Apple 4kTV and YouTube 4k

I've also just looked on my PC and that gives me the option of playing in 4k see first screen shot:

This screen shot is of my TV downstairs that shows the same video again roughly same point and that has the 4k option:

The third screen shot is roughly the same point in the same video viewed on my apple tv using the you tube app within the apple tv and that shows that the highest resolution that I can choose is 1440p not 4K this is what I am trying to fathom out:

Then lastly this next screen shot shows the 4k and in some instances an 8k option to watch content in. That's the little symbol next to the number of views. You'll notice that the 12k video on the right says 'watch this 12k content' but only has an 8k option. That shows that this footage is downscaled to 8k as youtube cannot upscale or show 12k content.

Well that’a made no difference whatsoever not that I thought it would. Tried 3 different cables a 0.5m a 1m and the 2 meter one that I just got. Made no difference at all and to be honest didn’t think it would. Back to the drawing board. Anyone else have any suggestions. It feels like it might be a bug or software issue rather than hardware. I could be wrong of course but seems strange that it would play some in 4k and not others?

So as requested here are a few links of YouTube videos that are said to be in 4k but my Apple TV only has the option of playing them in 1440p no option to select 4k and also I’m not sure if it’s playing them in Dolby vision or HDR if that is an option.

https://youtu.be/0Uva5-rdiYQ?si=khhCkxhqBAk-BIPO

https://youtu.be/5b9KkCL2Y4A?si=ft2qoHpIeBs8FwKW

https://youtu.be/1t9ysmraIMc?si=bKfOjdTFSuEZYIhd

https://youtu.be/3wJ-zJy0M2k?si=RaTKE2STAD90GIRT

if anyone can watch these and let me know if they have 4k as an option in their settings menu and quality within the YouTube/e app within Apple TV.

With all due respect I feel you may have just contradicted yourself. You say about being natively shot in 4k and then talk about 720P. Your upper picture is showing that your system defaults to showing you 720p content and your download option as you show a download section is either not set to max or is set to auto when attempting to download content.

Your second picture clearly shows that 2160p60 is an option for you to select. (4k 60 fps) This indicated that the content is available in 4k (whether that be upscaled or not, 4k is still an option for you) and to select this option to view in 4k. Just because your system defaults to show you content in 720p does not mean it is natively shot in 720p and the system is upscaling. This is shown in the stats for nerds section, if upscaling is happening)

If content is made by a creator and is shot on a device that is recording in 4k then once the upload is complete to YouTube baring some compression the content you eventually view, so long as your system can handle it will broadcast in 4k.

4k content is indicated by the grey 4k symbol on 4k videos when using the apple tv or a smart tv using the youtube app. This little 4k symbol is not shown on mobile devices as they handle content differently to TV's or apple tv.

Hi @bgmeek,

To answer your questions in order

1) I am using the YouTube app within the Apple TV App Store downloaded and signed into my YouTube account within the Apple TV.

2) First off by checking the quality section in the settings menus within the app and looking at resolution which only shows 1440p as being the max I can choose and not 4k but also clicking the stats for nerds button within the app which brings up those stats and it shows the video is presented in 4k but I am watching at 1440p. I’ll try and put a screen shot up for reference if I can.

3) again as above within settings menus and resolution/quality then selecting 4k. I can do this in all other devices I own just not my Apple TV

that tells me that there is an issue with my Apple TV rather than an issue with the video as all other devices with play the content as expected and at the resolution the creator intended it to be watched at subject to your own equipment etc etc.

Whilst I appreciate your input the length of the HDMI in this instance is not the issue. The cable purchased from Currys, who’s blurb is: 8k hdmi 2.1 cable is complies with the HDMI 2.1 standard and is the highest version currently in the world. Compared with the previous version hdmi 2.0, its transmission speed has made a qualitative leap, directly from 18Gbps to 48Gbps.

When using this cable with my Xbox for example never misses a beat. Now I know I could just use my Xbox, but I have an Apple TV that I wish to use to watch 4k content. I don’t think I’m asking too much here!

Thanks for your feedback @bgmeek. My issue is that watching content in 4k is visually pleasing as it offers better quality viewing than 1440p. I get that this is a first world issue and I could just ignore it and enjoy the content at whatever resolution it’s at.

However there is no rhyme nor reason that I can find for some 4k produced content playing at 4k resolution and other 4k produced content only playing at 1440p with no option in the menu to select 4k so that video is stuck at playing at 1440p, however if I play that same content through my tv’s YouTube app I have the 4k option every time no matter which video I choose, if 4k is an option I’ll have it through my tv but not through Apple TV. Now I hear you say then just use your tv however apple has Dolby vision and my TV does not. (Oh and I have tried turning Dolby vision off and trying this. Same results). Also matched content and matched frame rate are both off.

The whole reason for this post was in case I had a hardware issue for example that was affecting others or it was a bug with YouTube or something else. Just an irritation really.

Thanks for your feedback though appreciated.

I know how this works! The point I am trying to make is that a video that is supposed to be 4k viewable does not have that option on my appleTV within settings on some videos. Not all. It seems to be a random thing and just didn't know if I had a fault or a bug.