YouTube on Apple TV won’t play 4K HDR
YouTube uses VP9 and AV1 for 4K HDR. On Apple TV, HDR playback depends on tvOS, app support, and a stable HDMI path. If you are stuck at 1080p or SDR, walk through these steps.
Verify the stream and account
- Check the video resolution options
While playing, swipe down and look for 2160p HDR. If only 1080p appears, your connection or device capability is limited. - Use the latest Apple TV 4K
Older Apple TVs do not support VP9 Profile 2 or AV1 for HDR.
- Update the YouTube app and tvOS
Install pending updates to ensure HDR codecs are available.
HDMI setup for 4K HDR
- Connect to the TV’s 4K/120 or eARC port
Use a certified HDMI 2.1 cable and avoid HDMI switches while testing. - Run Check HDMI Connection on Apple TV
Verify 4K HDR passes the test. If it fails, swap cables or ports. - Set Apple TV to 4K SDR default
Keep Match Dynamic Range/Frame Rate ON so YouTube triggers HDR only when needed, reducing handshake failures.
YouTube app specifics
- Restart the app after changing video settings
Force quit YouTube, then reopen to refresh codec negotiation. - Disable stats overlays while testing
They can slightly impact performance. Check stats only after you think HDR is working. - Try another HDR clip
Some uploads are mislabeled. Use a known HDR test video to verify.
Network requirements
- Bandwidth
4K HDR needs roughly 25 Mbps sustained. Use Ethernet if Wi‑Fi is marginal. - Reduce congestion
Pause large downloads and ensure the Apple TV is on the 5 GHz or Wi‑Fi 6 band.
- Avoid VPNs/Smart DNS
They can affect available bitrates or regional codec availability.
Picture settings on the TV
- Use HDR-optimized picture mode
Choose Cinema/Filmmaker for HDR and keep local dimming on High. - Turn off motion smoothing for tests
It can cause stutter that feels like buffering. - Check tone mapping
If colors look washed out, toggle Dynamic Tone Mapping or HDR10+ options to see which is accurate for YouTube content.
Scenario example: 4K HDR missing after adding a receiver
You add a receiver and YouTube videos drop to 1080p SDR. Connecting Apple TV directly to the TV’s HDMI 1 (4K120) with a certified cable restores 4K HDR. After setting the receiver’s HDMI Out to 8K/Enhanced and using a certified cable to the TV, 4K HDR returns while keeping receiver audio.
Advanced diagnostics
- Check AV1 setting
Some beta builds add AV1 toggles. If performance stutters, disable AV1 and rely on VP9 Profile 2. - Try fixed frame rate
If your TV struggles with frequent refresh changes, temporarily disable Match Frame Rate and test at 60Hz. - Reduce chroma
Set Chroma to 4:2:0 to lower bandwidth during testing.
Recommended gear for this fix
When to suspect hardware limits
- TVs or receivers without HDR10/Dolby Vision support will never show HDR from YouTube; the app will serve SDR instead.
- Older Apple TV models (HD/4th gen) cannot decode VP9 HDR; upgrading hardware is required.