Fix An Error Occurred ‘Try Again’ Playback ID on YouTube

For most people on the planet, a life without YouTube is unimaginable. The video streaming platform by Google has crept into our lives and established its presence with millions of hours’ worth of exciting content. However, if this boon of the internet were to lose its functionality even for an hour, the source of daily entertainment for many people would be lost. If you have been a victim of a similar scenario, here’s a guide to help you fix An Error Occurred, Try again (Playback ID) on YouTube.

Fix An Error Occurred ‘Try Again’ Playback ID on YouTube

What Causes the Playback ID Error on YouTube?

As is common with most problems on this internet, the Playback ID error on YouTube is caused by faulty network connections. These bad connections could be the result of outdated browsers, defective DNS servers or even blocked cookies. Nevertheless, if your YouTube account has stopped working, then your suffering ends here. Read ahead to discover fixes for every possible issue that could be causing the ‘An error occurred to try again (Playback ID) message’ on YouTube.

Method 1: Clear the Data and History of Your Browser

Browser history is a major culprit when it comes to slow network connections and internet errors. The cached data stored in your browser’s history could be taking a huge amount of space that could otherwise be utilized to load websites properly and faster. Here’s how you can clear your browser data and fix the playback ID error on YouTube:

1. On your browser, click on the three dots on the top right corner of your screen and select the Settings option.

2. Here, under the Privacy and security panel, click on ‘Clear browsing data.’

3. In the ‘Clear browsing data’ window, shift to the Advanced panel and enable all the options that you won’t require in the future. Once the options have been checked, click on ‘Clear data’ and your browser history will be deleted.

4. Try running YouTube again and see if the error is resolved.

Method 2: Flush Your DNS

DNS stands for Domain Name System and is an important part of the PC, responsible for forming a connection between domain names and your IP address. Without a functioning DNS, loading websites on a browser becomes impossible. At the same time, clogged up DNS cache can slow down your PC and prevent certain websites from working. Here’s how you can use the Flush DNS command and speed up your browser:

1. Open the command prompt window by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting ‘Command Prompt (Admin).’

2. Here, type in the following code: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

3. The code will run, cleaning DNS resolver cache and speeding up your internet.

Also Read: Fix YouTube videos won’t load. ‘An error occurred, try again later’

Method 3: Use the Public DNS Allotted by Google

If the error isn’t fixed despite flushing the DNS, then changing to Google’s public DNS could be a suitable option. As the DNS has been created by Google, connection for all Google-related services including YouTube will be sped up, potentially solving the ‘an error occurred to try again (Playback ID)’ issue on YouTube.

1. On your PC, right-click on the Wi-Fi option or the Internet option in the bottom right corner of your screen. Then click on ‘Open Network and Internet Settings.’

2. In the Network Status page, scroll down and click on ‘Change adapter options’ under Advanced network settings.

3. All your network-related settings will open in a new window. Right-click on the one that is currently active and click on Properties.

4. Within the ‘This connection uses the following items’ section, select the Internet protocol version 4 (TCP /IPv4) and click on Properties.

5. In the next window that appears, enable ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ and enter 8888 for the preferred DNS server and for alternate DNS server, enter 8844.

6. Click on ‘Ok’ after both the DNS codes have been entered. Try opening YouTube again and the Playback ID error should be fixed.

Also Read: Fix Video Playback Freezes on Windows 10

Method 4: Manage Extensions that Affect Playback on YouTube

Browser extensions are a handy tool that can enhance your internet experience. While these extensions are helpful for the most part, they can also inhibit your browser’s functioning and prevent certain websites like YouTube from loading properly. Here’s how you can disable extensions to try and fix the YouTube Playback ID error.

1. On your browser, click on the three dots on the top right corner. From the options that appear, click on ‘More tools’ and select ‘Extensions.’

2. On the extensions page, click on the toggle switch in front of certain extensions to disable them temporarily. You can try disabling adblockers and anti-virus extensions that are usually the culprits behind slow connectivity.

3. Reload YouTube and see if the video is playing.

Additional Fixes for ‘An Error Occurred Try Again (Playback ID)’ on YouTube

1. Restart your modem: The modem is the most crucial part of an internet setup that ultimately facilitates the connection between a PC and the world wide web. Faulty modems could prevent certain websites from loading and slow down your connection. Press the Power button behind your modem, to restart it. This will help your PC reconnect to the internet and load sites faster.
2. Open YouTube in incognito mode: Incognito mode gives you a secure established connection without tracking your history and movement. While your internet configuration remains the same, using the incognito mode has proven itself as a working fix for the error.
3. Reinstall your browser: If your browser is synced with any of your accounts, then reinstalling it is a harmless workaround that can fix the YouTube error. In the settings option of your PC, click on ‘Apps’ and find the browser you want to remove. Click on it and select uninstall. Go to the official chrome website on your browser and download it again.
4. Use another account: Playing YouTube through another account is also worth a try. Your particular account could be facing trouble with the servers and might be experiencing difficulties connecting to YouTube.
5. Enable and Disable Autoplay: A rather unlikely fix for the issue is to enable and then disable the autoplay feature of YouTube. While this solution may seem a bit tangential, it has provided excellent results for many users. 

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YouTube errors are an unavoidable part of the experience and sooner or later most people come across these issues. Nevertheless, with the steps mentioned above, there is no reason why these errors should bother you for any longer than they have to.

We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to fix ‘An error occurred, try again (Playback ID)’ on YouTube. If you have any queries, jot them in the comments section and we will get back to you.