4 Ways to Fix YouTube Quality Unavailable on iOS and Android

Quick Tips

• If you’re watching a downloaded video, you won’t be able to change the quality. You will have to delete it from downloads.
• Try changing the quality to Auto if can’t play the video in the selected quality.
• Update or re-install the YouTube app to get rid of corrupted files causing the issue.

Basic Fixes

• Check Internet Connectivity: Ensure your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network or cellular data with good signal strength and an active plan.
• Update YouTube App: Update the YouTube app from the Play Store or App Store for a bug-free experience.
• Reinstall YouTube: If you face persistent issues with the app, this may be due to a few corrupted files, and reinstalling it will help you fix the issue.

Fix 1: Check and Delete if the Video is Downloaded

If you have downloaded a video on YouTube, it is saved to your offline library at a specific set resolution. Therefore when you try changing the resolution, you may encounter the Quality Unavailable issue.

Step 1: Tap on Library and select Downloads to check if the video is downloaded.

Step 2: Tap on the three dots icon next to the video. Tap on Delete From Downloads.

Fix 2: Turn off Smart Downloads

Smart Downloads automatically saves videos offline based on your viewing history. Therefore, this is also related to the previous fix since it downloads videos to your library.

Step 1: Tap on the Profile Picture icon, and go to Settings.

Step 3: Tap on Background & downloads. Turn off the toggle for Smart downloads.

Also Read: How to fix can’t post comments on YouTube videos and shorts

Fix 3: Modify Quality Controls on YouTube

If you have set your viewing quality to a specific resolution, there is a chance that the video is not playable in that resolution. Try setting the quality to ‘Auto’ and then play the video again.

Step 1: Tap on the video you are watching. Tap on the Settings icon.

Step 2: Tap on the Quality option. Select Auto. The quality will change depending on the internet’s strength and speed.

Fix 4: Clear Cache

You can clean up the junk within an application by clearing the cache. Once there is a lot of accumulated cache, it might lead to a few junk files that execute bugs, responsible for the problem.

On iPhone

Offloading an application on your iPhone removes temporary data, including cache and junk files. However, it maintains all the other essential data, such as your sign-in information, in-app downloads and purchases, etc.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on General > iPhone Storage

Step 2: Scroll down, select the YouTube app, and tap on Offload App. Tap on the Offload App once again to confirm.

Step 3: Now, tap on Reinstall App.

On Android

Step 1: Long-press the YouTube app icon and select the info button. Once you are on the App info page, tap on Clear data.

Step 2: Now, select Clear cache and tap OK to confirm.