Why can I not watch an hdr YouTube video at 4k on my Xbox 1 S?

RichardQuinlivan · Sep 11, 2023

I recently got a 4k tv and have been using it with my xbox 1 S and I was wanted to watch some hdr video on it. I noticed that on youtube, I can't select an hdr video resolution of more than 1440p. I can select 4k when a video is not hdr, but when it is hdr, it doesn't seem to allow it.

Does anyone know why? I bought an hdmi 2.1 cable specially to avoid this problem, so I'm not sure what could be going on other than a software thing. Is there another app I can check to see if it is the cable or just Youtube? Netflix, (hbo) max, and hulu all don't give me the option to select a resolution. Although they do pop up the hdr10/dolby vision logo when appropriate.

I'm 99% sure it should be able to handle it since the ports are hdmi 2.0a, but at this point I'm stumped.

:)

olderthanthehil

I've started having this issue on my Xbox one x , non Scorpio edition . Watching GN will do it and also Tech Yes City (but his is 30p @4k) . Watching the same videos on my S (the 30p ones play in 4k) , I will not get this issue . I'll watch to see what
the VP9 is it to see if it's the same . YouTube updated it's app on my Hisense 4k HDR10 tv & either they removed the HDR support or Hisense did . I no longer have HDR on it , yet the signal shows VP9.2 (which should be HDR) . All my issues seemed to occur
at the same time , which makes me think it's YouTube messing around .

SwordofWhedon

As this is only happening with YouTube you would have to ask them, as they are the ones who can answer questions about their app, and patch any problems with it

RichardQuinlivan

Do you know where I can find this list? All I was able to find were some articles and reddit posts from a few years ago

ngocphi

If I remember correctly only certain devices support 4k YouTube app

You have to.check YouTube's lists

FreakRoach

I've started having this issue on my Xbox one x , non Scorpio edition . Watching GN will do it and also Tech Yes City (but his is 30p @4k) . Watching the same videos on my S (the 30p ones play in 4k) , I will not get this issue . I'll watch to see
what the VP9 is it to see if it's the same . YouTube updated it's app on my Hisense 4k HDR10 tv & either they removed the HDR support or Hisense did . I no longer have HDR on it , yet the signal shows VP9.2 (which should be HDR) . All my issues seemed to occur
at the same time , which makes me think it's YouTube messing around .

It's definitely has to do with the updates to YouTube app. Google is migrating away from HEVC and adopting VP9 due to licensing issues and VP9 is open source. I think Google needs to update the YouTube apps on different devices to support VP9 in better manner.
Also, as I mentioned before, Google is deliberately throttling bitrate of YouTube videos on some devices, but we don't know what devices they are.

Why can I not watch an hdr YouTube video at 4k on my Xbox 1 S?