vimeo, work normally?

Recently, several users have reported that YouTube generally works more poorly in Firefox since YouTube introduced the "Polymer" design. You could try reverting Firefox to the old design using the following URL or an add-on:

Any difference?

gianni35011
gianni35011 Mwenye swali
more options

jscher2000 said

Do other video sites, such as Vimeo, work normally? Recently, several users have reported that YouTube generally works more poorly in Firefox since YouTube introduced the "Polymer" design. You could try reverting Firefox to the old design using the following URL or an add-on: Any difference?

Thankyou. The addon seems to work but it does get rid of dark mode which is unfortunate. Didn't realize the polymer design would break YouTube thought it would just be slower.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Sorry about the dark mode; maybe the extension author can build one in, or you could find another add-on or userstyle to take care of that part.