If you’ve been watching YouTube videos in full-screen mode lately and noticed an unexpected horizontal scroll bar creeping along the bottom of your screen, you’re not alone. Over the past few weeks, users across Chrome, Edge, and other browsers have reported this glitch, which disrupts the viewing experience by adding an unsightly bar that won’t disappear. The issue seems to pop up randomly, even on devices where it never happened before.
One user on Reddit described the problem, saying, “A bottom scrollbar just appears when I full screen it in Chrome, any fix?” Others echoed the frustration, with one adding, “It is honestly so damn annoying.” The scroll bar tends to appear regardless of screen resolution or zoom settings, though some found temporary relief by adjusting their browser window size. As one person noted, “I can size my page to 80% to avoid this, but it makes the page look quite bad.”
Here’s a screenshot of the issue for reference:
A potential solution gaining traction involves tweaking a hidden browser setting. Several users recommended navigating to chrome://flags (or the equivalent flags page for Edge or Brave), searching for “overlay scrollbars,” and enabling the feature. After restarting the browser, this change replaces the traditional scrollbar with a thinner, less intrusive version that disappears when not in use. One user on Google’s support forums shared, “Enable overlay scrollbars. This won’t fully fix the problem, but this way you won’t have an annoying scrollbar blocking your video.”
Not everyone has found this method perfect, but many confirmed it reduces the issue. One user replied, “Thank you so much finally that annoying horizontal scroll bar went away in full screen.” Others suggested additional steps like clearing the browser cache, updating to the latest version, or disabling extensions, though results varied.
YouTube’s support team initially pointed users toward basic troubleshooting, such as checking display settings or updating software. When asked about the scroll bar, TeamYouTube responded, “This might be YouTube’s chapter & seeking feature,” though users clarified the problem was unrelated. Some speculate the glitch stems from recent updates to browsers or YouTube’s interface, but no official cause has been confirmed.
For those still struggling, switching browsers or profiles sometimes helps, but it’s hardly a convenient fix. As one person noted, “The same Chrome profile with restrictions will encounter the issue on different computers.” Until YouTube or browser developers address the bug, enabling overlay scrollbars remains the most reliable workaround.
If the scrollbar persists, combining the flags tweak with cache-clearing steps might offer fuller relief. Let us know if the workarounds shared above helped you fix the problem.
Dwayne Cubbins
730 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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