How to Change YouTube Download Quality on iPhone SE 3 (2022)

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If your YouTube downloads look grainy or low-res on your iPhone SE 3, you’re not alone. By default, YouTube tries to save data by lowering video quality—especially when you’re on mobile data. But you can easily change your settings to download videos in higher resolution. Here’s how to do it.

Change the Streaming Quality of Individual Videos

Sometimes, you’re not actually watching in the best quality even if the video supports it. You can adjust that manually:

  1. Open the YouTube app on your iPhone.
  2. Play any video you want to watch.
  3. Tap the video once to show the controls, then tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
  4. Select Quality.
  5. Tap Advanced to see all available resolution options.
  6. Choose the resolution you prefer—like 1080p for full HD or 720p for decent quality with less data use.

Note: This change only affects the video you’re currently watching.

Set Default Video Quality for All Streams

Want YouTube to always stream in higher quality or save data? Here’s how:

  1. From any video, go to Quality > Video quality preferences
    OR
    Tap your profile picture > Settings > Video quality preferences.
  2. Choose your preferred settings for Mobile networks and Wi-Fi:
    • Auto (Recommended) – Adjusts based on your connection.
    • Higher picture quality – Uses more data but looks better.
    • Data saver – Lowers quality to reduce data usage.

Adjust YouTube Download Quality

If you’re downloading videos for offline viewing, here’s how to change the quality:

  1. Open the YouTube app and tap the Library tab at the bottom.
  2. Tap Downloads.
  3. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner, then tap Settings.
  4. Tap Download quality.
  5. Select your preferred option:
    • Full HD (1080p)
    • High (720p)
    • Medium (360p)
    • Low (144p)

Full HD gives you the best quality but takes up more space and time to download.

Still Seeing Low Quality? Check Your Internet Connection

If your videos still look bad even after adjusting the settings:

  • Run a speed test using Safari or a speed test app.
  • Make sure you’re on a stable Wi-Fi or strong cellular connection.
  • If needed, try switching to Wi-Fi or restarting your router or phone.

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