When watching a video on YouTube in your web browser or from your smartphone app, the display quality is very variable. Don’t settle for random service choices and fix it once and for all.
Videos on YouTube come in a variety of display qualities. The definitions thus vary from 144p (256 x 144 pixels) to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) and even 8K (7680 x 4320 pixels). And, if you haven’t been careful, chances are the default setting is set to… Auto. In other words, the app or web service through the browser decides for itself the quality in which it presents the desired video. However, its selection criteria remain rather vague. With the mobile app, we can understand that the definition chosen is not necessarily the best. A video displayed in a higher quality requires more data and risks draining your data plan. On a computer connected to the home network via WiFi or Ethernet, however, the choice remains incomprehensible. By default, the definition used often amounts to 480p (640 x 480 pixels). This is very little, especially since neither the speed of the Internet connection nor the definition of the screen seem to be taken into account to retain such low quality. Of course, anyone can modify this choice for better results. But rather than acting piecemeal, avoid superfluous manipulations by asking YouTube to show you, from the outset, the display quality that suits you, both on your smartphone and on your computer. While no app is needed on mobile to accomplish this, there is no option to save such a setting to the website for playback in a web browser. Fortunately, a free extension is enough to achieve this.
How to change the display quality of YouTube?
Changing the display quality of a YouTube video displayed in your web browser or mobile app takes seconds.
On a web browser.
► View the video you want to watch in YouTube. At the bottom right of the window, click the toothed wheel. In the pop-up menu, click Quality.
► Depending on the choices made by the owner of the video, several display qualities are offered. Choose the one that suits you.
On smartphones
► From the YouTube app on Android or iOS, navigate to the video you want to watch. Briefly press the image and then the toothed wheel which is displayed at the top right.
► In the pop-up menu, tap Quality (automatic).
► You can immediately choose the mode High quality which corresponds to the maximum definition or choose more precisely the desired definition. In this case, press Advanced Where advanced settings.
► The various display qualities are displayed. Choose the one that suits you.
How do I remember the default display quality for videos in YouTube?
Do you want to fix the display quality of videos presented in YouTube once and for all? You can easily do this on your mobile directly from the app. On the other hand, with a web browser on a computer, you will need an extension.
On computer with Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
► Open your browser then install the free extension Auto HD/4k/8k for YouTube™ – YouTube™ Auto HD.
► The extension then takes place in the Chrome toolbar, at the top right of the window. Click on it. In the menu that unfolds, all that remains is to choose your preferred definition for the videos displayed in YouTube.
► As soon as a video starts playing in YouTube, it will show up in the chosen quality. If it is only available in a resolution lower than your choice, the quality will settle on the best possible.
On computer with Firefox
► Open Firefox then install the free extension YouTube Hi Definition.
► Open the video you wish to watch on YouTube then click on the HD icon which has taken place in the toolbar of Firefox at the top right of the window. In the menu that unfolds, click on the drop-down menu Video Quality and choose the default definition that suits you. It will apply to all videos played in YouTube. Note that if you choose Hiresthe best available quality will always be selected.
On Android or iOS smartphone
► Launch the YouTube app then press your avatar icon at the top right of the screen.
► In the menu that appears, tap Settings.
► Then press the option Video Quality Preferences.
► Press Via the mobile network.
► Now set the desired image quality when watching a YouTube video while connected to the mobile network. Also set your preference when connected to a WiFi network. Your choices will now be applied by default.
