It’s pretty annoying when you open a YouTube video and instead of the video playing, you get Error 153 or a message saying the video player can’t load. When this happens, the video stops, the screen stays black, or the player freezes. This guide explains what the error means, why it shows up, and how you can fix it fast with simple steps.
What Is YouTube Error 153 Video Player Configuration Error?

Error 153 shows up when the YouTube video player can’t load the settings it needs to play the video. The player might be missing a script, a codec, or the page might not load the HTML5 player correctly.
You see this error on YouTube inside Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, the YouTube app, or even on a smart TV. It can appear when the network is slow, the cache is broken, or YouTube’s server has a problem. No matter where it shows up, the video player can’t finish its setup.
Common Causes of YouTube Error 153
This error shows up for different reasons. These are the most common ones:
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Corrupted YouTube cache or cookies
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Outdated browser or outdated YouTube app
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JavaScript turned off by mistake
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Ad blockers stopping YouTube scripts
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Weak or unstable Wi Fi
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YouTube server problems
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Device hardware or playback conflicts
How To Fix YouTube Error 153 (11 Fixes)
Here are 11 fixes that help most people solve the problem. Try them one by one.
Fix 1: Refresh the Page or Restart the App
Sometimes the player gets stuck. A quick refresh fixes small loading glitches. On mobile, close the YouTube app fully, wait a few seconds, and open it again.
Fix 2: Clear YouTube Cache and Cookies
Old or broken cache files can stop YouTube’s player from loading the right settings.
Follow the steps below to clear your cache:
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Open browser settings.
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Go to Privacy and Security.
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Choose Clear browsing data.
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Clear cache and cookies.
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Restart the browser.
Fix 3: Update Your Browser
YouTube uses new web features. If your browser is old, the player fails.
Here are the following steps which help you update:
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Open your browser menu.
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Click About.
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Install any update.
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Restart the browser.
Fix 4: Make Sure JavaScript Is On
YouTube needs JavaScript to load the video player. When JavaScript is off, the player breaks.
You can perform the following steps:
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Open browser settings.
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Search for JavaScript.
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Make sure it is allowed.
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Refresh the page.
Fix 5: Turn Off Ad Blockers or Script Extensions
Ad blockers or privacy extensions can block YouTube scripts. When that happens, the video player can’t load.
Try these simple steps to check extensions:
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Go to chrome://extensions or your browser’s extension page.
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Turn off ad blockers.
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Turn off script blockers.
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Refresh YouTube.
Fix 6: Restart Your Wi Fi Router
Slow or unstable Wi Fi stops YouTube from loading video files. Restarting your router often fixes it.
Steps:
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Turn off your router.
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Wait ten seconds.
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Turn it back on.
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Try YouTube again.
Fix 7: Change Your DNS
Bad DNS can block YouTube’s CDN from loading videos. Changing DNS gives a clean path.
Use Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
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Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
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Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1
Fix 8: Update the YouTube App (Android or iOS)
If you get Error 153 inside the app, your YouTube app might be outdated.
Here’s how you can update it:
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Open Google Play or App Store.
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Search for YouTube.
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Tap Update.
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Reopen the app.
Fix 9: Turn Hardware Acceleration On or Off
Some devices play videos smoother with hardware acceleration. Others do not. Switching it fixes many playback errors.
Steps:
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Open browser settings.
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Search for hardware acceleration.
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Turn it on or turn it off.
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Restart the browser.
Fix 10: Try YouTube in a Different Browser
If YouTube works in another browser, the problem is in your main browser’s settings. This helps you find the issue fast.
Fix 11: Check If YouTube Servers Are Down
Sometimes the problem is not you. YouTube servers or CDN can have outages. Search online for “YouTube down detector” to check. If YouTube is down, wait a little.
Prevention Tips to Avoid Errors in Future
A few simple habits help stop this error from coming back:
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Keep your browser updated
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Update the YouTube app often
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Clear cache every few weeks
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Use stable Wi Fi
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Avoid heavy extensions
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Restart your device each week
Conclusion
YouTube Error 153 shows up when the video player can’t load its settings or connect to YouTube servers. It often comes from cache, extensions, or network trouble. The good news is the fixes are simple. Refresh the page, clear cache, update your browser, or restart your network.
Try each fix step by step. If nothing works, YouTube support can help check deeper problems. If this guide helped you, feel free to share it so others can fix the same error fast.