Netflix lets you control video quality in your account settings, and the option you choose affects how much data you use and how sharp the picture looks

Netflix streams at four different quality levels: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra HD. Which one you see depends on your internet speed, your device, and which Netflix plan you pay for. You can lock in a specific quality in your account settings so Netflix doesn't automatically adjust it based on your connection, or you can let Netflix pick the best quality for your situation at any moment.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. The setting lives in your account menu, not in the app's playback controls, so you won't find it by pausing a show.

Key Takeaways

  • Netflix's four quality levels are Low, Medium, High, and Ultra HD, and your plan type determines which ones are available to you.
  • You change video quality in your account settings on a web browser or in the app menu, not during playback.
  • Choosing a lower quality saves data on mobile networks but makes the picture less sharp; Ultra HD requires a fast, stable connection.
  • Netflix can automatically adjust quality based on your connection speed, or you can lock it to one setting.
  • The quality you choose on one device doesn't affect what plays on another device on the same account.

Change quality on a computer or phone web browser

Open Netflix in a web browser and sign in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Account from the dropdown menu. Under "Settings," click Playback settings. You'll see four options: Low, Medium, High, and Ultra HD. Select the one you want and scroll down to click Save.

This setting applies to all devices you use to watch Netflix on this account, unless you override it on a specific device. If you have a slower internet connection, Netflix may still drop the quality during playback to prevent buffering, even if you've selected a higher setting.

Change quality on the Netflix app for phones and tablets

Open the Netflix app and tap the profile icon (usually in the bottom right corner). Tap Settings or the gear icon. Look for Video playback quality or Playback settings — the exact wording varies by device. Select your preferred quality level and confirm the change.

On some Android devices, this setting may be under App settings rather than your account settings. If you can't find it in the obvious place, try searching within the Settings menu for "quality" or "playback."

Change quality on a TV or streaming device

The Netflix app on smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and game consoles doesn't always show the quality settings in the same place. Start by opening the Netflix app and navigating to your account menu. Look for Settings, Preferences, or Account. From there, find Playback settings or Video quality.

Some TV devices don't let you manually set quality at all — Netflix automatically adjusts based on your internet speed. If you don't see a quality option in your TV app's settings, your device is set to auto-adjust, and you can't override it from the app itself.

What each quality level means for data and picture

Low quality uses the least data — roughly 0.3 GB per hour — and is useful if you're on a mobile plan with a data cap or have a slow connection. The picture will look noticeably softer, especially on larger screens. Medium quality uses about 0.7 GB per hour and is a middle ground; it looks acceptable on phones and tablets but may look slightly blurry on a large TV.

High quality uses roughly 3 GB per hour and requires a stable connection of at least 5 Mbps. The picture is sharp on most screens. Ultra HD uses about 7 GB per hour and requires at least 25 Mbps and a 4K-capable device and TV. It's the sharpest option but only matters if your TV actually displays 4K resolution.

Your Netflix plan determines which quality levels are available. Basic plans max out at High quality. Standard and Premium plans unlock Ultra HD. If you're on a Basic plan, you won't see Ultra HD as an option, even if your device supports it.

Let Netflix automatically adjust quality instead

If you don't want to manually set a quality level, you can let Netflix pick one for you based on your current internet speed. In your playback settings, look for an option called Auto or Automatic. Netflix will then adjust the quality up or down during playback to match your connection — if your internet slows down mid-episode, Netflix will lower the quality to prevent buffering, then raise it again when your speed improves.

Auto mode is useful if you move between different networks (home WiFi, mobile data, a café) or if your internet speed varies throughout the day. The tradeoff is that you don't control what quality you get at any moment.

Troubleshoot if the quality setting isn't working

If you've set a quality level but Netflix is still playing at a lower quality, your internet connection is likely too slow for what you chose. Netflix prioritizes smooth playback over picture quality, so it will drop the quality automatically if your connection can't handle it. Run a speed test on your device to see your actual internet speed, then compare it to Netflix's requirements: 3 Mbps for High quality, 25 Mbps for Ultra HD.

If your connection is fast enough but the quality still isn't what you set, try closing the Netflix app completely and reopening it. If that doesn't work, sign out of your account, close the app, and sign back in. On a computer, clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload Netflix. These steps often fix settings that aren't taking effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing quality on one device change it on all my devices?

The setting you choose in your account settings applies to all devices unless you override it on a specific device. If you set quality to High on your computer, your phone will also default to High — but you can go into the phone app and change it to Low without affecting the computer.

Will Ultra HD look better on my regular TV?

No. Ultra HD only looks sharper on a 4K TV. On a standard 1080p TV, Ultra HD and High quality look nearly identical because your TV can't display the extra pixels. If your TV isn't 4K, High quality is the best choice for your situation.

Can I change quality while a show is playing?

You can't pause a show and jump into settings to change quality for that moment. You can only set a default quality in your account settings. Netflix may adjust the quality automatically during playback if your connection changes, but you can't manually override it mid-episode.

What happens if I set quality to Low but have a fast internet connection?

Netflix will play at Low quality even though your connection could handle higher. You're not wasting your fast internet — you're just choosing to use less data. This is useful if you're on a mobile plan with a data limit, even if your phone has a strong signal.

Why does Netflix keep buffering even though I set it to High quality?

Your internet speed is probably dropping below 5 Mbps during playback. Netflix will automatically lower the quality to prevent buffering, even if you've locked it to High. Check your internet speed with a speed test app, and if it's consistently below 5 Mbps, try setting quality to Medium instead.