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How to Fix YouTube Button Controls Not Hiding

Quick Tips
  • Open Settings and tap on Apps >  YouTube > Storage > Clear cache.
  • Go to YouTube Settings > Appear on top > turn the toggle off > go back and tap on Picture-in-picture > turn the toggle off.
  • Open Settings > Additional settings > Accessibility > Accessibility menu > turn off Accessibility menu shortcut toggle.

Basic Fixes:

  • Restart the YouTube app: If the issue of button controls showing up is due to a temporary bug, restarting the app should fix it. Open background apps and close them all. Then, restart only the YouTube app and check.
  • Exit and re-enter full-screen mode: Sometimes, the button controls get stuck when you initially enter full-screen mode. So, exit the full-screen mode and re-enter it to see if this fixes the issue.
  • Check for app updates: Software-based bugs can also cause the button controls to show up even after you’ve entered full-screen mode on YouTube. To fix it, check and ensure the YouTube app is updated.
  • Reinstall the YouTube app: Certain custom app settings can cause the button controls to show up unprompted. You can uninstall the YouTube app and reinstall a fresh app copy. Please note this is only possible if YouTube is not a system app.

Fix 1: Disable Accessibility Menu

Certain Accessibility settings, like the Accessibility menu, ensure buttons are visible on your Android device for easy access. However, this can cause issues when using the YouTube app in full-screen mode. To ensure this does not happen, use the below steps to turn off this feature on your Android phone.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Additional settings. Tap on Accessibility.

Step 2: Tap on Accessibility menu and turn the Accessibility menu shortcut toggle off.

Also Read: How to fix closed captions not working on YouTube

Fix 2: Turn off App Permissions

If YouTube has permission to open in picture-in-picture mode or as a floating window, chances are the button controls will still be visible. To prevent this from happening, disable the relevant settings and ensure YouTube opens in full-screen mode within the app. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on Apps. Tap on YouTube.

Open App Settings on Android 5

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Appear on top. Turn the toggle off.

Step 3: Go back to the menu page and tap on Picture-in-picture. Turn the toggle off.

Also Read: How to fix white screen on YouTube on any device

Fix 3: Clear the YouTube App Cache

Caches help your apps in loading content faster. However, if there is an issue with this cache data, it can backfire and cause the app to behave in unusual ways. To ensure this is not the case, you can clear the cache for the YouTube app using the below steps.

Step 1: Open Settings and tap on AppsYouTube.

Open App Settings on Android 5

Step 2: Then, tap on Storage. Tap on Clear cache.

Clear YouTube Cache 11

Fix 4: Uninstall YouTube App Updates

In case YouTube is a system app, you might not find the option to uninstall it. So, you can do the next best thing and uninstall all app updates. This will ensure any bugs or glitches from any updates will be deleted. Then, try using the app in full-screen mode again to check. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open SettingsApps → tap on YouTube.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner and tap Uninstall updates.

Confirm when prompted. Once done, restart the YouTube app and try playing something in full screen again to see if the issue has been resolved.

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Last updated on 16 July, 2024

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