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3 Fixes for YouTube Not Playing 4K Videos on Apple TV 4K

Quick Tips
  • Open YouTube > Settings > Quality > select 2160p to stream the video.
  • Open Settings > Video and Audio > Match Content > turn off Match Frame Rate and Match Dynamic Range.
  • Open Settings > System > Reset > confirm Reset.

Basic Fixes

  • Check your internet connection: YouTube lets you watch 4K content in Dolby Vision and HDR. Though the platform’s compression algorithm is great, you must ensure a good internet connection
  • Use HDMI 2.0 cable: To stream content in 4K resolution, you must have an HDMI 2.1 cable that offers a higher bandwidth of 18Gbps and a peak resolution of 3840 × 2160p @60fps (4K@60fps).
  • Update YouTube: Install the latest version of the YouTube app on your Apple TV 4K.
  • Update the tvOS version: Open Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software.

Fix 1: Check Video Quality Settings

While watching a video, YouTube can automatically improve the video resolution and bump it up to 2160p Ultra HD 4K. But if that is still not happening on your Apple TV 4K, check and manually switch to 4K resolution to watch your selected video. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open YouTube on your Apple TV 4K.

Step 2: Play a video. Then, select the Settings icon on the right side.

Step 3: Select Quality.

Step 4: Instead of Auto, select 2160p. The video should now start playing in 4K resolution.

Fix 2: Disable Match Content and Frame Rate

Many users complain that their TV screen goes black for the first five seconds of playing a YouTube video. This might happen due to the Match Content and Frame Rate settings being enabled for your TV. This can further impact the improvement of video quality on YouTube. So, we suggest disabling Match Content and Frame Rate to check if that solves the issue.

Step 1: Open Settings on your Apple TV 4K.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Video and Audio.

Step 3: Select Match Content.

Step 4: Turn off the option for Match Dynamic Range.

Note: You can keep Match Frame Rate enabled to watch YouTube content that is available at high-frame rates.

Step 5: Close Settings and open YouTube to check if the problem is solved.

Fix 3: Reset Apple TV 4K

This will remove all your content and preferences from Apple TV 4K. You can reinstall YouTube after setting up your Apple TV 4K to see if the problem is solved.

Open Settings > System > Reset > follow the on-screen instructions.

reset apple tv 4K

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Last updated on 02 July, 2024

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