A major issue is currently affecting the YouTube website, causing extreme RAM usage, lag, and browser crashes for users worldwide.
Reports indicate that simply opening a video tab can consume over 7GB of memory, leading to frozen tabs and completely unresponsive browsers.
What’s Happening With YouTube?
The bug appears to be tied to how YouTube’s interface handles action buttons below the video player—including Like, Share, and Save.
Here’s what’s going wrong:
- The UI enters an endless loop
- Buttons are repeatedly shown and hidden
- The browser constantly recalculates layout changes
- This creates a runaway memory leak
The result is a rapid spike in RAM usage that can cripple even high-end systems.
Affected Browsers
This isn’t limited to one browser. The bug impacts multiple major platforms, including:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Brave
Because the issue is rooted in YouTube’s front-end code, it affects nearly all Chromium and non-Chromium browsers alike.
Symptoms Users Are Experiencing
Users across forums and social media report:
- RAM usage exceeding 7GB per tab
- Severe lag while watching videos
- Tabs freezing or crashing
- Entire browser becoming unresponsive
In some cases, the issue escalates to system-wide slowdowns, especially on devices with limited memory.
Temporary Fix: Block the Problematic Menu
Until Google rolls out an official fix, there’s a simple and reliable workaround.
Using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin, you can disable the problematic UI element.
Add This Filter:
www.youtube.com###menuWhat This Does:
- Removes the action button menu under the video
- Stops the UI loop causing the memory leak
- Immediately reduces RAM usage
- Restores smooth performance
While you’ll lose quick access to Like/Share buttons, the trade-off is a stable browsing experience.
Why This Bug Is Serious
This isn’t just a minor glitch—it highlights a deeper issue with modern web apps:
- Heavy reliance on dynamic UI rendering
- Increased complexity in responsive layouts
- Greater risk of performance-breaking loops
When something goes wrong, even a simple interface element can consume massive system resources.
When Will It Be Fixed?
As of now, Google has not officially detailed a fix timeline.
However, given the severity and widespread impact, a patch is expected soon.
Final Thoughts
This YouTube bug is a reminder that even the most widely used platforms can run into serious performance issues.
Until an official fix arrives:
- Use the uBlock Origin workaround
- Keep your browser updated
- Monitor RAM usage when watching videos
If you’ve noticed your browser slowing down recently while using YouTube, this bug is likely the reason.
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