Step 1: Access YouTube Settings
Log into your YouTube account and navigate to Settings. Click on "Playback and performance" from the menu options.
Step 2: Configure AV1 Settings
In the AV1 settings section, you'll see three options:
Select "Always prefer AV1" if you have a reliable internet connection and want maximum quality benefits.
Step 3: Verify Your Settings
Visit YouTube's official AV1 test playlist to confirm your codec is working properly. These specially encoded videos will demonstrate the improved quality and performance.
To verify YouTube is using AV1 codec for any video:
If you see "av01" displayed, your videos are successfully using the AV1 codec for playback.
AV1 codec provides several key advantages over older formats:
Better Compression: AV1 delivers the same video quality as H.264 but with 50% smaller file sizes, meaning faster loading and less data usage.
Enhanced Quality: Even at lower bitrates, AV1 maintains superior visual quality compared to VP9 and H.264 codecs.
Future-Proof Technology: As YouTube's preferred next-generation codec, AV1 ensures you're getting the platform's most advanced streaming technology.
Most modern browsers and devices support AV1 playback, including:
Older devices may fall back to VP9 or H.264 automatically when AV1 isn't supported.
If you don't see the AV1 options in your settings, ensure your browser is updated to the latest version. Some older browsers don't support AV1 codec configuration.
For choppy playback, try selecting "Prefer AV1 for SD" instead of "Always prefer AV1" until your hardware catches up with the codec's processing requirements.
