This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

I consistently get the lowest possible quality on youtube videos by default and no changes i make help.

  • 7 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

For a while now whenever I watch something on youtube, including the ads, they will be in the worst possible quality by default, typically 144p. It will generally shift to at least 360p after 20 or so seconds, but not before. I have the youtube quality add-ons and they don't work. I've tried changing the youtube settings to never play in high quality, which works for a short time and then quits. Now my settings simply switch back despite me having saved them 50 times. No other video sites do this and it doesn't happen in any other browser. Nothing I do helps for any considerable length of time. Thanks for any help.

For a while now whenever I watch something on youtube, including the ads, they will be in the worst possible quality by default, typically 144p. It will generally shift to at least 360p after 20 or so seconds, but not before. I have the youtube quality add-ons and they don't work. I've tried changing the youtube settings to never play in high quality, which works for a short time and then quits. Now my settings simply switch back despite me having saved them 50 times. No other video sites do this and it doesn't happen in any other browser. Nothing I do helps for any considerable length of time. Thanks for any help.

All Replies (7)

more options

Reload the webpage while bypassing the cache using one of the following steps:

  • Hold down the Shift key and click the Reload button with a left click.

OR

  • Press Ctrl + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows and Linux)
  • Press Command + Shift + R (Mac)

Let us know if this solves the issues you are having.

more options

Thanks for the help. I'm still having no luck. I'll go ahead and mention that for the longest time the quality would change back right at 20 seconds, but for a little bit now that time has varied. Probably doesn't mean anything but I don't. I have tried fully reinstalling firefox a couple of times and still have the same problem. Can't think of what it is.

more options

This can be caused by corrupted cookies.

Clear the cache and the cookies from websites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

  • Firefox > Preferences > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

  • Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
more options

Well, I have tried this before without much good. As long as I have it set to never play high quality videos it works. This doesn't seem to matter since my settings keep being reset anyways. I have noticed though that regardless, if the video has HD options, it will default me to lowest quality no matter what. Thanks for the reply.

more options

Have you tried safe mode to see if a addon is affecting it?

more options

No but I started having the problems prior to getting the addons so I'm not sure that would be it. All the same, I'm going to try it in safe mode to see what happens.

more options

How fast is your internet connection?

It is possible that the Flash player notice that the connection isn't fast enough and steps down to lower quality.

Also make sure that you allow the plugin-container process in the firewall and your anti-virus software.

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.