Found a resolution that worked for me. I swapped to my guest wi-fi network (requires a password, but there's no encryption) and it worked fine. This tells me there is a problem with either iOS and / or the YouTube app. Since I have some devices that are running an old version of the app but are current on iOS, the problem is with iOS.
After trying everything else I could think of, I backed up my phone and then did a factory reset. It's a hassle getting all the settings back to where I was, but seems to have worked. For now, at least.
I've been having the same problem for a week now. YouTube app (version 13.11.6) plays 5 seconds, then freezes and just spins as if loading (but doesn't load or play video). Only having this problem on iPhone 7 with iOS 11.3. Desktop iMac can stream YouTube without issues. Getting 65 Mbps download speed on my network. Power cycling Modem/Router doesn't help. Power cycling iPhone doesn't help. Deleting and re-installing YouTube app doesn't help (also cleared browsing history). My ISP (Charter/Spectrum) disavows responsibility. YouTube app support hasn't responded to query about the issue.
It’s not an issue of a non-responding app. The youtube app opens and respods well but every time i choose a video to play it doesn’t load or stops loading after a few secons.
I’ve already tried all these suggestions of restarting the device and reinstalling the app.
Any resolution yet? I've got 5 Apple devices and ALL are having the exact same issue.
Youtube videos not loading