Google is currently addressing a surge of reports concerning the YouTube Music app crashing on iPhones. Users have taken to platforms like Google’s support forums and Reddit to report that the app briefly opens before closing unexpectedly. The issue predominantly affects the home screen, where playlists and recommendations fail to load, leading to the app forcefully quitting.
A user shared a screen recording illustrating the problem, showing the app crashing upon launch.
In response, Google’s community manager, Kazuma Sugimura, acknowledged the issue on the official support forums, labeling it a “known issue” impacting certain iOS devices. Sugimura suggested a temporary workaround: long-press the YouTube Music icon, select “Search” or “Podcasts,” then switch accounts via the profile menu and switch back. This method allows users to navigate the app without crashes, though it doesn’t resolve the home screen issue. The team is actively investigating and will provide updates when available.
Reddit users have reported similar experiences. One iPhone 14 Pro user attempted various fixes—including app updates, reinstallations, and device reboots—but continued to encounter crash loops. Some speculate the bug may be linked to a recent app update or the latest iOS release. Interestingly, non-Premium account holders seem less affected, while Premium subscribers experience crashes upon accessing the home icon.
Despite widespread reports, some users, like one with an iPhone 16 running iOS 18.5 Beta 4 and YouTube Music version 8.18, have not encountered the issue. This suggests the problem may not affect all device or software combinations, or that a fix is being implemented incrementally.
The exact cause of the crashes remains unclear. The community workaround indicates a potential issue with how the app loads its main interface. In the meantime, users experiencing home screen crashes can utilize the search bypass until an official patch is released. Given Google’s prompt response and the simplicity of the workaround, a swift resolution is anticipated.