YouTube, the world’s largest video-streaming platform, suffered a major service disruption today, leaving thousands of users across the globe unable to stream content or access their accounts. The outage, which peaked during the early morning hours in the United States and evening hours in India, also appeared to intermittently affect other Google services, including Google Search and YouTube TV.
Scale of the Outage
According to the outage-tracking website Downdetector, reports began spiking around 7:00 PM IST (8:30 AM ET). At its peak, more than 10,800 reports were logged in the United States alone. Similar surges were seen internationally:
- United Kingdom: Over 3,000 reports.
- Canada: Over 1,300 reports.
- India: Significant disruptions reported in major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Common User Issues
Users attempting to access the site were frequently met with a "502 Bad Gateway" error or a message stating, "Please try again in 30 seconds." According to user-submitted data, the issues were categorized as:
- Server Connection (54%): Most users could not reach the platform at all.
- Website Access (35%): The desktop homepage failed to load or remained unresponsive.
- Video Streaming (11%): Some could access the interface but faced infinite buffering or playback errors.
Social Media Reaction
The hashtag #YouTubeDown quickly trended on X (formerly Twitter), as frustrated creators and viewers shared screenshots of their blank screens. Many users noted that while the mobile app was sluggish, the desktop version seemed to be completely broken during the peak of the disruption.
Current Status: Restoration Underway
As of the latest updates, services appear to be returning to normalcy. Reports on Downdetector have dropped significantly, falling below 200 in the U.S. and under 70 in the UK.
While Google has not yet issued an official statement regarding the root cause of the glitch, technical experts suggest the "502 error" typically points to a communication issue between servers. Most regions now report that the platform is fully operational, though some users may still experience minor lag as traffic stabilizes.
