YouTube Music Error Code 5: How to Fix It

Easy 10-20 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
5
Brand
YouTube Music
Product Type
music_streaming
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
10-20 minutes
YouTube Music Error Code 5 appears when the app's Smart Downloads feature fails to refresh or update your offline playlist automatically. This typically happens due to connectivity issues, corrupted cache data, outdated app versions, or restrictive battery/background app settings on your device. While this is a medium-severity issue that won't stop you from streaming, it does prevent your downloaded music library from staying up to date for offline listening.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code 5

  1. Check Your Internet Connection

  2. Verify Smart Downloads Are Enabled

  3. Check Download Preferences and Storage

  4. Disable Battery Optimization for YouTube Music

  5. Clear the YouTube Music App Cache

    Clearing the cache will not delete your account data or subscriptions, but you may need to re-download your offline music after this step.

  6. Update the YouTube Music App

  7. Sign Out and Sign Back In

  8. Uninstall and Reinstall YouTube Music

    Uninstalling the app will remove all locally downloaded music. You will need a Wi-Fi connection to re-download your Smart Downloads library after reinstalling.
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When to Call a Professional

YouTube Music Error Code 5 is almost always resolvable through the steps above without professional help. However, if the error persists after reinstalling the app, clearing cache, and checking all settings, the issue may be on YouTube Music's server side. In that case, visit the Google One support page or the YouTube Music Help Center at support.google.com/youtubemusic to submit a support ticket. You can also check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard or DownDetector to see if there is a known outage affecting Smart Downloads for all users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does YouTube Music Error Code 5 mean?
Error Code 5 on YouTube Music indicates that the Smart Downloads feature has failed to refresh or update your offline music library. It is typically caused by a poor internet connection, background app restrictions, insufficient storage, a corrupted cache, or an outdated version of the app.
Why are my YouTube Music Smart Downloads not refreshing?
Smart Downloads may not refresh if your device's battery optimization settings are blocking background activity, if you are not connected to Wi-Fi and your settings restrict downloads to Wi-Fi only, if your device is low on storage space, or if the app cache has become corrupted. Work through each of these potential causes systematically using the steps in this guide.
Will clearing the YouTube Music cache delete my downloaded songs?
Yes, clearing the app cache on Android can remove locally stored downloaded tracks, so you may need to re-download your Smart Downloads library afterward over a Wi-Fi connection. On iOS, offloading or reinstalling the app will also remove locally stored music. Your account, playlists, and subscription are not affected.
Does YouTube Music Smart Downloads work on mobile data?
By default, YouTube Music Smart Downloads are set to only refresh over Wi-Fi to avoid large data charges. You can change this in the app under Settings > Downloads and allow downloads over mobile data, but be aware this may consume a significant amount of your mobile data plan depending on how many tracks are queued.
How many songs does YouTube Music Smart Downloads keep offline?
YouTube Music Smart Downloads typically keeps around 500 songs available offline, though the exact number can vary based on your listening history and available device storage. The feature automatically swaps out songs you haven't listened to recently for newer or more frequently played tracks.

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