There's one type of video quality you can't just select using these steps: 4K. That's because Netflix charges extra for its 4K plan. In order to get 4K video, you'll need to upgrade to a plan which includes that option. From the Account screen, click Change Plan and select a 4K option.
Netflix doesn't give you an option to manually change video quality or to do it while you're watching a video. Netflix detects your available bandwidth and automatically adjust video quality to match it and to deliver video to you. That generally works pretty well and is the best you can do. Changing the video quality won't help when Netflix is buffering.
If your internet should be fast enough to deliver a high-quality stream, but you aren't seeing one, you may have a bandwidth issue. Online games, downloads, and people streaming in other rooms can all slow down your connection to Netflix. Turn off anything that might be using up bandwidth. Otherwise, try troubleshooting your internet connection.
I feel like no one is listening to the actual problem. I have it too, every streaming service on AppleTV works great, except Netflix. I have the 4k Premium plan on Netflix, but that doesn't seem to matter. My AppleTV is connected via ethernet to the same network as my laptop, my laptop can play Netflix fine via the browser. I also tested streaming Netflix from my iPad to the AppleTV and it was fine. I think the issue is in the Netflix AppleTV app.
Update: the Apple TV was using a 1080p display. There are other threads reporting issues with Netflix when using a 1080p display. The problem does not appear to occur if the Apple TV is connected to a 4K display. There is some bug when Netflix needs to output 4K content on 1080p. This bug is specific to the Netflix app (does not occur with other streaming apps).
The quality of Netflix streams depends on the quality of the home network/internet connection, but also on the Netflix plan. Verify that the subscription on the TV app and Apple TV box are about the same subscription plan.
Regular troubleshooting will always be the first step, if you have verified things on your end and it is evident that that the issue is specific to the Netflix app on Apple TV then you will need to report that to Netflix as they are the ones who will need to get to the root of that and put out a fix.
Can you connect your Mac to a different network to help rule out the issue being related to your network connection? This would be trying an Ethernet connection if available, or just a different Wi-Fi network connection: Connect to the internet with your Mac
My observation is that the Video Quality seems to dip in and out and at one time I thought it was the network. Running the Activity Monitor and watching Safari network activity and throughput suggested that every time the video deteriorates the network went slow - not the network but Mac's access. I thought I'd found it by removing a PROXIE setting and selecting Auto Proxy Discovery. Then, instead of allowing the Location to be Automatic - set up a new location with NO customisation. Every try improved the time between quality going from "Good to Best" (Amazon video definition).
But, it still seemed to happen - on all browsers, Chrome, Firefox, Brave and Safari. So it must be my MAC - where next? Well, watching Amazon Sport using a Private browser Window seemed to be the answer. What is loading and causing Safari to loose video quality? It's not the few extensions (switched off-even uninstalled) - it's not WiFi (used Ethernet connection the router) but, Private browsing fixes the problem - why? Don't know.
It's true unfortunately, I'm afraid I was too premature in reporting the workaround. I also had big hopes when I found that >Preferences >battery >Battery >uncheck "Optimise video streaming while on battery". Unfortunately, all these things seem to improved the time between video quality degrading episodes, but they don't fix the problem permanently.
Problem is, that for me, Safari is the browser I prefer and I want it to work. I'm sure that I have observed this HD degrade in Brave, FireFox and Chrome - so maybe we should be concentrating on the MAC. Why I say that is; "sometimes" when selecting a web video to play, the target tab turns black and there is no activity - if you then HotKey "option + Command + E" - you may need to have activated the Develop Menu is Safari Preferences (last item on the Advanced Tab), then as soon as the cache files are cleared the busy ring starts running and the video loads. May be a helpful clue?
yea this is nuts. even since jobs left us ,apple is screwing the pooch waaay too often . and i wish people would stop giving instructions to re-configure the entire setup or change an app or some crazy thing.
if my computer was streaming a particular site and now i installed an update /new mac os and now a particular thing isnt working . its a crap written codec . lets just get it fixed OR explain the setting that some apple clown added and turned ON instead of leaving it off for default .
I for one don't think that investigating ways to "work around" this, is in any way an attempt to fix it. But our experiences may be helpful to others. Finding a clue that could lead those, who do code Safari, to a code interaction with the OS that is causing the symptom we see. By the way, I've yet to hear anyone complain of Safari's video performance on iOS. To that end, I've added AddBlocker and other extensions I use in macOS and have tested them in iOS extensively without finding this "fuzzy streaming"
I've found that Apple have gained my trust and respect through the years. I wonder if you have ever worked in the "guts" of any complex IT environment? I've worked in IT since the '60's and swapped from an IBM PC (although I worked for them for 25years) to the Apple 1 in the late 70's - nothing ever released in IT is perfect and even if it is, there is no way it can be seen to be when it is added into a constellation of other software. The interaction between the 5 Apple products I use, is simply amazing and magical (defined by an awesome wonder on how they work). That some of these reactions may be broken or less that reliable is simply a given - that there are so few to complain about is a testament to;
I divided my WiFi channels between 2.4Ghz and 5Hhz on the router, as I had some of my "stuff" which could connect to the 5G WiFi and some could ONLY to the 2.4Ghz - mainly an old iPhone and a Google ChromeCast - they wouldn't even "find" the available 5G network. It seemed logical to me but then a tech at my broadband provider found this;
Effectively, doing this allows the router to "serve" both 2.4 and 5 Ghz devices when they connect to that one WiFi network. Switch off the (second channel) 5Ghz network and you'll find your old devices still connecting at their limit and the newer ones at the higher speed. (You may have to provide a password for them to do this)
Having just the one network (SSID) capable of doing that meant that all the "bandwidth" that the router possesses was dedicated to just that one channel. Funny thing though, I (THINK) remembering in the beginning, connecting my MAC to Ethernet and experiencing the degrading video quality?? So, there is still something unexplained but, the change has removed this problem from the browser (whichever one you use).
Internet Speed - and Ookla SpeedTest (50Mbps down 13up) are the definitive way(s) to measure your internet performance - BUT, they just gave impressive performance numbers and didn't indicate the network maybe at fault. However, Apples network performance tool gave a hint - that motivated calling the broadband provider;
I have an 49XD8099 with Android 6.0.1. Simply put, to watch "The OA" from Netflix in HDR is unbearable. It's like if they added a wall of fog. Disabling the HDR the image improves considerably, still being a bit washed out. Other shows, when watched in HDR, don't look better either, so much that I decided to have a video mode with HDR off for Netflix only.
I must says that the HDR quality of various new Netflix videos quite improved. I am not sure if the Android TV updates and/or the fact that I watch Netflix via Apple TV 4K helped as well. So, to me it isn't a big issue anymore.
Secondly - im just going though a few posts that have been missed recently and found this one - Reading through, I am unsure on how to help you to be honest - other than suggesting that you choose the non-hdr version of OA
HDR on TVs that doesn't meet the HDR specifications will always look awful and never will be HDR. Just like DD with just 2 speakers is not exactly a DD. And the idea of marketing TVs as HDR while they are not is just a bad idea. Sure, they can process HDR signal but display can't reproduce it in a way that it should look.
I believe it is possible on some 4K HDR content on Netfix.... Or was it Amazon, im now unsure. Basically you could choose the 1080p version over 4K HDR version instead due to it being in another category. I did it not long ago.
I couldn't find any way for Netflix. It is also not possible on a system level to disable HDR. At least not for ATV1. Maybe @Jecht_Sin or someone else has an idea how to achieve that. I think on ATV2 there is an option, see above quote and link to FlatpanelsHD.
The quality standards that is followed by netflix is just great and appreciate teh type of contetn being posted on their sites!!! thumbs up. [Link removed by moderator] is also similar to netflix where one can watch movies,cartoons,daily soaps anytime they feel like.!!
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