YouTube TV app on Roku is broken — but it’s not related to their feud

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A recent Roku OS update seems to have triggered a YouTube TV bug

Youtube TV logo with cord-cutting graphic
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

YouTube TV subscribers are seeing red — and not in the familiar logo of the Google-owned cable TV alternative. A YouTube TV bug seems to be causing the app the freeze on Roku devices after a recent OS update, according to users on Roku's forums.

This is unrelated to the ongoing spat between Roku and YouTube TV, which led to the latter's app being removed from the Roku Channel Store (and could see the YouTube app leave as well).

YouTube has acknowledged the bug and says it is working on fixing it — at least when it comes to the Roku app. The official YouTube Twitter account noted, "We're already aware of this issue, and our team is currently working on a fix. We'll let you know as soon as we receive an update. Let us know if it's something different." 

To a different subscriber complaining about the same issue on Chromecast With Google TV and Shield Pro, YouTube suggested reinstalling the app. That's a common fix for these kinds of problems.

But because of the Roku/YouTube TV feud, the app is not longer available to download from the Roku Store. So, deleting and reinstalling YouTube TV is not an option for Roku users. They will have to wait until YouTube releases a fix. 

Kelly Woo
Kelly Woo
Managing editor, streaming

Kelly is the managing editor of streaming for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.