If you’re regularly seeing a buffering wheel when you play YouTube videos, it’s important to know why. Starting today, Aussies can use the Google Video Quality Report to better understand the video quality available from their Internet service providers.
You can also see the video quality other ISPs in your area are delivering, based on these levels:
- HD Verified: Users on YouTube HD Verified networks should expect smooth playback most of the time when watching high-definition YouTube videos (720p and above).
- Standard Definition: Users on networks rated as Standard Definition should expect smooth playback on standard-definition YouTube videos (360p) and may experience occasional interruptions on high-definition YouTube videos (720p and above).
- Lower Definition: Users on networks rated as Lower Definition may experience fuzzy picture quality and frequent interruptions while playing YouTube videos at 360p and above.
If you’re keen to learn more about how we came up with these classifications, read more here, and learn how videos get from us to you with this video.
You can also help make sure you're getting the best video quality possible with these seven simple steps:
We hope to keep finding better ways to bring you the best video experience possible, and part of that is helping you understand the way YouTube videos play when you watch it today. If the YouTube videos you watch are constantly lagging, we want to help you better understand why.
Posted by Jay Akkad, Product Manager, YouTube