youtube.com - see bug description

[webcompat-bot]

URL: https://youtube.com

Browser / Version: Floorp
Operating System: Windows 11
Tested Another Browser: Yes Firefox

Problem type: Something else
Description: Videos in a new tab take 5+ seconds to open on Firefox. When the useragent is changed to Chrome, the issue is instatly gone.
Steps to Reproduce:
When a video is opened in a new tab, it takes somewhere between 5-8 seconds to render the UI elements. Even with all extensions turned off the issue happened. Hence i changed the account to a different one and the issue disappeared, but the issue remained on my main account. I did not face the issue on other browsers i tested, namely Edge, Thorium and Vivaldi. So i used User Agent Switcher and Manager extension to change the User Agent of Floorp and Firefox to Chrome 118, and boom, the issue on my main account also disappeared

Browser Configuration

• None

From webcompat.com with ❤️

[kode54]

May also be worth testing whether this goes away if the browser is currently logged into a Google account subscribed to YouTube Premium. I have delays loading the main page, but nothing bordering on 5+ seconds. No delays loading videos, either. But I am subscribed to Premium. I also tested a Private Window, but didn't test with uBlock Origin loading in that configuration, so ads were able to load, without a page load delay.

[OafishWither69]

May also be worth testing whether this goes away if the browser is currently logged into a Google account subscribed to YouTube Premium. I have delays loading the main page, but nothing bordering on 5+ seconds. No delays loading videos, either. But I am subscribed to Premium. I also tested a Private Window, but didn't test with uBlock Origin loading in that configuration, so ads were able to load, without a page load delay.

I do not have an account with youtube premium so i sadly cannot test this out

[Wolterhon]

This is allegedly done by youtube on purpose given that this reddit comment is true

[gunir]

Additional information (/w video): https://old.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/17zdpkl/this_behaviour_from_google_is_beyond_disgusting/

https://v.redd.it/anhtjhh2we1c1/DASH_720.mp4

It happens even if:

• All adblock sources are disabled

Can be fixed by:

• Changing User-Agent
• Block with uBlock: www.youtube.com##+js(nano-stb, resolve(1), *, 0.001)

[pintassilgo]

For me, the uBO filter is not a proper fix. It lowers the delay, but the only way I know to revert to normal of instantly loading the video is by using Chrome User-Agent.

[gunir]

For me, the uBO filter is not a proper fix. It lowers the delay, but the only way I know to revert to normal of instantly loading the video is by using Chrome User-Agent.

Yeah, honestly this sucks, even if all adblocking sources are disabled it still happens, then what are they trying to do ? Using users as lab rat ?

[OafishWither69]

This is allegedly done by youtube on purpose given that this reddit comment is true

Yep, honestly i was baffled it even worked in the first place

[OafishWither69]

I managed to get some more information .The user-agent change is not a permanent fix. the Chrome user-agent change has become slow again, and changing the user-agent to the latest version of, well, Edge has fixed it. Honestly i have no clue how this works. This leads me to believe that this infact is not a browser issue but a massive bug/intentional piece of code in Youtubes code that slows down the website for you. Why? maybe its because im using uBlock Origin. Who knows, we wont know whats causing this till youtube responds to the issue. Here's the update thread I have added a video demonstrating it

[Karbust]

I tested YouTube on my side with Firefox 119.0.1 (64-bit) and have no such issue.

I'm not even logged in with my Premium account (or any account), so it maybe has some regional restrictions (based in Portugal)?

I don't have an adblocker enabled (uBlock Origin is installed) and I also disabled my Pi-hole instance.

[kode54]

Ah, yeah, I need to clarify. The private page I tested, it had uBlock Origin disabled, as per the default for private tabs, but I have AdGuard Home serving as my LAN's DNS.

[06000208]

I believe the intentional delay by youtube was aimed at adblock users, and part of their anti adblock code, rather than users of firefox.

[sv-calin]

I've tested on both Windows 10 and 11 and I'm unable to reproduce this issue, if it loads slower its probably because of my device (loads the same on Chrome).

yt.mp4

Tested on:
• Browser / Version: Firefox Nightly 122.0a1 (2023-11-23) / Firefox Release 120 / Chrome 119.0.6045.124
• Operating System: Windows 10/11

Suggestions:
• Clear cache/data/cookies, disable Ad-blocker (if available), or use a clean profile and check again
• If there are any changes made to the default settings of the browser (e.g. in about:config), please revert to the default settings

How to create a new profile:

1. Open a new tab
2. Type in the address bar "about:profiles"
3. Press "Enter"
4. Click on "Create a New Profile"
5. Click "Next"
6. Name your profile
7. Click "Finish"
8. Head to your newly created profile
9. Click "Launch profile in new browser"

Note: You can return to your old profile at any given time by accessing "about:profiles" in the address bar

[qa_47/2023]

[Wolterhon]

I think it's cause you don't have the latest youtube feature-set or whatever. They have this thing on chrome where they split people into a lot of subcategories and test features on a portion of users first. I think this attitude more or less applies to youtube: I always get new features and design changes last (if I ever get them at all), it's usually tied to my account cause when I switch to an incognito, I may get a different page layout and the second I log in in that same incognito mode tab, it gets reverted back to what I have in my non-incognito browser window. And coincidentally I don't have this issue.

[sv-calin]

Based on what I've seen so far it might affect only the users with an adblocker installed. Personally I don't experience that with uBlock Origin.

Note: Normally In incognito mode the add-ons are not active, unless allowed in the extension settings

I'd suggest you try on a new profile (without importing any data) as shown above.

[inv_47/2023]

[denschub]

This change has been rolled back by YouTube.