How to change the default video quality in YouTube on Android

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-default-video-quality-in-youtube-on-android/ · Checked October 2026 · build CP3A.261005.005 · Google Pixel 10a, Android 17

6 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

YouTube

Path

YouTube › You

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open YouTube settings

   Tap You at the bottom right, then the gear at the top right.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Video quality preferences

   It is the first row under Video and audio preferences.

   Done

3. 

   Choose the default quality

   Under Video quality on mobile networks and again under Video quality on Wi-Fi: Auto (recommended), Higher picture quality (Uses more data) or Data saver (Lower picture quality). Ours were both on Auto.

   Done

4. 

   Change it for one video

   Tap the video, the gear and Quality. Ours read Quality for current video · 480p, with Auto (recommended), Higher picture quality, Data saver and Advanced. A note at the bottom says the choice only applies to the current video.

   Done

5. 

   Or pick a resolution

   Advanced lists the resolutions the video offers: 2160p60 down to 144p for our test video. We tapped 1080p60.

   Done

6. 

   Check the result

   The Quality row in the player sheet now shows the choice, 1080p60 on ours.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• You also see Advanced YouTube says Advanced lets you pick a high resolution yourself, but it may not be available for every video. Source: Change the quality of your video (Android)
• 1080p or 4K is not offered YouTube says some high-quality formats are not available on every device, and a video recorded in standard definition has no HD version. Source: Change the quality of your video (Android)

If this does not work

• The quality still changes while you watch YouTube says Auto follows your connection speed and screen size, so the quality can change during a video. Choose Higher picture quality instead. Source: Change the quality of your video (Android)
• Videos take longer to start YouTube says Higher picture quality uses more data, so videos may start later or buffer more often. Data saver starts faster. Source: Change the quality of your video (Android)

About this guide

YouTube picks the quality for you, which can mean blurry video on a good connection or a lot of mobile data on a bad one.

The screenshots are from the YouTube app on our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in dark mode, signed out of YouTube. Other people's videos are blurred; ours is Big Buck Bunny from the Blender Foundation. We set the quality back to Auto afterwards.

Good to know

These choices set the default for all videos. You can still change the quality for a single video in the player.

In short: YouTube, You, gear, Video quality preferences: mobile and Wi-Fi. One video: player gear, Quality.

📷 See real photos from the Pixel 10a in our Camera Lab, next to 10 other phones.