How to Watch 4K YouTube Videos on Your iPhone in Ultra HD Resolution

How frustrating is it to watch YouTube in 4K on your computer, Roku, or Amazon Fire Stick, only to settle for measly 1080p on your brand-new iPhone? For years, those of us on iOS had no option for streaming YouTube videos in full resolution, but these days, things are finally different.

If you’re still running iOS 13 or an older iOS version, you won’t see any 4K or 4K High Dynamic Range videos available in the YouTube app for iPhone unless they are films you rent or purchase. That’s because streaming and watching 4K and 4K HDR videos on YouTube is entirely new to iOS 14, Apple’s latest mobile operating system, which is currently in beta right now.

• Don’t Miss: 200+ New Features & Changes in iOS 14 for iPhone

Why Is 4K YouTube Only Available on iOS 14?

The reason why iOS 14 lets you watch 4K content on YouTube is that it adds support for Google’s VP9 video codec. A video codec is essentially a program that makes processing video possible. Apple uses one 4K codec for its services (H.265), and Google uses another (VP9).

That split is why we haven’t seen 4K or 4K HDR for YouTube beyond rentals and purchases on any of Apple’s products, including the YouTube app for iOS and Safari for iOS and macOS.

It’s a little surprising to see Apple cave in and add VP9 support for all of its devices. After all, this is the company that refused to add Flash support to iOS. But hey, if it means we get to watch higher resolution YouTube videos on the iPhone, I’m not complaining.

Not All 4K Is Equal

There are two main variants of 4K: regular 4K resolution and 4K HDR. The HDR aspect is the same resolution but has more information per pixel to create more vibrant images. In the YouTube app, you’ll see 2160p as 4K and 2160 HDR as 4K HDR (both of which are Ultra HD at 3840-by-2160 pixels).

Both types should play in the updated YouTube app for iOS 14. But it’s also worth mentioning that while YouTube on iOS 13 and older maxed out at 1080p for all videos, in iOS 14, in addition to 4K and 4K HDR, we’ve seen 1440p options (which is Quad HD). Given that the highest resolution iPhone model is 2688-by-1242 pixels, 1440p (2560 by 1440) is a solid option.

Playing 4K & 4K HDR Content on YouTube for iPhone

If you have an iPhone that’s compatible with YouTube’s 4K or 4K HDR, you just need to update to iOS 14 and update the YouTube app. Apple’s iOS 14 is in beta right now, but you can still download and install it on your iPhone.

• More Info: How to Download & Install iOS 14 on Your iPhone Right Now

With your iPhone running iOS 14 and an up-to-date YouTube app, streaming 4K content on YouTube is a breeze. Seriously. Just open the app, select a 4K or 4K HDR video, and tap the vertical ellipsis (three dots) in the top right of the video. Next, choose 2160p or 2160p HDR at any frame rate for Ultra HD. You can also choose the new 1440p or 1440p HDR as well for Quad HD.

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Cover image and GIF by Jake Peterson/Gadget Hacks