Youtube playback stucked on 1080p resolution. Unable to change it

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Level 1

18 points

Youtube playback stucked on 1080p resolution. Unable to change it

Hi folks!

I have a very strange problem. I bought a new Macbook (2019 model, 15"), and migrated everything over from my old one (2009 model, 15"). The old was running El-Capitan (could not update anymore) and the new is updated from Mojave to Catalina.

Safari version 14.0

The problem only exist on Youtube and when logging in to my user account (Google user) and using Safari. I can log in to my user on another browser, and everything works. I can use Youtube without logging in and use Safari, and everything works. So I have no idea if the problem is related to my user, Safari browser or Youtube.

Everything did work as it should when using my old Macbook.

So, the problem is that Youtube videos are stucked on 1080p resolution. For many that might not be a problem, but for me it is since I have a mobile broadband with monthly usage limitations of 50GB. So I need to change the Youtube playback resolution down to 480p.

The only way I have found to change it, is to press the settings in the bottom right corner the video itself, and choose another resolution. But that is the problem here. Whatever resolution I choose, it will not change and is stucked on 1080p HD.

I have been looking for extensions that might could fix it, but haven't found any.

What I have tried to far is:

Deleting cache and website data
Deactivated extensions
Deactivated the adblocker
Looking for setting to change in my Google user
Opened Youtube in new Safari Window and also in private window
Loaded the page again without restrictions (from the developer menu)
Installed the Debug menu on Safari, but not used any of its features other than removing tab preview
And probably something else I can't remember right now.

So, is there anybody out there with a any idea of what I can try to fix the problem? I'm quite a Youtube addict, so I'm relatively desperate to get it fixed. Now I have to use two browsers, Safari and Opera at the same time. Youtube in Opera and everything else in Safari. That is not a good solution for the future. So it needs to be fixed in one way or another.

Maybe some Terminal command could do the trick?

Thanks to everyone in advance! :-)

Kind regards

Rune Thomassen

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 21, 2020 6:47 AM

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Answer 1

sam hill

Level 1

28 points

Oct 26, 2020 5:32 AM in response to R.Thomassen

Hello. Exact same problem, exact same mobile restraint, tried all the same work arounds as above, (OSX 10.13.6 MBP late 2011, all updates possible, inc Java, Flash). This started about 10 days ago before that all fine. Problem happens whether mobile tethered or using ISP wifi. Oddly, logging out of my youtube account allows for changing playback quality, problem is when logged in. Works fine in Chrome and FF logged in or out. In FF I can set my playback preferences which I set to 144p - there's a little youtube dock in FF that is missing in my safari for doing this. I checked the youtube debug (left click on screen) and got this below (I can post the entire log if asked. This stuff is beyond my understanding, but it appears my playback presence <"optimal_format": "144p",> is seen but not effected for some reason.

I'll repeat what the other person said, "So, is there anybody out there with a any idea of what I can try to fix the problem?" Thanks

"optimal_format": "144p",

"user_qual": "tiny",

"debug_videoId": "KGd1g6MVtV8",

"0sz": false,

"op": "",

"yof": true,

"dis": "",

"gpu": "Intel_HD_Graphics_3000_OpenGL_Engine",

"cgr": true,

"debug_playbackQuality": "hd1080",

"debug_date": "Mon Oct 26 2020 13:01:27 GMT+0100 (CET)"

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Answer 2

sam hill

Level 1

28 points

Oct 31, 2020 11:35 AM in response to sam hill

Problem went away, apparently on it's own, and I can now vary video quality again. I can only conclude it was a youtube issue affecting safari, at least 13.1.2. Youtube had changed something and then changed something again and fixed it. Nothing solved, nothing learned, oh well.

Reply

Answer 3

R.Thomassen Author

Level 1

18 points

Oct 31, 2020 2:28 PM in response to sam hill

Hi Sam!

I first thought, well, lucky you. I was 100% sure it had not disappeared on its own on my computer. So I went to Youtube and played a video, and WOW, it was functioning as normal!

Because of this error I have been using the Opera browser for Youtube and Safari for everything else. So I had not noticed anything.

Thank you so much for solving this issue! Or well, you did not solve it directly, Youtube did, but you told about it. Which I'm really grateful for. Now I can shut down Opera and start using Safari also for Youtube.

Thanks again!

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Youtube playback stucked on 1080p resolution. Unable to change it

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