YouTube error · Occasional
YouTube page keeps reloading — fix the refresh loop
The YouTube page refreshes itself every few seconds without your input. Or you navigate to a video and within moments the page reloads, losing your scroll position. Distinct from a one-off reload — this is repeated involuntary refresh.
Why this happens
- Browser extension forcing periodic refresh (some "tab auto-refresh" tools).
- OS-level memory pressure causing the browser to discard + reload the tab.
- Stuck service-worker state — page tries to re-initialize.
- Push notification rerouting the tab.
- Mobile browser memory limit triggered.
How to fix it
- 1
Disable auto-refresh extensions
Extensions like "Auto Refresh Plus", "Tab Reloader" can be configured for YouTube unintentionally. Check extension settings + whitelist youtube.com.
- 2
Close other heavy tabs
Memory pressure makes the browser discard backgrounded tabs. When you return to a discarded tab it reloads. Reduce open tab count to keep YouTube alive.
- 3
Clear YouTube site data
DevTools → Application → Clear site data. Resets the service worker that may be triggering the reload.
- 4
Use a different browser
If Chrome reloads aggressively but Firefox doesn't (or vice versa), the cause is browser-specific (memory management, extensions).