YouTube's "Load More" button or infinite scroll stops working for several common reasons

When YouTube's recommendation feed freezes and won't load additional videos, the problem usually sits in one of three places: your browser's cache and cookies, your internet connection, or YouTube's servers temporarily blocking the request. Most of the time, clearing your browser data or switching to a different network fixes it within minutes. If the issue persists across multiple browsers or devices, the problem is more likely on YouTube's end or tied to your account settings.

The specific symptom matters. If the page loads but the button does nothing, or if infinite scroll stops partway through, that points to a browser or connection issue. If you see an error message, YouTube is telling you something specific went wrong. If recommendations load on your phone but not your computer, the problem is device-specific.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies first — YouTube stores session data there, and corrupted files often block the load-more function.
  • Disable browser extensions that modify web pages, especially ad blockers and script blockers, because they can interfere with YouTube's loading mechanism.
  • Check your internet connection by opening a new tab and loading a different website — a slow or unstable connection will prevent recommendations from loading.
  • Sign out of YouTube and sign back in, because account-level glitches sometimes prevent the recommendation feed from refreshing.
  • Try a different browser to determine whether the problem is specific to your current one or affects your account across all browsers.

Clear your browser cache and cookies

YouTube stores information about your session, your watch history, and your preferences in your browser's cache and cookies. When these files become corrupted or outdated, YouTube's recommendation system can't communicate properly with your browser, and the load-more function stops responding.

In Chrome, open the menu (three vertical dots), select Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Set the time range to All time, check both Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data. In Firefox, open the menu (three horizontal lines), select Settings, go to Privacy & Security, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. In Safari, open Safari menu, select Settings, go to Privacy, click Manage Website Data, select all entries, and click Remove.

After clearing, reload YouTube. The site will feel slightly slower on first load because it's rebuilding your cache, but recommendations should load normally again.

Disable browser extensions temporarily

Extensions that block ads, modify page layout, or control scripts can interfere with YouTube's recommendation loader. Ad blockers are the most common culprit because YouTube's recommendation system relies on code that ad blockers often flag as tracking or advertising-related.

Open your browser's extension menu. In Chrome, click the puzzle-piece icon in the top right. In Firefox, click the menu and select Add-ons and themes. Disable extensions one at a time by toggling them off, then reload YouTube and test whether recommendations load. If they do, you've found the problem extension. You can then either remove it, add YouTube to its whitelist (if the extension offers that option), or keep it disabled only on YouTube.

Script blockers like uBlock Origin or NoScript are particularly likely to break YouTube's infinite scroll. If you use one of these, check its settings for a whitelist or exception list where you can allow YouTube to run scripts normally.

Check your internet connection

A slow or unstable connection will prevent new recommendations from loading, even if the page itself loaded fine. The recommendation feed requires a continuous connection to YouTube's servers, and if that connection drops or slows below a threshold, the load-more function times out.

Open a new tab and visit a different website — a news site or search engine works well. If that page loads quickly, your connection is probably fine. If it's slow or doesn't load, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If you're on Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router or switching to a wired connection if possible. If the problem persists, contact your internet provider.

You can also test your connection speed at speedtest.net. YouTube typically needs at least 1 Mbps for smooth streaming, though recommendation loading is less demanding than video playback.

Sign out and sign back into your YouTube account

Account-level glitches can prevent your recommendation feed from refreshing properly. This is less common than browser issues, but it does happen, especially if you've recently changed your password or security settings.

Click your profile picture in the top right corner of YouTube and select Sign out. Close the tab completely, then open a new tab and go to youtube.com. Sign back in with your email and password. Wait a few seconds for your account to fully load, then try loading more recommendations.

If you use multiple accounts, test whether the problem happens on all of them or just one. If it's account-specific, the issue may be tied to your account settings or watch history rather than your browser or connection.

Try a different browser

If recommendations load fine in Firefox but not in Chrome, the problem is browser-specific. This usually means a browser setting, extension, or cached file is interfering. If the problem happens in every browser you try, it's more likely an account issue or a problem on YouTube's servers.

Download and install a browser you don't normally use — Edge, Opera, or Brave are quick options. Sign into YouTube on that browser without installing any extensions, and test whether recommendations load. If they do, go back to your primary browser and work through the cache clearing and extension disabling steps above. If they don't load in any browser, move to the next section.

Check YouTube's server status and account restrictions

Occasionally YouTube experiences outages or server issues that affect specific features like recommendations. You can check whether YouTube is having widespread problems by searching "YouTube down" or "YouTube not working" on Twitter or a status page like downdetector.com. If many people are reporting the same issue, YouTube is likely experiencing an outage, and you'll need to wait for their engineers to fix it.

Account restrictions can also block recommendations from loading. If your account has been flagged for unusual activity, or if you've recently changed security settings, YouTube may limit what your account can do. Check your account settings by clicking your profile picture, selecting Settings, then Account. Look for any warnings or notifications about restricted features. If you see a message about account verification or security, follow YouTube's instructions to resolve it.

If you're using a VPN or proxy, YouTube may block recommendation loading as a security measure. Try disabling your VPN temporarily and reloading the page. If recommendations load without the VPN, YouTube's servers are blocking traffic from that VPN's IP address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does YouTube load some recommendations but then stop partway through?

This usually means your connection dropped briefly or YouTube's server timed out. Scroll back up to the top of the feed and scroll down again slowly — this gives YouTube time to load each batch. If it keeps stopping at the same point, try the cache-clearing steps above. A connection issue is also possible; check whether other websites load smoothly.

Does clearing my cache delete my watch history?

No. Clearing cache removes temporary files and session data, but your watch history is stored on YouTube's servers and tied to your account. It will still be there after you clear your cache. However, you will be logged out of YouTube and may need to re-enter your password.

Can YouTube intentionally limit recommendations to some users?

Yes. YouTube may limit recommendations if your account is new, if you've disabled personalization in your settings, or if YouTube suspects unusual activity. Check your settings under Privacy to see whether personalized recommendations are turned on. If they're off, turn them back on and reload the page.

What if recommendations load on my phone but not my computer?

This confirms the problem is device-specific, not account-wide. On your computer, try the browser-switching test first — if a different browser works, the issue is in your primary browser's settings or extensions. If no browser works, the problem may be your computer's network connection or a firewall blocking YouTube's recommendation servers.

Should I uninstall and reinstall my browser?

Not yet. Uninstalling removes your browser but usually leaves behind cached files and settings, so reinstalling often doesn't fix the problem. Try clearing cache manually first, disabling extensions, and testing a different browser. If none of those work, then uninstalling and reinstalling is worth trying, but it's rarely the solution.