Youtube Watch History Not Updating, How to Fix Youtube Watch History Not Working?
by Naveenkumar | Updated Jul 17, 2023
Youtube
YouTube is a prominent American online video-sharing and social media platform based in San Bruno, California. Founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, it has become the second most visited website globally, following Google Search. With over 2.5 billion monthly users, YouTube has transformed the way people consume video content, with viewers collectively watching more than one billion hours of videos daily.
Google acquired YouTube in October 2006 for $1.65 billion, expanding its business model to include paid content, such as movies and exclusive YouTube-produced content. In addition to its advertising revenue, YouTube offers a premium subscription service called YouTube Premium, enabling users to watch content without ads. YouTube's partnership with Google's AdSense program further contributes to revenue generation. In 2022, YouTube reported revenue of $29.2 billion, with annual advertising revenue reaching $28.8 billion in 2021, showcasing significant growth from the previous year.
Youtube Watch History Not Updating
YouTube employs intricate and highly effective algorithms that captivate and engage users, enticing them to spend prolonged periods in front of their screens. While you may initially visit YouTube with the intention of watching a recommended video from a friend, you often find yourself getting drawn into watching multiple additional videos. There are also instances when you desire to rewatch a specific video but struggle to recall what to enter in the search bar.
To address this, you can navigate to the "More Options" menu, select "History," and begin scrolling through your watch history. However, an occasional challenge arises when YouTube fails to update your watch history accordingly. In the following sections, we will delve into potential solutions to rectify this issue and ensure your watch history is accurately recorded.
How to Fix Youtube Watch History Not Working?
Solution 1: Verify Watch History Setting
If you notice that your YouTube watch history is not updating, it's essential to check whether the "Pause Watch History" setting is enabled. Follow the instructions below based on whether you're using the YouTube website or app:
YouTube Website:
1. Open the YouTube website in your browser.
2. Click on the "History" option located in the left pane of the website.
3. If you see "PAUSE WATCH HISTORY," it means that your watch history is enabled. If you see "TURN ON WATCH HISTORY," it means that your watch history is disabled. Click on it, and then click "TURN ON" to enable watch history.
YouTube App:
1. Open the YouTube app on your device.
2. Go to the app's settings.
3. Find and select "History" from the options.
4. In the Privacy section, locate the "Pause History" option. If it is enabled, toggle it off to enable watch history.
If you haven't enabled this setting before, proceed to the following solutions.
Solution 2: Restart YouTube Website or App
Try closing the YouTube website or app and reopening it. This simple action can resolve any temporary issues that might be causing your watch history to not update. Close all other apps or programs running in the background to eliminate any potential conflicts.
After reopening the YouTube website or app, check if your watch history is now updating correctly.
Solution 3: Clear YouTube Cache and Data
Clearing the cache and data of the YouTube app can help resolve issues related to temporary files and improve its performance. Follow the instructions provided in the recommended article below to clear the cache and data for YouTube on your PC or mobile device.
Solution 4: Update the YouTube App
Ensure that you have the latest version of the YouTube app installed as updates often include bug fixes and improvements. To update the app:
1. Open the Google Play Store app (Android) or the App Store app (iOS).
2. Tap on the menu icon and select "My apps & games" (Android) or "Updates" (iOS).
3. Check if the YouTube app is labeled "Update." If an update is available, tap on "Update" to install the latest version.
If you are still experiencing issues with your YouTube watch history, consider reinstalling the YouTube app as a final troubleshooting step.
Why is YouTube Watch History Not Updating?
There could be several reasons for your YouTube watch history not updating. It could be due to a known issue, the "Pause watch history" option being enabled, cache and data issues, outdated app version, or interference from ad-blockers or privacy extensions.
Check for Known Problem
Before troubleshooting further, verify if this issue is a known problem. Look for reports or complaints from other users who have experienced a similar issue recently. This can help determine if it's a widespread glitch or an isolated incident.
Disable Pause Watch History
Make sure you haven't accidentally enabled the "Pause watch history" option, which prevents YouTube from saving your watch history. To disable it:
1. Click on the "More options" icon (usually represented by three vertical dots) on the YouTube website or app.
2. Select "History" from the menu.
3. If you see the option "Turn on Watch history," click on it to enable watch history.
Refresh your browser tab or restart the YouTube app to check if your watch history is now available. If not, log out of your Google account, restart YouTube, log back in, and try again. Alternatively, switch to a different Google account to see if the issue persists.
Update Your App and Clear the Cache
If you're using the YouTube app on Android, ensure that you have the latest version installed. Go to the Play Store app, search for YouTube, and tap the "Update" button if available. Then, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to your device's "Settings" and select "Apps" or "App Manager."
2. Locate and tap on the YouTube app.
3. Go to the "Storage" option and tap "Clear cache."
If your YouTube history is still not visible, uninstall the app, restart your device, and reinstall YouTube from the Play Store. Check if installing a fresh copy of the app resolves the problem.
For the web app, clear your browser cache and disable any extensions that might interfere with YouTube's functionality. Use the appropriate browser settings to clear the cache, restart your browser, and check if the issue persists.
Disable Your Ad-Blocker
Certain ad-blockers and privacy extensions can interfere with YouTube's scripts, including the URLs used for history tracking. Whitelist the following URLs or temporarily disable your ad-blocker:
Refresh the page or restart your browser after making the changes and check if your watch history is now visible.
Youtube Watch History Not Updating-FAQ
There could be several reasons for your YouTube watch history not updating. It could be due to a known issue, the "Pause watch history" option being enabled, cache and data issues, outdated app version, or interference from ad-blockers or privacy extensions.
On the YouTube website, click on "History" and look for "PAUSE WATCH HISTORY" or "TURN ON WATCH HISTORY" to determine if it is enabled or disabled. On the YouTube app, go to settings, select "History," and check the status of the "Pause History" option.
If restarting doesn't work, you can try clearing the YouTube cache and data to resolve any temporary issues that may be causing the problem.
Follow the instructions provided in the recommended article or go to your device's settings, find the YouTube app, and clear the cache and data from the storage options.
Yes, you can update the YouTube app to the latest version, disable ad-blockers or privacy extensions that may interfere with YouTube's functionality, disable software that might affect your YouTube connection (such as antivirus or VPN), and check your internet connection.