Smartphones today often have high-resolution screens, making lower video quality—such as 360p or 480p—look blurry, especially for users with mobile data plans that allow for large amounts of data usage. However, some internet users are forced to watch videos in lower resolutions due to a technical glitch. Since at least September 17, 2026, some users on the social network Reddit have reported that the mobile YouTube app limits videos to a maximum resolution of 480p, even though most videos are available in higher resolutions, such as Full HD or 4K with 60 frames per second. This issue has been described as inconvenient, particularly because the workarounds are not guaranteed to work. Users attempting to fix the problem have tried various methods. One Reddit poster explained that they checked the app settings, cleared the cache, restarted their phone, and uninstalled updates, but none of these steps resolved the issue. However, some users have found temporary fixes. Clearing the app's cache or simply closing and reopening the app has worked for a few. Others have regained access to higher resolutions by logging into YouTube with a different Google account and then switching back to their primary account. Despite these attempts, the solutions are not reliable, and users may need to try several methods in hopes of finding one that works. This issue is not new. A similar report from January 2026 on Reddit mentions the same 480p resolution limitation, and as recently as June of last year, three users confirmed that the problem was still present. However, no official solution has been released by Google, and the company has not made any public comments on the matter. The user who first reported the issue said they contacted Google, who only advised them to leave a comment through the app. As of now, it remains unclear whether a fix is being developed or when it might be available. For now, affected users are left to troubleshoot the issue on their own, trying different solutions in hopes of restoring higher video quality. The situation highlights the challenges users face when encountering technical problems with widely used apps, especially when the company behind the app does not provide clear updates or fixes.