Fix: YouTube 4K Videos Not Playing on Apple TV 4K

YouTube lets users download and access 4K videos on Apple TV 4K. Users can easily download the YouTube app on their Apple TV 4K and stay updated with their favorite content channels. Unfortunately, several users encountered an issue with the Apple TV 4K not playing 4K videos on YouTube. This can be frustrating if you want to watch 4K videos on YouTube.

Apple announced that users could watch their favorite streaming shows in 4K quality on YouTube with the launch of tvOS 14. But most users still point out they can’t enjoy 4K videos from their favorite YouTube channels on Apple TV 4K. If you have your own Apple TV 4K and cannot watch your favorite streaming shows in 4K quality on YouTube, don’t be sad. This tutorial will provide the reasons why your YouTube 4K videos are not playing on Apple TV 4K and as well as provide the possible solutions which you may easily try to fix the problem on your Apple TV 4K.

Why Are YouTube 4K Videos Not Playing on Apple TV 4K?

There are several reasons why your YouTube 4K videos are not playing on your Apple TV 4K. Here are the main reasons includes:

Internet Connection Issue: An internet connection is the main reason you are experiencing YouTube 4K videos not playing on Apple TV. Due to a weak internet connection, you may be unable to play your videos at 4K quality on YouTube.
Outdated YouTube Version: If you’re running on the outdated YouTube app on your Apple TV 4K, you may experience 4K videos not playing on your TV.
YouTube Video Settings: Make sure the video you’re trying to watch on your YouTube is available in 4K resolution. Most of the videos on YouTube aren’t available in 4K resolution.
Compatibility Issue: It’s also possible that your Apple TV isn’t compatible with the 4K content. Make sure to check the TV’s specifications to see whether it supports 4K resolution.
HDMI Cable: There may be a reason that older HDMI cables may not be capable of transmitting 4K signals. Make sure to check the HDMI cable that supports 4K content.

Youtube 4K Videos Not Playing on Apple TV 4K, How to Fix?

As we mentioned earlier, the YouTube 4K videos not playing on Apple TV 4K is caused by various reasons. However, you can easily fix the problem on your Apple TV by following the mentioned strategies.

Fix 1: Check Your Internet Connection

YouTube allows you to watch their favorite content in Dolby Vision and HDR. Though the platform’s algorithm is great, you can easily access the videos in various ways. You may be experiencing 4K videos not playing on Apple TV 4K due to a low internet connection. Connect your Apple TV 4K with a 5GHz frequency band. This will help you to a better and faster internet speed for YouTube and other streaming apps like Apple TV+ and Netflix.

In addition, you can also try to restart your router or modem to increase the network speed. Once you have restarted your router, try to reconnect with your Apple TV 4K, play a video compatible with 4K content, and check if the issue has been resolved. If the issue persists, try other solutions.

Fix 2: Restart Your Apple TV 4K

You can also try restarting your Apple TV 4K to fix YouTube 4K videos not playing on the Apple TV. Apple TV may have software bugs and issues preventing the 4K video from working on YouTube. Most users fixed their 4K videos not playing issue by restarting the device. A restart may help you to fix the software bugs and issues on your device. You can restart your Apple TV 4K by following the steps mentioned here.

Restart Apple TV 4K Using the Remote:

Firstly, turn on your Apple TV and head over to the home page.
Open the Settings on your TV using the remote control.
Select System and click on Restart.
Now your Apple TV will automatically restart.
Once restarted, try to play a video on YouTube to check if it supports 4K content.

Restart Apple TV 4K without Remote:

Firstly, turn off your Apple TV 4K.
Now remove the power plug from the Apple TV 4K and wait for about 30~40 seconds.
Again, plug the power source back into the Apple TV and toggle the switch.
Turn your Apple TV on using the remote control and play a video to check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 3: Change Video Quality Settings

While watching a YouTube video, YouTube may automatically improve the video resolution according to your internet connection and bump it up to 2160p Ultra HD 4K. It’s possible that your YouTube video is automatically changed to another resolution, and you can easily check and manually switch to 4K resolution to watch your favorite selected video. Here’s how.

Open YouTube on your Apple TV 4K.
Start playing your favorite shows and again select the Settings icon on the right side.
Select the Quality option.
If the video is selected as “Auto,” select 2160p instead of Auto.
Now the video should start playing in 4K resolution.

Fix 4: Use HDMI 2.0 Cable

If you’re still experiencing YouTube 4K videos not playing on Apple TV 4K, you have to check the HDMI cable version that you’re using on your Apple TV 4K. You might be watching your favorite content shows in Full HD on other streaming platforms, and this might have been left unchecked from your end. But to access and stream the videos in 4K resolution, you need to have an HDMI 2.0 cable which allows a higher bandwidth of 18Gbps and a peak resolution of 3840×2160p @60fps (4K@60fps).

Here’s how to check the HDMI cable connection between your TV and Apple Smart TV 4K.

Open the Settings on your Apple TV 4K.
Scroll down and choose Video and Audio.
Scroll down and select Check HDMI Connection.
Now select Check HDMI Connection again to start the process.

This will show the signal strength of your HDMI cable on your Apple TV 4K, which will affect your streaming quality. However, you can also replace your HDMI cable with another one and ensure its compatible with the Apple TV 4K device.

Fix 5: Turn Off Match Content and Frame Rate

Several users reported that their Apple TV 4K screen goes black while watching videos in 4K resolution for a moment. This can be annoying, and it happens due to the Match Content and Frame Rate settings which are generally enabled on your Apple TV 4K. However, we suggest you disable Match Content and Frame Rate to check if it’s working. Here’s how you can disable Match Content and Frame Rate on your Apple TV.

Open the Settings on your Apple TV 4K.
Scroll down and choose Video and Audio.
Choose the Match Content option.
Click on Match Dynamic Range and turn off the feature. (You can keep Match Frame Rate turned on for watching YouTube content at high frame rates.)
Close the Settings and open YouTube to check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 6: Update Your YouTube App

Still, having the same issue? If yes, you can also try updating your YouTube app on your Apple TV 4K. Due to an outdated YouTube version, the YouTube 4K videos may not be playing on your Apple TV. Make sure to update your YouTube app to the latest version on your Apple TV and try again. Here’s how.

Open the App Store on your Apple TV 4K.
Choose Purchased from the top menu bar of the screen.
Select All Apps from the left menu.
Choose YouTube from the list of applications and check if an Update is available. If yes, select it to update the YouTube app.
Once the update is finished, open YouTube and check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 7: Update Apple TVOS

The final method to fix the YouTube 4K videos not playing on your Apple TV is to update your tvOS. An outdated tvOS version may cause the problem you’re facing on your Apple TV. Make sure to update your Apple tvOS to the latest version. Here’s how you can update your TV by following the mentioned steps.

Open the Settings on your Apple TV 4K.
Scroll down and choose System.
Select Software Updates.
Now select the Update Software option.
If an update is available, download and install it by following the on-screen instructions.
Once finished, open YouTube and check if the issue has been resolved.

Final Words

Watching videos in 4K resolution on YouTube lets you enjoy the best experience. You may easily switch to 4K resolution on any videos compatible with 4K content on your Apple TV 4K. Hopefully, the above-mentioned solutions will help you to fix the YouTube 4K videos not playing on Apple TV 4K. If you have tried the mentioned steps and still have an issue, we recommend you contact the Apple customer support team for further assistance.