YouTube Homepage Bug Leaves Users with Blank Screens, Google Launches Investigation

Glitch Affects Recommendations Across Web and Mobile Platforms

April 22, 2025 — A bizarre bug has disrupted the YouTube experience for many users, leaving their homepages nearly empty or sparsely populated with video recommendations. Acknowledging the issue, YouTube has confirmed that its engineering team is currently investigating the glitch, though no fix has been rolled out yet.

According to an official community forum post, the issue causes YouTube’s homepage to load with few or no personalized recommendations, impacting both desktop and mobile users. In some instances, users are being shown videos completely unrelated to their viewing history, which YouTube admits could stem from a malfunction in the recommendation algorithm.

Widespread but Inconsistent Bug

While Google hasn’t shared how many users are affected, the forum thread addressing the issue has gathered over 80 upvotes, suggesting a growing number of reports. However, not all users are encountering the problem, and some may only notice mismatched or irrelevant content rather than a completely blank homepage.

As recommendations form a key pillar of YouTube’s engagement model, the bug could have a negative impact on content visibility and creator traffic. Video suggestions on the homepage often contribute significantly to discovery and viewership for creators.

YouTube Investigating, No ETA on Fix

YouTube’s community moderators have confirmed that the bug is under active review, but no timeline has been shared regarding a resolution. For now, affected users are advised to manually search for content or rely on their subscriptions tab for video updates.

Until the issue is resolved, creators and viewers alike may experience reduced engagement and disrupted content discovery.