Google has acknowledged an issue affecting video playback quality for users of the YouTube app on iOS devices.
Many YouTube users on iOS, including iPhone and iPad owners, have reported that video playback is severely degraded, with videos often loading in just 144p even when their internet connection is robust. This results in a less than satisfactory viewing experience.
According to a post on its Community Help forums, Google has confirmed it is aware of this situation and is actively investigating. The company has noted that desktop and smart TV users may also be experiencing similar issues, though reports for these platforms appear to be less prevalent than those from iOS users.
Google elaborates:
We’re aware that some users are encountering lower than expected video quality when attempting to view Videos and Shorts.
Here are the issues you might be experiencing:
- YouTube streaming at 144p or 360p despite having a strong internet connection
- Buffering issues when trying to shift to a higher quality
- The quality of videos may be affected on iOS mobiles, desktops, or Smart TVs
Please rest assured, we’re actively looking into this matter!
Over 2,000 comments have emerged on the post from users affected by this issue, highlighting its widespread nature. Numerous threads on Reddit in recent days indicate that many more users are also facing this problem.
While there is currently no fix available, Google has mentioned that it will update the post as “new information” comes to light.
Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below if you’ve encountered this issue.
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