%PDF-1.4 %âãÏÓ 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 2 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Count 2 /Kids [5 0 R 7 0 R] >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /BaseFont /Helvetica >> endobj 4 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold >> endobj 5 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 2 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 595.28 841.89] /Resources << /Font << /F1 3 0 R /F2 4 0 R >> >> /Contents 6 0 R >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Length 6008 >> stream BT /F2 21 Tf 0.06 0.08 0.12 rg 1 0 0 1 46 789.89 Tm (YouTube keeps saying 'there was an error licensing) Tj ET BT /F2 21 Tf 0.06 0.08 0.12 rg 1 0 0 1 46 763.89 Tm (this video' - what's causing this and how do I fix it?) Tj ET BT /F2 11 Tf 0.72 0.14 0.18 rg 1 0 0 1 46 727.89 Tm (TechRounder Help Center PDF) Tj ET BT /F1 9.5 Tf 0.36 0.39 0.46 rg 1 0 0 1 46 711.89 Tm (Live article:) Tj ET BT /F1 9.5 Tf 0.36 0.39 0.46 rg 1 0 0 1 46 699.39 Tm (https://www.techrounder.com/help/youtube-keeps-saying-there-was-an-error-licensing-this-video-whats-causing-thi) Tj ET BT /F1 9.5 Tf 0.36 0.39 0.46 rg 1 0 0 1 46 686.89 Tm (s-and-how-do-i-fix-it/) Tj ET q 0.82 0.85 0.9 RG 1 w 46 668.39 m 549.28 668.39 l S Q BT /F1 10 Tf 0.24 0.27 0.32 rg 1 0 0 1 46 656.39 Tm (By Vipin PG | Published August 13, 2026 | Updated August 13, 2026 | Topic: Solution | 4 min read) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 635.39 Tm (That message pops up when YouTube's DRM system \(Widevine, in almost every case\) can't confirm) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 620.39 Tm (you're allowed to play whatever you clicked on. It's not a general YouTube outage message - it's) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 605.39 Tm (specific to a rights check that failed somewhere between your device, your account, and YouTube's) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 590.39 Tm (license server. That's why restarting the app fixes it for some people and does absolutely nothing for) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 575.39 Tm (others. The cause changes depending on where the check is failing.) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 553.39 Tm (Worth knowing before you start troubleshooting: this shows up most on protected content - Premium) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 538.39 Tm (movies, TV show rentals, some music videos, and YouTube TV live channels. Regular free uploads) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 523.39 Tm (rarely trigger it unless there's a browser or device-level DRM problem. If it's happening on a) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 508.39 Tm (normal, non-purchased video too, that's a sign the issue is on your device rather than the content) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 493.39 Tm (itself.) Tj ET BT /F2 13 Tf 0.08 0.1 0.14 rg 1 0 0 1 46 465.39 Tm (On a Computer \(Chrome, Edge, Firefox\)) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 443.39 Tm (Start here, in order - most people get fixed within the first two or three steps.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 421.39 Tm (1. Reload in Incognito/Private mode. This rules out extensions and cached login tokens in one shot. If the) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 407.59 Tm (video plays fine here, your problem is a corrupted cache or a bad extension in your normal window.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 390.79 Tm (2. Clear cache and cookies for YouTube specifically \(not your whole browser history, just cookies/cached) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 376.99 Tm (files\) - Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Delete browsing data.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 360.19 Tm (3. Disable ad blockers temporarily. uBlock Origin, AdBlock, and Ghostery all sometimes intercept the) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 346.39 Tm (network calls YouTube makes for license verification, not just ads. Turn them off, reload, test.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 329.59 Tm (4. Update the Widevine Content Decryption Module. This is the actual component doing the license check, and) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 315.79 Tm (it's separate from your browser version. Go to `chrome://components` \(or `edge://components` ,) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 301.99 Tm (`opera://components` \), scroll to Widevine Content Decryption Module , and hit Check for update .) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 285.19 Tm (5. Make sure Chrome/Edge/Firefox itself is on the latest version - Help -> About in any of them triggers an) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 271.39 Tm (auto-update check.) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 254.59 Tm (If the update in step 4 keeps failing or shows "Component not updated" no matter how many times you) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 239.59 Tm (click it, the CDM files themselves are probably corrupted. Here's the manual fix on Windows:) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 217.59 Tm (1. Fully close Chrome - check Task Manager to confirm no chrome.exe processes are still running.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 200.79 Tm (2. Open Run \( `Win + R` \) and paste:) Tj ET BT /F1 9.5 Tf 0.18 0.2 0.24 rg 1 0 0 1 54 181.99 Tm (%userprofile%\\AppData\\Local\\Google\\Chrome\\User Data) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 163.49 Tm (1. Find the folder named WidevineCdm and delete it.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 146.69 Tm (2. Relaunch Chrome, go back to `chrome://components` , and click Check for update on Widevine again -) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 132.89 Tm (it'll redownload fresh.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.28 0.31 0.36 rg 1 0 0 1 56 114.09 Tm (Quote: If deleting the folder doesn't fix it and you also see "Update Failed," check that your antivirus isn't) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.28 0.31 0.36 rg 1 0 0 1 56 100.09 Tm (blocking Chrome from writing the new files - some security software flags CDM downloads as) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.28 0.31 0.36 rg 1 0 0 1 56 86.09 Tm (suspicious.) Tj ET q 0.86 0.88 0.92 RG 1 w 46 42 m 549.28 42 l S Q BT /F1 8.4 Tf 0.42 0.45 0.5 rg 1 0 0 1 46 30 Tm (TechRounder Help Center | Page 1 of 2) Tj ET BT /F1 7.2 Tf 0.42 0.45 0.5 rg 1 0 0 1 46 19 Tm (https://www.techrounder.com/pdf/help/youtube-keeps-saying-there-was-an-error-licensing-this-video-whats-causing-this-and-how-do-i-fix-it.pdf) Tj ET endstream endobj 7 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 2 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 595.28 841.89] /Resources << /Font << /F1 3 0 R /F2 4 0 R >> >> /Contents 8 0 R >> endobj 8 0 obj << /Length 5889 >> stream BT /F2 13 Tf 0.08 0.1 0.14 rg 1 0 0 1 46 789.89 Tm (On the YouTube or YouTube TV App \(Android/iOS\)) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 767.89 Tm (- Android: Settings -> Apps -> YouTube -> Storage -> Clear Cache \(try this before Clear Data, since Clear Data) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 754.09 Tm (logs you out\). If cache clearing alone doesn't work, Clear Data and sign back in.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 737.29 Tm (- iOS: Apple doesn't let you clear cache for individual apps, so the equivalent move is deleting and) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 723.49 Tm (reinstalling the YouTube app from the App Store.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 706.69 Tm (- Update the app itself - an outdated version genuinely can't pass current DRM checks, especially on older) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 692.89 Tm (Android builds.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 676.09 Tm (- Confirm you're logged into the account that actually owns the license \(the one you rented/subscribed with\)) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 662.29 Tm (- this trips people up constantly on shared family devices.) Tj ET BT /F2 13 Tf 0.08 0.1 0.14 rg 1 0 0 1 46 639.49 Tm (On Smart TVs, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 617.49 Tm (Streaming devices are the most common place this error shows up, mainly because their YouTube) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 602.49 Tm (apps update less often than phone or browser versions.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 580.49 Tm (1. Restart the device fully - not just the app, the whole box/TV. Unplug for 30 seconds if it's a streaming) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 566.69 Tm (stick.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 549.89 Tm (2. Clear the app's cache/data from the device settings menu \(Settings -> Apps -> YouTube on most smart TVs) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 536.09 Tm (and Fire TV; Settings -> System restart on Roku\).) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 519.29 Tm (3. Check for a firmware/software update on the device itself - this is separate from updating the YouTube) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 505.49 Tm (app.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 488.69 Tm (4. If none of that works, uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app completely rather than just clearing its data.) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 471.89 Tm (First-generation Chromecast devices are known for this specifically - Google's DRM requirements) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 456.89 Tm (moved past what that hardware supports, so if you're still running an original Chromecast, this error) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 441.89 Tm (may not have a permanent fix short of upgrading the device.) Tj ET BT /F2 13 Tf 0.08 0.1 0.14 rg 1 0 0 1 46 413.89 Tm (If Only One Specific Video Triggers It) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 391.89 Tm (This usually isn't a device problem at all - it's the content. Check for these before troubleshooting) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 376.89 Tm (further:) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 354.89 Tm (- You're using a VPN or proxy. Licensing is tied to region. If YouTube detects your IP as being somewhere) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 341.09 Tm (the video isn't licensed \(or somewhere that conflicts with your account's billing region\), it blocks playback) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 327.29 Tm (rather than guessing. Turn the VPN off and reload.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 310.49 Tm (- Wrong Google account. If you bought or rented the video on one account, it won't play while you're signed) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 296.69 Tm (into another - even on the same device.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 279.89 Tm (- Subscription lapsed. Check Google Account -> Payments & Subscriptions to confirm YouTube Premium \(or) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 266.09 Tm (the specific rental\) is still active and the payment went through.) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 249.29 Tm (- Offline/downloaded video. Downloaded videos carry their own time-limited license separate from your) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 235.49 Tm (account. If it's expired, you'll need to be online and reconnect so YouTube can refresh it - redownload if it) Tj ET BT /F1 10.5 Tf 0.2 0.23 0.28 rg 1 0 0 1 46 221.69 Tm (still won't play.) Tj ET BT /F2 13 Tf 0.08 0.1 0.14 rg 1 0 0 1 46 198.89 Tm (Nothing Worked?) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 176.89 Tm (Try the same video on a completely different device - phone vs. laptop vs. TV. If it plays somewhere) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 161.89 Tm (else, you've confirmed it's local to the device that's failing, and a full app/browser reinstall is the) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 146.89 Tm (next real step rather than repeating cache clears. If it fails everywhere and on every video, that points) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 131.89 Tm (to an account-level licensing issue worth flagging through YouTube's help center directly, since that's) Tj ET BT /F1 11 Tf 0.14 0.16 0.2 rg 1 0 0 1 46 116.89 Tm (outside what local troubleshooting can fix.) Tj ET q 0.86 0.88 0.92 RG 1 w 46 42 m 549.28 42 l S Q BT /F1 8.4 Tf 0.42 0.45 0.5 rg 1 0 0 1 46 30 Tm (TechRounder Help Center | Page 2 of 2) Tj ET BT /F1 7.2 Tf 0.42 0.45 0.5 rg 1 0 0 1 46 19 Tm (https://www.techrounder.com/pdf/help/youtube-keeps-saying-there-was-an-error-licensing-this-video-whats-causing-this-and-how-do-i-fix-it.pdf) Tj ET endstream endobj xref 0 9 0000000000 65535 f 0000000015 00000 n 0000000064 00000 n 0000000127 00000 n 0000000197 00000 n 0000000272 00000 n 0000000414 00000 n 0000006473 00000 n 0000006615 00000 n trailer << /Size 9 /Root 1 0 R >> startxref 12555 %%EOF