YouTube App isn't running in 4k

[Lee Magee]

I just purchased the LG UHD 43UP76 advertised as real 4k however the YouTube App is running at 1080p.  Which means 4k content is downsampled to 1080p then reupsampled to fit the 4k pixel grid and the image quality is awful.

i assume WebOS runs at 1080p and simply upscales to 4k on low end 4k TVs, this same with high end TVs??

 

 

 

 

[Mark Tiede]

It might just be the app.  Make sure you specify you want 4k in the app (I THINK you can do that).  I seem to recall youtube doing something similar to me and I just put it to 4k instead of "auto".  Then the Nerd Stats actually showed that it was doing 4k. It might also be that your network connection doesn't have enough throughput.  I've read that on many of the TVs, the network card is very slow.  It was on my TV.  I switched it to use the "5g" wifi connection and it didn't have any problems.

Good luck.

[Lee Magee]

37 minutes ago, Mark Tiede said:

It might just be the app.  Make sure you specify you want 4k in the app (I THINK you can do that).  I seem to recall youtube doing something similar to me and I just put it to 4k instead of "auto".  Then the Nerd Stats actually showed that it was doing 4k. It might also be that your network connection doesn't have enough throughput.  I've read that on many of the TVs, the network card is very slow.  It was on my TV.  I switched it to use the "5g" wifi connection and it didn't have any problems.

Good luck.

I have 100mbps wired Internet, it can handle 4k . The only to way get 4k content is through an HDMI device not through the TV apps 

[Mark Tiede]

I'm not quite following you. The youtube app definitely can specify and deliver 4k. Have you looked at the nerd stats? At least with my tv and youtube app.

[Lee Magee]

3 hours ago, Mark Tiede said:

I'm not quite following you. The youtube app definitely can specify and deliver 4k. Have you looked at the nerd stats? At least with my tv and youtube app.

On the Nerd Stats, the viewport must match the current video resolution.  If the viewport is 1920x1080*2.00, the 4k video is downsampled to that resolution.  

In fact if you play a YouTube video at 240p, 480p, 720p, 1440p the viewport will always be at 1920x1080, the screen resolution of the software. 

For example if i have a 4K PC monitor and i set the resolution to 1080p in the display option and play a 4k YouTube video, the stats will say "Viewport 1920x1080 ... Current / Optimal Res 3840x2160. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mark Tiede]

I see what you are saying.  I was almost POSITIVE that at one point I saw 4k at both the viewport and the resolution, but when I checked tonight, yep, 1080*2.  It DOES LOOK better than 1080 though.  I'll experiment with it more myself.  Sorry for not getting what you were saying initially.

[Mark Tiede]

Ok, I did a little more testing with my LG OLE65BA7 TV.  I took pictures of the screen.  Here is what I took:

1. Xbox Youtube app

2. Roku Youtube app

3. TV Youtube app

4. Netflix network test

 

The end result is, I don't know if I trust the stats for nerds to really say what is going on.  Summary:

 

Even though Netflix says I am getting 221 Mbps on network test (my ISP is supposed to be 200Mbps so I believe that number) and Xbox Youtube says it is getting 153Mbps connection speed while playing the video, Roku says it is only getting 45Mbps.  And TV app says it is getting 64Mbps.  And Xbox says ZERO network activity?

Xbox is only one that says viewport and display are 4k. 

Maybe that drop in speed is because it is doing the upscaling?  And that takes away from overall throughput?  But, again, it LOOKS great.

So I think I was remembering the 4k viewport and display from the Xbox and the others said they were doing 4k so I assumed it was.

 

Don't know if any of this is any help, or it is just confirming what you were complaining about in the first post.

 

p.s.

   After posting, I finally noticed the paper clip icon for adding "other media" and I've included them here.  Don't know if the upload process changes resolution of attachments.

[Mark Tiede]

After doing a few more tests, I see that it looks like the network activity goes in spurts.  I suppose it downloads some stuff into the buffer and then doesn't do anything else while the video is being played from the buffer.

I looked up close at the screen (about a foot away) at a girl fishing in a boat in Norway as a drone passed over head.  Although I didn't have a side by side comparison, they looked the same to me whether or not it was TV Youtube app or Xbox Youtube app.  And this time, I also was getting about 115Mbps while running the TV app.  Not sure why the variability.  So many possible reasons.  But again, visually, it looks fine to me as far as I can tell without having some sort of standard test to run.

[Lee Magee]

23 hours ago, Mark Tiede said:

After doing a few more tests, I see that it looks like the network activity goes in spurts.  I suppose it downloads some stuff into the buffer and then doesn't do anything else while the video is being played from the buffer.

I looked up close at the screen (about a foot away) at a girl fishing in a boat in Norway as a drone passed over head.  Although I didn't have a side by side comparison, they looked the same to me whether or not it was TV Youtube app or Xbox Youtube app.  And this time, I also was getting about 115Mbps while running the TV app.  Not sure why the variability.  So many possible reasons.  But again, visually, it looks fine to me as far as I can tell without having some sort of standard test to run.

 

[Lee Magee]

The LG YouTube app runs at 1080p, but the 4k videos look fine because of the downsampling effect.  The Xbox YouTube is natively running at 4k (viewport = 3840*2160), which also means the text or font of the app itself be sharper.

 

 

[AsiaTruslow]

Hey thanks for the super helpful reply. I'm not sure how I missed that thread. I haven't quite mastered the search function on here. I think I'll pass with him this time around. If i want any further guideline we will contact you here.

[LBB]

My LG 60UQ80 run 4k videos like a charm.

But for some reason i dont know why, the movies i previously bought on youtube only run at 480p wich is a shame. And i get no way around it. Need help

[LBB]

Also same movie on my smartphone runs 1080p with no problem.....but on the TV only 480p

[Flowace]

It's important to note that the resolution at which streaming apps like YouTube run on your TV can be influenced by various factors, including the TV model, the app itself, and your internet connection. Here's some information to help address your concern: The LG UHD 43UP76 is indeed advertised as a 4K UHD TV, capable of displaying content in 4K resolution. However, the YouTube app's resolution may not always match the TV's native resolution. WebOS, LG's smart TV operating system, typically supports various resolutions, including 4K. However, the resolution of the user interface (UI) and apps like YouTube can vary. The UI may run at a lower resolution like 1080p while content playback should ideally be in 4K if available. YouTube's resolution can depend on several factors, such as the source of the video, the content creator's settings, and your internet speed. YouTube is known for adaptive streaming, where it adjusts the resolution based on your internet connection to ensure smooth playback. To maximize YouTube's resolution on your LG TV, ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection. Additionally, check the settings within the YouTube app on your TV to see if there's an option to manually set the playback resolution. If you are playing 4K content on YouTube, it should be displayed in its native resolution. If it appears downscaled, it might be due to a setting or issue specific to your TV or the YouTube app version. You can check the LG webOS community forums for discussions on similar issues and potential solutions. In summary, while WebOS may have a UI that runs at 1080p, it should still be possible to stream and view 4K content on your LG UHD 43UP76 TV through apps like YouTube. However, if you are experiencing issues with resolution, it's worth checking settings, your internet connection, and seeking assistance from the LG community for specific troubleshooting steps.

[Bob111]

I think it's either the YouTube TV app not getting correct information from webOS about resolutions and capabilities available to it, or vice-versa.    I view the same content through my HDMI connected Apple TV 4K YouTube TV app, and it does get the the 2160p feed, instead of the 1080pX2.

This is the YouTube TV app on WebOS with a qned8500AQ series LG: 

 

while this is. on the same TV, but through an Apple TV 4K via HDMI:

 

Unfortunately, fixing this probably requires some sort of cooperation between corporations, so I'm not holding my breath for a fix.

[adin]

Unfortunately, many lower-end 4K TVs, and even some mid-range ones, use WebOS or similar systems that may default to 1080p for certain apps due to processing limitations. High-end TVs generally handle native 4K better because they have more powerful processors and better upscaling algorithms.

You might want to check if there’s a firmware update for your TV or see if the YouTube app settings allow you to manually select 4K playback. Another option is to use an external streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick, which often provides better app performance and resolution handling.

If you’re working with visuals to test or tweak your display quality, converting images to compatible formats can help. Here’s a tool that might come in handy:

link hidden, please login to view

[LG G4 Youtube not 4K]

finally know that I am not alone to notice that
In 2025, the LG G4 still has the above behaviour.  People keep telling to manually switch to 2160p but the fact is, it is already in 2160p.  It is not blurry like 480p, but side by side to other brand, it is apparent it is not used to its full potential.

Even the UI, caption, search bar text, etc which don't depend on bandwidth of internet connection, are not "pixel for pixel sharp"