Cannot use YouTube's fullscreen mode on your Galaxy phone or tablet

A YouTube video may not completely fill all the corners of your Galaxy device’s screen, even if you select the Full Screen/Landscape button on the video. YouTube now supports pinch zooming to completely fill the screen.
A person holding a Galaxy phone with the YouTube app on the screen.
A person holding a Galaxy phone with the YouTube app on the screen.

Cannot use YouTube's fullscreen mode on your Galaxy phone or tablet

1

Use gestures to fill the screen.

YouTube automatically fits videos to the screen without losing the picture quality. If you would prefer to completely fill the screen, perform the gestures below.

  • Spread two fingers on the screen to zoom in.
    Zoomed to fill
  • Pinch two fingers on the screen to view the original video size.
    Original video size
Note
Content creators may upload videos that include letterboxing or black bars embedded in the video. The following gestures will not be able to remove them. Videos that are the same aspect ratio of your screen cannot use the zoom function.
2

Check your internet connection.

Make sure you have a stable internet connection. If your connection is slow or unstable, it may affect the video playback and fullscreen mode.
3

Update the YouTube app.

Ensure that you have the latest version of the YouTube app installed. Navigate to and open the Play Store, then tap your profile icon, and then tap Manage apps & device. Tap Updates (if available), and then update the YouTube app if it appears in the list.
4

Clear cache and data.

Clearing the cache and data for the YouTube app can help resolve issues with fullscreen mode. Navigate to and open Settings, then tap Apps, and then tap YouTube. Tap Storage, then tap Clear cache, and then tap Clear data. Tap Delete when prompted.
5

Restart your device.

Sometimes, simply restarting your device can help resolve issues with apps. Swipe down from the top right of the screen and tap the Power icon. Tap Restart, and then tap Restart again.
6

Check your settings, if applicable to your device.

Make sure that your device’s settings are not preventing fullscreen mode from working. Navigate to and open Settings, then tap Display, and then tap Full screen apps. Make sure YouTube is selected.
7

Try a different browser or app.

If you're using a web browser to access YouTube, try using the YouTube app instead. If you're using the YouTube app, try accessing YouTube through a different web browser.
8

Check for device compatibility.

Ensure that your device is compatible with YouTube's fullscreen mode. Some older devices may not support fullscreen mode.
9

Contact YouTube support.

If none of the above steps work, you can contact YouTube support for further assistance.
Recommended Articles
A Screen Overlay error appears on Samsung phone or tablet
A Screen Overlay error appears on Samsung phone or tablet
Screen Overlay is a function that allows apps to appear on the top of other apps. For example, some messaging apps may cause a chat bubble to appear in front of an open app, such as a browser.
 Software update failed on Galaxy phone or tablet
Software update failed on Galaxy phone or tablet
A software update can enhance the functionality, add new features and increase the security on your Galaxy phone or tablet. For the best experience it is highly recommended to keep your devices updated. If a software update doesn't install, or isn't available we can help.
 Unable to backup device to Samsung Cloud
Unable to backup device to Samsung Cloud
Samsung Cloud lets you sync and back up data from certain apps, like Samsung Notes, Calendar, and Reminders. If you are receiving error messages that syncing has failed, there are a few things you can check, such as your battery percentage, to fix the issue.
Was this content helpful?
We're here for you

Contact Samsung Support

Contact us online through chat and get support from an expert on your computer, mobile device or tablet. Support is also available on your mobile device through the Samsung Members App.
Get support
auto-contact_us-pc-2x auto-contact_us-pc-2x
flag
Go to site
  • Home Home
  • Support Support
  • Cannot use YouTube's fullscreen mode on your Galaxy phone or tablet Cannot use YouTube's fullscreen mode on your Galaxy phone or tablet