YouTube Battles Widespread Low-Quality Video Playback on iOS Devices

YouTube Investigating Low Quality Video Playback Issues on iOS

Overview:

YouTube is currently investigating a widespread issue causing low-quality video playback for users of its app on iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. Despite having strong internet connections, many users are experiencing videos loading in 144p resolution, significantly degrading the viewing experience.

Affected Devices and Platforms:

• iOS Mobile: iPhone and iPad
• Desktop: Some reports suggest that desktop users might also be affected, though fewer in number.
• Smart TV: A small number of Smart TV users have reported similar issues.

Google's Response:

Google has acknowledged the problem on its Community Help forums, stating that they are actively working to resolve it. Users are experiencing the following symptoms:

• Videos streaming at 144p or 360p resolution even with a strong internet connection.
• Buffering issues when attempting to switch to higher quality settings.

User Feedback:

Over 2,000 comments have been posted on Google's forum, and numerous threads on Reddit confirm the widespread nature of the issue. Users are eager for a solution and are sharing their experiences in various online communities.

Next Steps:

Google has assured users that they will update the community post with new information as it becomes available. No fix is currently in place, but the company is actively investigating the problem.