YouTube Mobile Bugs

App version 17.09.33

SUMMARY

• “Chapter” feature bug

Effect: The chapter slide doesn’t show up

Fix: Reopen the video

Playing video bug

Effect: Video’s thumbnail appears, able to scrub through timeline but the video itself doesn’t play, UI doesn’t show up, its sounds are unaffected

Fix: Relaunch the app

I have been using the Youtube app for a couple of years for entertainment and educational purposes. However, after updating to version 17.09.33, I started experiencing some bugs and it only happens when I’m going to watch a video.

FIRST BUG

The first bug I encounter is the “Chapters” feature on certain videos.

In simple terms, like a novel (and as the name implies), this feature divides the video into different parts. This makes watching videos easier and more convenient, especially to people like me who want to get straight to the point, compared to double-tapping your way across the video or inaccurately scrubbing through. It was a great feature until I experienced bugs.

When I’m watching a video, the first thing I would do is to check the chapters. But with this bug, the “chapter” button appears in the bottom left corner as usual, but after tapping it, nothing happens. The “chapter” slide doesn’t show up. I have to reopen the video again in order to fix it.

For everyone, it may be a minor bug, and I agree with that. However, it bothers me when it happens multiple times a day. I’m still trying to capture a screenshot of it. It has happened to me I think 7 times now since the update. In the meantime, this is nothing compared to the next bug.

SECOND BUG

The second bug I encountered is when I’m going to watch videos.

Upon opening the video, instead of automatically playing as expected, the video’s thumbnail appears and remains there for the entire duration of the video. Literally. Scrubbing through the timeline is doable, but the video just doesn’t play. And to make matters worse, the UI that should appear in the video doesn’t show up even after tapping the screen, and in order for me to fix it, I need to relaunch the app. Thankfully the sounds of the video are unaffected (sarcasm). I lost count on how many times this occurred.

Lucky for me, I got a screenshot of it.

Note: I took the first and third screenshot while making this blog, but the second screenshot is taken when the bug occured.

This is the thumbnail of the video.

This is how the bug looks like. The UI disappears, the sounds play, and the thumbnail persists no matter where you scrub through the timeline.

The UI disappears and the video itself doesn't play, apart from its sounds.

This is how it should look like without the bug.

This bug also occurs when I’m watching a video, turn the screen off, and turn it back on. The video player becomes unresponsive.

These are the bugs I have experienced so far and I hope it is only these two. I’ve sent my feedback to Youtube’s support and awaiting their response. If you’re experiencing these too, you’re not alone.

Learn more about the “Chapters” feature:

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9884579?hl=e