Why does my YouTube app minimize on its own?

[Android Central Question]

Hi I'm using a Galaxy S9 and have run into a weird issue. When I am in my official YouTube app watching a video within the app, the screen will suddenly go into a windowed box on the bottom right corner of my device screen and take me back to my home screen. If I click on the icon within the windowed instance of the video I was watching it will restore the video to being back within the main app screen. I'll resume watching the video playback here and then a few seconds or minutes later the app will again minimize to the small box on the right hand corner.

I am not pressing any buttons or doing any action other than holding my phone when this occurs. Does anyone know what is causing the YouTube app to behave this way and randomly minimize my viewing? Is there any fix for this?

 

[SpookDroid]

If you're holding your phone chances are your'e pressing the recent apps button. The mode you are describing is Picture-in-Picture (which you can disable from the phone's Settings for that specific app if you so wish), and it only becomes active when you switch to another app via the recent apps button or want to use multi-window. If you are 100% sure you are not touching the button, does it happen with other apps or noticed that you get the recent apps carousel at random times? If so, there might be something wrong with the touch digitizer causing the 'phantom' touch in that area.

 

[inktitan]

This happens when apps are downloaded regardless of whether or not you're touching your phone. It's supper annoying if you're watching something while a lot of apps updating. Sometimes it drops the keyboard too.

 

[williamlpa]

Uninstall the Youtube app antry to install the updated version of youtube from the playstore. This process can fix your problem. May be the youtube version you have is not compatible with the device.

 

[Blake Mumm]

I am having this same exact issue! My keyboard also closes too at random points when typing. Plus I have been getting random ads when I unlock my phone or polls..any fixes?

 

[B. Diddy]

I am having this same exact issue! My keyboard also closes too at random points when typing. Plus I have been getting random ads when I unlock my phone or polls..any fixes?

Welcome to Android Central! Which phone? Is it possible you're accidentally tapping the Back or Home button? This kind of thing tends to happen more easily with the trend towards no bezels.

Re: ads, you most likely have adware on the phone that came with some app you installed. Uninstall apps one by one until the problem goes away.

 

[Blake Mumm]

Thanks for the reply but I found my solution shortly after having posted here. Uninstalled an app called downloader on my galaxy note 9. No issues since

 

[Ammar Al-amri]

Thanks for the reply but I found my solution shortly after having posted here. Uninstalled an app called downloader on my galaxy note 9. No issues since

Can you tell me exactly which "Downloader" app you installed? I have the same problem when apps are updated, I think the problem is caused by Samsung's Secure Folder opening for a little while to check and update apps then closing, which causes Youtube to minimize since its just like you're going to another app but your phone is doing it automatically.

 

[Craig Woolley1]

Look in your apps section of your phone and see if you have 2 settings. 1 looks like a gear and the other looks like a shield. I force stopped the one that looked like a shield

 

[Ninji]

I know this doesnt help much, but I am having the same problem on my Samsung Galaxy A10e and none of these solutions are helping. As I am typing this, my keyboard randomly goes down. Plz help.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Is it only when you're in YouTube, or does it happen no matter which app you're typing in?

 

[ganainm]

One more bit of input... Mine fails with the video problem described, but keyboard failure not seen. It occurs with both YoutubeTV and Netflix. Happens without any touch; just sitting still, sometimes in minutes, sometimes less. Device is Sony Xperia XA2 w/Android 9.

 

[Brian Boyd3]

Any update to this problem? It happens to me and I HATE IT! No I am not accidentally pressing home or back button. Phone can just be sitting there. Its at random. Sometimes every couple seconds, sometimes minutes. Video will minimize to lower right hand, keyboard will go down, AND the phone sometimes just randomly "blinks" real quick. I know its all part of the same issue. If it blinks, im not playing a video or have keyboard up, hence just the blink. IT JUST DID IT JUST NOW! It making me crazy. Samsung Note10+ 512gb.
And I have no adware causing this issue and even if I uninstall or disable youtube, still happens and I dont have a downloader app installed. Please help. Thank you

 

[mustang7757]

Any update to this problem? It happens to me and I HATE IT! No I am not accidentally pressing home or back button. Phone can just be sitting there. Its at random. Sometimes every couple seconds, sometimes minutes. Video will minimize to lower right hand, keyboard will go down, AND the phone sometimes just randomly "blinks" real quick. I know its all part of the same issue. If it blinks, im not playing a video or have keyboard up, hence just the blink. IT JUST DID IT JUST NOW! It making me crazy. Samsung Note10+ 512gb.
And I have no adware causing this issue and even if I uninstall or disable youtube, still happens and I dont have a downloader app installed. Please help. Thank you

Hi welcome to AC!
Try long press youtube app then tap info >upper right corner tap and Uninstall theupdate see if its ok with previous version just make sure play store doesn't automatically update it

 

[Ghost 4]

I'm having this problem with every app I can watch on it minimize on the right side of my screen then goes to my home screen or just exits what I'm watching I have a galaxy s22 is there anyway I can fix it?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I assume you've already read through this thread, correct? Do you have any power-saving modes turned on, or 3rd party battery saver or "RAM booster" apps installed?

 

[DeejayRose]

I had the same problem and it was driving me crazy. So I read over this forum and somebody had mentioned apps. So I thought maybe it was happening because of the last app I installed, so I uninstalled it and the problem went away.

 

[mustang7757]

I had the same problem and it was driving me crazy. So I read over this forum and somebody had mentioned apps. So I thought maybe it was happening because of the last app I installed, so I uninstalled it and the problem went away.

Welcome to AC!
Which app was the culprit?

 

[DeejayRose]

Welcome to AC!
Which app was the culprit?

I wish I could remember but I can't now because this happened to me awhile ago. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I just figured I'd share with people what seemed to work for me.

 

[mustang7757]

I wish I could remember but I can't now because this happened to me awhile ago. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I just figured I'd share with people what seemed to work for me.

No worries , thanks anyways.