The experience of watching videos on YouTube becomes even better when we do not have to manually change the video quality every time. On Android devices, we can easily set our preferred default video quality within the YouTube app itself, which not only saves data but also keeps the video playback smooth.
In this article, we will explain in detail how to set the default quality of YouTube videos on Android phones, so that your viewing experience becomes more comfortable and friendly than before.
Benefits of setting the default video quality in the YouTube app
Data savings: Playing high-quality videos every time can drain data quickly. This can be controlled by setting the default quality.
Battery consumption is reduced: Playing videos in high quality drains the phone’s battery faster.
Relief from buffering: The buffering problem is reduced on a low network connection.
Convenience from automatic settings: No need to change the quality again and again.
How to set default video quality in the YouTube app – Step-by-step guide
1. Open the YouTube app and tap on the profile icon
First of all, open the YouTube app on your Android device. Then tap on the profile icon in the top right corner.
2. Select the Settings option
After tapping on profile, select the “Settings” option from the menu that opens.
3. Go to the Data Saving and Video Quality preferences section
Now inside the settings, tap on the option “Data saving” or “Video quality preferences”.
> On some devices, this option will be directly shown as “Video quality preferences”, while on some you have to tap on “Data saving” first.
4. Enter “Video quality preferences”
Here you will see two main options:
Default quality for Wi-Fi
Default quality for mobile data
Different qualities can be set for both.
5. Choose the quality you want
You will see the following options:
Auto: Depends on the network and device.
Higher picture quality: Better quality but more data usage.
Data saver: Lower quality but less data usage.
Here you can set the quality as per your convenience. If you want to watch HD videos always then choose “Higher picture quality”, and if your data is limited then it is better to choose “Data saver”.
Set custom video quality for a specific video
Although the above method sets the default quality, the quality can be changed even while watching a specific video.
To change the quality of a video:
1. Play the video.
2. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner.
3. Select the “Quality” option.
4. Then manually select the quality, like 144p, 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p etc.
Additional options for YouTube Premium users
If you are a YouTube Premium user, you can get some additional advanced quality settings. It offers options like HDR quality and higher FPS support.
YouTube video quality settings not working? Learn the solution
If you have set the quality but YouTube is still running on auto quality, then do the following:
1. Update the app
This problem may occur if you have an older version. Update the YouTube app from the Play Store.
2. Clear the cache
> Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear Cache
After clearing, open the app again and check the settings.
3. Check the network connection
YouTube may run low quality on its own on weak networks.
Useful tips for YouTube video quality control
If you are using Wi-Fi, choose High quality.
If you want a different quality every time, leave it on Auto.
The Data saver option is best for kids or for data-limited plans.
If you have more storage and prefer to watch offline, download in HD.
How to set default video download quality
1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select the “Downloads” option.
4. From there, go to “Video quality” and set the default download quality.
Conclusion
Setting default video quality on YouTube is a simple but very useful process. It not only improves the video experience but also saves data and battery. By following the steps mentioned above, you can easily set the video quality as per your requirement on Android devices.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – About YouTube’s default video quality setting on Android
Q1: Can I set the default video quality permanently in the YouTube app?
A:
Yes, you can set different default video quality for both Wi-Fi and mobile data by going to the YouTube app settings. But sometimes YouTube can also switch to auto quality depending on the network condition or device.
Q2: Will setting the default quality affect the quality of video downloads?
A:
No, video streaming quality and download quality are set separately. For downloads, you have to go to the “Downloads” section and choose the quality separately.
Q3: Why does YouTube change the video quality to Auto repeatedly?
A:
YouTube’s automatic quality setting automatically increases or decreases the quality according to the network speed and device performance. If the network is weak, it goes to a lower quality, even if you have selected High quality in the default settings.
Q4: Do default quality settings apply to all videos?
Answer:
In most cases, this setting applies to all videos, but sometimes some videos have already limited quality (such as videos uploaded in older or lower resolution). In such videos, if your selected quality is not available, YouTube shows the maximum available quality of that video.
Q5: Is there better control over video quality in YouTube Premium?
Answer:
Yes, YouTube Premium users get some additional options like HDR, more FPS and streaming in higher quality, but the default quality settings are available to all users.
Q6: What to do if YouTube settings are not working?
Answer:
Update the app.
Clear the cache: Settings > Apps > YouTube > Storage > Clear Cache
Check the network.
Check YouTube by logging out and logging in again.
Question 7: Can we set different default quality for different user accounts on the same device?
Answer:
Yes, YouTube settings are different for each Google account. If you have multiple accounts on your Android device, you will need to set the settings for each account separately.