Why you’re not getting Netflix in HD or 4K and how to fix it

Netflix has been undergoing some changes lately, mainly due to restrictions on account sharing, as well as adding an ad-based tier to its services. It’s unlikely that any of these changes have affected playback of your services, but if for some reason you find your Netflix shows and movies aren’t playing in the HD or 4K resolution you’re paying for, we’re here to help you fix it. the problem.

There are a number of ways to stream Netflix in the best possible quality and take advantage of the content available in HDR, but you must first secure the right equipment and service. There are also some issues that you may need to address in order for it to work properly.

If your Netflix is ​​streaming in poor quality, this article will help you fix the problem. Before you know it, you’ll be streaming again Diplomatic either Beef in the resolution you want.

Check your account settings

Step 1 – Check your Netflix plan and settings. However, there are some new levels. Netflix Standard with ads, the Standard and Premium plans support Full HD (1080p) streaming, but the Basic plan only allows regular HD (720p) streaming. 4K UHD and HDR (high dynamic range) streaming is only available on the pricier Premium package, so it’s worth at least double-checking.

Netflix price levels in 2023.

Step 2 – If you’ve made sure you have the right plan, the next order of business is to adjust your Netflix streaming options to display at that resolution. Start by opening an account and so on Parental profile and control section, select your profile, search playback settingsand click Change.

Here you will see four different options: Low, Medium, High, and Auto. It’s probably obvious what that means, but here’s a detailed breakdown of how each setting affects image quality (and, potentially, your data cap).

  • Low: Streaming at this level will use about 0.3 GB per hour. Streaming in low quality will force the content to be played in standard definition. This is the best option for those with a poor connection or who stream with limited data.

  • Medium – Medium quality streaming will increase your data usage to around 0.7 GB per hour. At this limit, you’ll still be locked to standard definition.

  • High: Streaming in high quality opens you up to HD and 4K UHD streams with the Premium plan, but it also means your data usage can vary quite a bit. Depending on your network, you can use 3 GB per hour for basic 720p streaming or up to 7 GB per hour for 4K Ultra HD streaming.

  • Automatic – As the name implies, this will allow your streaming quality to vary with your current internet speeds and network connection to provide the most stable streaming experience, as well as the highest quality playback your plan allows. With that stability, however, comes a greater chance of a drop in quality.

Go to the Netflix playback settings.

Step 3 – If you’re streaming on anything other than Auto or High, you won’t get HD or 4K UHD quality from Netflix (for Auto, though, you’ll need to have a plan that supports it). Keep in mind that changes to these settings can take up to eight hours to take effect, so if you make a change and don’t notice an immediate change in image quality, be patient. Again, higher streaming resolutions will burn data, so be careful with usage if you’re on a data cap.

If you’re accessing your settings on a mobile device, you can also go to the app’s settings and switch to Wi-Fi only operating mode or set automatically, which can help you avoid going over your data limit when watching Netflix. If you’re trying to stream Netflix in 4K over a 5G connection, this also applies.

Your Netflix playback options.

Step 4: Finally, keep in mind that not all content on Netflix is ​​4K or will automatically upgrade to 4K. Instead, you can search for Netflix using terms like “4K” and “UltraHD” to determine your options.

LG G3 OLED is here.
Zeke Jones/Digital Trends

hardware requirements

Hardware is also an important part of watching Netflix in high quality, especially if you’re looking for UHD quality. You’ll need at least a 60Hz TV or monitor designed to display 4K, and if you’re streaming through an additional device, compatible HDMI cables are important too. If you’re using a laptop for streaming, it’ll obviously need to be 4K capable and powerful enough, but even so, the browser you’re using will also need to be HD or 4K capable (more on that below).

Also, not all streaming devices support UHD or 4K streaming, and not all content is available in these qualities. HD should be fine, but if you’re expecting very high-quality material, you may be out of luck depending on the device you’re using or the content you’re trying to watch. Check out our guide on what a Smart TV is so you can get a TV with the right hardware built in.

browser limitations

Not all browsers are created equal, and this is especially true when it comes to streaming. Although almost all popular Internet browsers can play Netflix content in HD, HD quality varies by browser. Here is a simple overview of the maximum resolution of each browser on a computer:

  • Google Chrome: Up to 720p (although you can get 1080p with Chrome OS, just like on a Chromebook)

  • Firefox: up to 720p

  • Opera: Up to 720p

  • Safari: Up to 4K (requires select Mac 2018 or later with Apple T2 Security Chip and MacOS 11.0 Big Sur or later)

  • Microsoft Edge: Up to 4K (requires an HDCP 2.2 compliant connection to a 4K display, with at least a 7th generation Intel Core CPU, plus the latest version of Windows)

Internet speed test on a laptop.
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Internet speed requirements

You may be paying for a high-speed Internet connection, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have fast Internet access. Follow our Netflix speed test guide to see what kind of download speeds you’re getting. If you’re getting anything below 10Mbps and there’s more than one device in your home using the internet, you’ll have a hard time watching a Full HD, and definitely not 4K UHD, Netflix stream.

Don’t see a good number? There are a number of things you can do to ensure you get the speeds you should, from choosing the right internet plan to installing the right type of router. We suggest checking out our list of the best wireless routers to ensure you have the fastest possible connection on your network.

With your home network in top shape, you can rest easy knowing that your Internet conduits aren’t the ones that are clogged. With that in mind, it’s time to step back and consider whether the lines feeding your home are as open as they should be.

Is it your ISP’s fault?

If you’re using an ISP that doesn’t have any sort of agreement with Netflix, whether it’s a paid high-speed contract or through Netflix’s Open Connect program, you could be doomed to poor Netflix picture quality, especially if you live in a large area. market with a large number of Internet users. You can check the Netflix ISP speed website to get an idea of ​​where Netflix is ​​at the mercy of your ISP. If your ISP appears to be misclassified, it’s possible, though difficult to prove, that your ISP is throttling you and all Netflix users on your network. If you suspect this might be the case, one way to hide what you’re doing from your ISP is with a virtual private network (VPN). We’ve got a guide to everything you need to know about VPNs that you’ll probably find useful here.

Netflix graphics with three screens.
Netflix

Sometimes they are better than others

If you haven’t noticed, when you hit play on a show or movie, Netflix will start playing the stream before it can play in full quality, with the image a bit blurry while it’s stored in Via’s full-resolution version. As soon as possible, the stream will be clearly displayed in full resolution.

If the bandwidth slows down, the video resolution will drop until the full resolution stream is sufficiently buffered again. Supposedly, Netflix does this to keep loading times short so you don’t feel like it’s taking forever to watch your show. This clever tweak makes Netflix fast, but at the wrong time of day, it can also make it seem like crap for the first few minutes of viewing.

As we experiment with Netflix quality throughout the day, we found that the biggest factor affecting streaming quality is the time of day and whether that time falls within typical peak viewing hours. You’ll need to be aware of peak times (essentially, peak hours after 6pm) and adjust your expectations accordingly.

What else can I do?

If you’re having trouble streaming Netflix and you’re sure your home network is stable and your ISP offers good Netflix streaming speeds, call your ISP and report the problem. We recommend that you start the phone conversation by telling them all the problems you have already done so that the agent does not make you repeat the same steps, which would be a waste of time for both of you. Then cross your fingers that they try to do something about it instead of blaming Netflix.

Fortunately, this problem is much less common than it used to be. However, there are many users whose ISP service limits how they can upgrade their streaming experience. If that’s the case for you, the only thing you can really do is cancel your subscription and let Netflix know that you’re not willing to pay for a bad streaming experience, no matter where you live.

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Categories: How to
Source: newstars.edu.vn

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