I would like to request the implementation of an option that allows users to set separate maximum playback quality limits for YouTube when using mobile data and when using Wi-Fi.
The current “High Quality” setting is helpful because it automatically selects the highest available quality. However, I often encounter issues specifically with 4K videos. On fast networks and newer devices this may not be noticeable, but in my environment, 4K playback causes loading delays and consumes more battery than I prefer.
If this feature were implemented, the maximum playback quality could automatically switch depending on whether the user is on mobile data or Wi-Fi. I believe this would greatly help users tailor playback to their own needs.
For example, someone watching YouTube while out on mobile data could set a maximum of 480p to save data, choose 720p to balance quality and data usage, or set a higher limit if data consumption is not a concern.
Similarly, while on Wi-Fi, users could set 1080p as the limit if they prioritize smooth playback and battery life, or select 2160p if they want to enjoy highly detailed videos on an iPad or an external monitor. (As a side note, I personally think that on smartphones and tablets, choosing a resolution above 1080p hardly improves the viewing experience unless the video is displayed full-screen and scaled up.)
I understand that I have made a similar request in the past, so posting this topic again may not be ideal. Nonetheless, I have strongly hoped for this feature for a long time, which is why I decided to submit this request once more
@JayMin62desu just to make sure, are you referencing Highest Quality Playback which is in Settings → Media?
Click this and you will see three options:
On
Allow over Wi-Fi
Off
This should result similar to what you want overall. Maybe not to set the specific quality in itself, but enough to manage overall quality over data type.
Yes, I’m referring to that. Since I’m translating from Japanese, I might not be expressing it perfectly.
I’ve tried this several times in the past as well. It’s not bad, but I don’t feel it provides the best experience.
With YouTube’s automatic quality setting, for example, even if I set one video to 1080p, the next video might drop to 360p, so it often feels unstable.
Because of that, Highest Quality Playback, which automatically selects the best quality without me having to set it manually each time, has been extremely helpful.
It might be asking for too much as a feature, but I requested it because I feel it would be very convenient to have.
I think I understand what you’re saying. To confirm what I understand, your computer cannot handle the highest available stream, perhaps bandwidth or spec wise, but you aren’t asking for 360p as a solution (which I agree, a different max would be better.).
YouTube used to have a section to control this (and if you wanted AV1 or not) but they seem to have sadly eliminated that.
This is an old Chrome extension which might work for you specific situation, only because H.264 YouTube has no such 4k option, only 1080p maximum.
This extension forces YouTube to only use H.264. I have no idea if it still works though as I have no need to test it or use it anymore (I once had a first gen i7 Nehalem laptop which absolutely needed this extension, but that was 5 years ago now). It might help work limit the max quality in YouTube, merely by forcing an older codec perhaps?
It’s a workaround than a proper fix, but one that might achieve the result you are after.
@MasterLink just FYI, they have this labeled as iOS which would be iPad or iPhone. As such, extension wouldn’t be possible. But good to know otherwise.
Appears some editing has happened. Initially they had iOS in the subject, then removed it.
Perhaps we need to reconfirm what this device is, because they changed the title, and now I’m wondering if I had seen this on a different category. Explaining how I responded to an iOS question.
@MasterLink
I’m sorry that the title ended up being confusing.
I changed it not to say something broad like “Highest quality playback on iOS Brave,” but to better explain what I’m actually requesting to be implemented.
If my memory is correct, I created the topic by following the path “Brave Feature Requests” → “iOS Requests.”
As I understand it, this feature is specific to the iOS (iPadOS) version — though it might exist on other OS versions of Brave — and my request is about that particular feature.
The devices I’m focusing on in this topic are those running iOS and iPadOS.
Yea after thinking it over and talking with @Saoiray in a private message, it’s clear you put it in the right spot, but over here the community wasn’t loading quite right. I had to clear my own browser cache, and so far it seems to have fixed it. So it wasn’t you. It presented itself incorrectly on my side.
I may have worked at Apple some years ago, but I’m not familiar with iOS personally since 7, nor Brave’s iOS port, so I’ll leave it to someone who does.
Explaining how I responded to an iOS question.
