YouTube is experiencing a major outage affecting tens of thousands of users with many reporting an error on the streaming app and website

02:45, Wed, Feb 18, 2026 Updated: 02:45, Wed, Feb 18, 2026

The YouTube logo appears on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration in Ontario, Canada, on February 16, 2026. (Photo Illu

The YouTube logo appears on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration in Ontario, Canada, on February 16, 2026. (Photo Illustration by Thomas IllustrationFuller/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Image: undefined)

Tens of thousands of people have reported an error on the widely used streaming platform, YouTube.

The issue has been flagged in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, The Mirror reports.

Some users have noted that whilst the YouTube homepage appears blank, individual videos continue to play.

This is an ongoing incident and we will keep you updated down below.

14 mins ago02:45 Tannur Anders

YouTube says homepage is back but still working on full fix

YouTube said in a post on X: "Update: An issue with our recommendations system prevented videos from appearing across surfaces on YouTube (including the homepage, the YouTube app, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids). The homepage is back, but we're still working on a full fix – more coming soon!"

17 mins ago02:42 Tannur Anders

YouTube confirms issue

YouTube said in a post on social media platform X: "If you’re having trouble accessing YouTube right now, you’re not alone."

The company said its teams are looking into the issue.

20 mins ago02:39 Tannur Anders

More than 37,100 YouTube problems reported in UK after 1am

Data from the crowd-sourced site Downdetector showed 37,136 reports of a YouTube problem at 1.16am in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 18.

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27 mins ago02:32 Tannur Anders

User told there is a login issue

One YouTube user wrote on Reddit: "I finished the video I was watching then it booted me all the way out."

"Keeps telling me there is an issue logging in. My phone I can still see my subs, and all that jazz, just not my feed."

28 mins ago02:31 Tannur Anders

What is known about the YouTube error

What is known about the YouTube error:

- Tens of thousands of people have reported an error on the popular streaming application

- The error has been reported in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia

- Some users have reported that the YouTube home page appears empty

- It is understood that individual videos do play