YouTube is undoubtedly a popular video streaming service for many users for various reasons. Whether it's for entertainment or educational purposes, YouTube has a wealth of videos to offer. To encourage you to click on a video, creators have included a thumbnail that helps you understand what to expect in the video. But what if the thumbnail isn't visible? Many hiccups such as YouTube search not working Or Black screen problem while watching videos It can ruin your experience. But what if you can't see any thumbnails for videos? You wouldn't go around clicking on random ones to check out what they're about. If you see blank images instead of thumbnails on YouTube, the solutions below can help fix YouTube thumbnails not showing.
Since YouTube is available on both desktop (web) and mobile apps, we will discuss solutions for all platforms.
Fix YouTube Thumbnails Not Showing on Android and iPhone
Here are some steps you can follow if you can't see thumbnails in the YouTube app for Android and iPhone.
1. Connect to a stable network
Since YouTube streams videos from the internet, you need an active and stable internet connection to use YouTube smoothly. An unstable or slow connection can cause issues such as: YouTube comments not loading Or thumbnails not showing.
So it's worth running internet speed tests on your Android and iPhone using Ookla's Speed Test app.
After running the speed test several times, you can easily determine whether your connection or your router's frequency band is affected. Connecting your phone to the 5 GHz band if you're using a dual-band router will be much better than using the crowded 2.4 GHz band or mobile data.
2. Clear cache and data in the YouTube app.
Clearing the app's cache and data can sometimes fix issues like these so you can take a picture of them. You can only do this on an Android phone, as the iPhone doesn't offer an option to clear the cache for a specific app. Here's how.
Step 1: Open Settings app On your smartphone and go to Applications section.
Step 2: Scroll down to YouTube and press it.
Step 3: Locate Storage tab.
Step 4: Click on Clear cache First then clear data.
3. Force stop the application and restart it.
If the YouTube app has been running in the background for hours, you can force quit and reopen the app. On iPhone, you'll need to close the YouTube app from the task switcher interface. On Android, here's how to force quit the app.
Step 1: Open the app drawer on your phone and go to YouTube app.
Step 2: Press and hold the YouTube app icon to see additional settings.
Step 3: Locate "i" symbol Small to reach Application settings.
Step 4: Now, press Force stop option in the lower right corner.
Restart the YouTube app right Now.
4. Update the YouTube app to the latest version.
The version of the YouTube app you're using on your phone is likely outdated. Therefore, it's always a good idea to Keep your apps up to date.So you can download the latest YouTube app updates from Google Play Store and App Store respectively.
Update the app and then open it to see if the issue is resolved.
5. Use Google's DNS
By default, most users use their ISP's DNS servers, which are often overloaded and slow. Switching to Google's DNS For a better and faster internet experience, here's how to change DNS on your Android and iPhone.
on Android
Step 1: Open Settings app On your smartphone, go to the Wi-Fi section to change your DNS settings. If you don't know where it is, you can use the app's search option to find private DNS servers. Tap the resulting option.
Step 2: Locate Private DNS.
Step 3: Switch from "Automatic" option To “Private DNS provider hostname.”
Step 4: Enter dns. google In the empty space, enter your DNS provider. On some Android models, if you see the option to add an IP address for DNS servers, add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as the primary and secondary DNS, respectively.
Step 5: Tap Save and close the Settings app.
You can open up YouTube app Again to check if the new DNS servers make a difference.
on iPhone
Step 1: Open Settings app On your iPhone, tap Wi-Fi access.
Step 2: Locate The “i” button next to the Wi-Fi network you're connected to. This will show Additional settings.
Step 3: Scroll down to DNS section. Click on DNS configuration , which was designated as Automatic by default.
Step 4: Locate Manual. You will now get an option to add a DNS server.
Step 5: Click on green “+” icon next to Add server.
Step 6: Enter 8.8.8.8 There. Similarly, click on "+" Again next to Add Server to enter 8.8.4.4 As a secondary server and press save in the upper right corner.
Fix YouTube thumbnails not showing on desktop
If the issue you're experiencing with thumbnails not showing is with the web version of YouTube and not the app, here are some solutions you can try.
1. Connect to a stable network
A good, stable internet connection is vital to enjoying YouTube without any fuss. Run an internet speed test using SpeedTest by Ookla in any browser. Repeat this several times to get a decent estimate of your connection quality and speed. You can either connect to a stable Wi-Fi network or use an Ethernet connection for better stability. Alternatively, you may want to reboot your router if you haven't done so in a while.
2. Clear your browser's cache and cookies
Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can help resolve some issues you may encounter on certain web pages. While the process varies from browser to browser, you should find the ideal option under Settings > Privacy.
Here's how to clear your cache and cookies on Chrome.
Step 1: Open tab in Chrome and click The three points in the upper right corner.
Step 2: Locate Settings option Here.
Step 3: Click Privacy and security in the left column.
Step 4: Now, select Clear browsing data.
Step 5: In the pop-up window, select “Cookies and other site data” و “Cached images and files.” Make sure the time range is set to All time. Then, click Wipe data.
Likewise, you can follow our guidelines to:Clear cookies and cache on Microsoft Edge and Firefox on your computer.
3. Try a different browser
We know this sounds strange, but your favorite web browser may be causing this error. It could be an extension or some proxy settings that could be causing this YouTube error.
Try using a different browser to open YouTube and see if that solves your issue.
4. Open YouTube in incognito mode.
It's also possible that the Google account you're signed in to is causing errors while browsing YouTube.
5. Use Google's DNS
The final solution remains the same as in the mobile section. Changing your DNS to Google's DNS can help resolve the issue. You can take a look at Google Public DNS Guide To learn how you can change DNS on your computer.
YOUTUBE IS FUN WITH THUMBNAILS
You can use the fixes above to fix YouTube thumbnails not showing. Whether you're experiencing the issue on your smartphone or computer, these steps should help you get YouTube back to normal, displaying thumbnails before clicking on a video to watch it.
