This video format is not supported is an error YouTube TV displays when the app or device cannot decode the video stream's codec, container, or DRM signal. It often appears after an app update, a device firmware change, or when attempting to play certain DVR recordings. In most cases, a targeted fix restores playback within minutes without a full device reset.
Part 1. What Triggers the "This Video Format Is Not Supported" Error
The error typically means a mismatch between the video codec the server sends and what the playback device or app version can decode. Several distinct root causes are common in 2026.
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Outdated YouTube TV app | App version cannot decode newer codec profiles used by recent streams |
| Unsupported device firmware | Device media engine is missing required codec or hardware patch |
| DRM / license failure | Widevine or FairPlay license expired or failed to load |
| Corrupted app cache | Cached data conflicts with the current decoder state |
| Account region mismatch | Content geo-restriction triggered by VPN or account location |
| Browser codec gap | Desktop browser missing H.265 or VP9 extension |
🗣️ r/youtubetv user: "Started getting this error after my Chromecast updated overnight. Cleared cache, restarted, came back immediately. Factory reset finally fixed it for me."
The error is not always caused by a corrupt video file on your device. In many cases the issue lives at the app or device level, completely separate from the content itself.
Part 2. Video Formats and Codecs YouTube TV Supports
YouTube TV uses adaptive streaming via VP9 and H.264 codecs, delivered through DASH or HLS protocols. Understanding what is and is not supported helps narrow down the root cause quickly.
| Category | Supported | Not Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Video codecs | H.264 (AVC), VP9, H.265 (select devices) | MPEG-2, DivX, Xvid, WMV |
| Containers | MP4, WebM, TS | AVI, MKV uploads, MOV direct |
| Audio | AAC, Opus | MP3 streams, FLAC |
| Streaming protocol | DASH, HLS | RTMP direct |
| DRM | Widevine, FairPlay | PlayReady (select devices) |
💡 Tip: YouTube TV is a live and cloud DVR streaming service, not a personal media player. It does not support uploading or playing your own local video files through the app.
Most smart TVs, Chromecast, Android TV, Roku, and Fire TV devices support the standard YouTube TV codec stack. When the error appears on these devices, it is typically an app data or firmware issue rather than an intrinsic format problem with the stream.
Part 3. Fix on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices
Smart TV and streaming stick users encounter this error most frequently. Work through these steps in order before attempting a factory reset.
Step 1 — Force-quit and reopen the app Exit YouTube TV completely. On most smart TVs, hold the Back button or use the application manager to force-quit rather than simply pressing Home.
Step 2 — Clear the app cache
- Android TV / Google TV: Settings → Apps → YouTube TV → Clear Cache
- Roku: Remove the channel, then reinstall from the Channel Store
- Amazon Fire TV: Settings → Applications → Manage Installed Applications → YouTube TV → Clear Cache
Step 3 — Update the app Open your device's app store and check for a YouTube TV update. Outdated versions frequently fail to decode content encoded with newer adaptive codec parameters.
Step 4 — Full power cycle Unplug the device from power for 30 seconds. A full power cycle clears memory-resident codec issues that clearing cache alone does not fix.
⚠️ Important: Do not factory reset your streaming device before exhausting all other options. A factory reset erases all installed apps, accounts, and settings and may not resolve the issue at all if the root cause is a server-side DRM problem.
Step 5 — Check for firmware update Out-of-date firmware can be missing critical codec support patches. Navigate to the device's Settings → System → Software Update to apply any pending updates.
💡 Tip: After a firmware update, sign out of YouTube TV, wait 30 seconds, and sign back in. This refreshes your Widevine license credentials and often resolves lingering format errors.
Part 4. Fix on Desktop Browsers
YouTube TV in a browser depends on the browser's built-in codec support and Widevine DRM module. Chromium-based browsers typically perform best.
| Browser | Common Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Outdated version | Settings → Help → About Google Chrome |
| Firefox | Widevine missing on some Linux installs | about:addons → find Widevine Content Decryption Module |
| Safari | VP9 not supported on older macOS | Update macOS or switch to Chrome |
| Microsoft Edge | Outdated Widevine | Settings → About Microsoft Edge |
🗣️ r/techsupport user: "YouTube TV was broken in Safari on my Mac. Opened the exact same page in Chrome and it worked immediately. Seems like a Safari VP9 decode issue."
If the format error appears across all browsers simultaneously, the issue is likely tied to your account credentials or a temporary server-side encoding problem rather than the browser itself.
Part 5. Fix on Mobile (Android and iOS)
On smartphones the error is less frequent but can appear after OS upgrades or app data corruption.
| Step | Android | iOS / iPadOS |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Settings → Apps → YouTube TV → Clear Cache | Delete and reinstall the app |
| Update app | Google Play Store | App Store |
| Minimum OS | Android 5.0 or later | iOS 16 or later recommended |
| Sign out / sign in | Account → Sign Out | Account → Sign Out |
| Network | Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi for HD streams | Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi for HD streams |
Deleting and reinstalling the YouTube TV app on iOS effectively replaces the entire app container, which clears both cache and residual data that a simple cache clear may leave behind.
Part 6. When the Error Is Content-Specific
Sometimes the error appears only on specific shows, DVR recordings, or live channels rather than all content.
- DVR recording corruption: Delete the recording and re-record the content if it is still airing
- Expired DRM license: The content's Widevine license may have expired; sign out and sign back in to refresh your credentials
- Active VPN: A VPN can trigger geo-restriction errors that look identical to a format error; disable the VPN and test again
- Channel encoder issue: A live channel's encoder occasionally sends a malformed stream; this resolves on its own and is outside user control
💡 Tip: If only a single channel triggers the error while all others play correctly, report it directly to YouTube TV support. A per-channel encoding issue requires intervention on their infrastructure, not your device.
Part 7. Recover Lost Video Files With Ritridata
If you lost video files from a local hard drive, SD card, or external storage during troubleshooting — for example after a device wipe, accidental deletion, or file transfer error — Ritridata may be able to help recover them.
Ritridata scans HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, USB drives, and external drives on both Windows and Mac, recovering deleted MP4, MOV, AVI, and hundreds of other video formats.
Step 1 — Select the drive/location
Step 2 — Run a safe scan
Step 3 — Preview and recover to another drive
FAQ
Q: Why does YouTube TV show this error on my brand-new smart TV? A: New TVs sometimes ship with outdated firmware. Check for a system software update in the TV settings — updates often include codec support patches that resolve format errors immediately after install.
Q: Does clearing app cache delete my YouTube TV DVR recordings? A: No. DVR recordings are stored in YouTube's cloud infrastructure, not on your device. Clearing local app cache or reinstalling the app does not affect any saved recordings.
Q: Why does the error appear only on 4K content and not HD? A: 4K streams on YouTube TV often use H.265 (HEVC) encoding. Older devices may lack hardware HEVC decoding support, causing the format error specifically at 4K resolution. Check your device specifications for HEVC or H.265 hardware decode support.
Q: Could a VPN cause this error? A: Yes, in some cases. An active VPN may trigger geo-restriction checks that produce an error message similar to a format error. Try disabling the VPN first before troubleshooting codec or app issues.
Q: Can I play my own video files through YouTube TV? A: No. YouTube TV is a live TV and cloud DVR service and does not support uploading or playing personal video files.
Q: The error started immediately after a YouTube TV app update — what should I do? A: Clear the app's stored data (not just cache) and sign in again. If the issue affects many users simultaneously, check the YouTube TV Help Community for reports of a known post-update bug.
Q: The error appears on one device but not another — why? A: Different devices support different codec hardware. A first-generation Roku may lack VP9 or H.265 decoding while a newer Chromecast with Google TV supports both. A firmware update on the affected device often resolves the discrepancy.
Q: Is there a way to test if the issue is my network or the app? A: Switch from Wi-Fi to a mobile hotspot and try playing the same content. If it plays successfully on mobile data, your home network or router may be blocking the video stream port or throttling certain CDN traffic.