Is your YouTube video blurry? A Bug is causing low-resolution playback

YouTube videos and Shorts are automatically reduced to 144p, and the company is developing a fix.

Illustration: TechBird

For almost over a week, YouTube users have been experiencing a persistent low-resolution video issue across the platform – from standard videos to Shorts – on iOS mobile devices, desktops, and Smart TVs. Even users with strong internet connections report that video quality remains stubbornly low, often stuck at 144p or 360p. The media giant is finally investigating the bug causing this low-resolution playback.

Google's media platform, YouTube, has acknowledged the issue and confirmed they are actively working on a resolution. This bug is a serious concern for YouTube, as prolonged low-quality video playback negatively impacts user experience, potentially leading to a decline in audience engagement. Some users also report loading issues when attempting to switch to higher resolutions, despite having stable internet connections.

The company's statements offer hope that a fix for the low-resolution problem may be implemented within a few days. As YouTube stated in its community posts, "We're aware that some of you are experiencing lower-than-usual video quality when trying to watch Videos and Shorts." They further added, "Rest assured, we're actively looking into this!"

"We'll update this thread with new information as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience!" This statement indicates that users can expect an update with a fix shortly.

Please share the specific issues you are encountering in the comments below. We will keep you informed as soon as the fix is rolled out. Stay tuned for updates.