iOS/iPadOS 14 and VP9 support [Merged]

[vobele]

It somehow seems to be related to the version of the Youtube App as well! Not only to iOS 14!

I missed the Youtube 4K options with all iOS 14 betas on my iPad Pro 2020. Then I coincidently discovered that the Apple AppStore must have stopped updating the installed apps on this iPad since it’s running iOS14. And manually updated the YouTube iPad APP -> BINGO - 4K was there!!

IMPORTANT: CHECK IF YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE LATEST YOUTUBE APP VERSION !!! It might help you as well..

 

[EugW]

It somehow seems to be related to the version of the Youtube App as well! Not only to iOS 14!

I missed the Youtube 4K options with all iOS 14 betas on my iPad Pro 2020. Then I coincidently discovered that the Apple AppStore must have stopped updating the installed apps on this iPad since it’s running iOS14. And manually updated the YouTube iPad APP -> BINGO - 4K was there!!

IMPORTANT: CHECK IF YOU HAVE INSTALLED THE LATEST YOUTUBE APP VERSION !!! It might help you as well..

I have the latest YouTube version already. Still not working.

Anyhow, I'm not going to fret too much about it yet. I'll just have to chalk this up as being beta growing pains.

 

[Ansath]

Which is the best set of YouTube videos to test this on? So far I am still maxing out at 1080p60 on my iPad Pro 10.5, in iPadOS 14 beta 3.

This is both with Safari and with the YouTube app. I tried the Costa Rica 4K HDR 60 Hz one plus a couple of others.

I was using this...

 

[stoplis]

iPhone XS - iOS14 PB 2 - 4K only with HDR
iPad Pro 10.5 - iPadOS14 PB 2 - no 4K at all
?

 

[maxsquared]

iPhone XS - iOS14 PB 2 - 4K only with HDR
iPad Pro 10.5 - iPadOS14 PB 2 - no 4K at all
?

Not sure about 10.5, but some people claim on 2018/2020 iPad Pros 4k will show up after reinstall YouTube app.

 

[Charlestoni]

I have the same problem with my account, without login I got 4K on my IPad Pro 12.9 2018.. unfortunately I have YouTube premium so I don’t want to use it without being logged

 

[stoplis]

I have youtube premium but it is the same whether I’m logged in or not. iPad never switches to VP9.
Switching to incognito mode on my iPhone XS gives none HDR in 4K, turning off incognito mode and 4K is only available in HDR.

 

[Jacksavage13579]

Did some more testing with 7 gmail accounts on my iPad Pro 2020 12.9". Running iPadOS 14 PB3.

-Two out of the 7 accounts are able to stream 4K videos. The remaining are stuck at 1080p.
-Settings aren't changed in any way.
-Logging in and out of those accounts and back in doesn't change the options.
-Order of logging in does not change either.
-Incognito can very rarely allow 4K video if logged in and out enough times but will likely lose its ability once you log back in.
-None of the accounts have YouTube premium.
-6/7 of the accounts have no region set. (2/6 played VP9)

So far it appears to be on Google's end now and like previously theorised, likely a feature that is being randomly rolled out to other accounts. Google support however was not able to explain this issue.

 

[Mr Retina]

YouTube app just updated. Previously I was able to get 4k/60 on my iPad Pro 11 inch 2018 when I turned on Incognito mode. Now I dont get the option at all lol.

 

[Ansath]

YouTube app just updated. Previously I was able to get 4k/60 on my iPad Pro 11 inch 2018 when I turned on Incognito mode. Now I dont get the option at all lol.

my iPad Pro 11" 2018 has the updated YT app, and I can see 4K/60 whilst signed in fine.

 

[Mr Retina]

my iPad Pro 11" 2018 has the updated YT app, and I can see 4K/60 whilst signed in fine.

Makes me sad that its not consistent across the board yet

 

[xxray]

Anyone notice the new ”VP9 decoder” and “WebRTC VP9 codec” experimental features in Safari settings?

 

[Birkan]

Anyone notice the new ”VP9 decoder” and “WebRTC VP9 codec” experimental features in Safari settings?

They added VP9 decoding support to Safari Tech Preview Release 110 couple of weeks ago. Later on they released both STP v111 and new Safari 14 version as part of Big Sur update 3. Unfortunately, it does not work on either Safari or STP as of now.

Not really iOS related but they recently added VP9 decoding support to latest version of Safari Tech Preview on macOS.

 

[prospervic]

IPP 2018 12.9, dev beta 3
YT app 4k works only with my second google account, not my primary.

That TOTALLY worked for me!! Thank’s for the tip!

 

[Birkan]

They added VP9 decoding support to Safari Tech Preview Release 110 couple of weeks ago. Later on they released both STP v111 and new Safari 14 version as part of Big Sur update 3. Unfortunately, it does not work on either Safari or STP as of now.

Safari and Webkit
New Features in macOS Big Sur 11 beta 4

• Support for 4K HDR playback of YouTube videos. (64824895)
  

Apple supposedly started supporting 4K HDR YouTube videos with Big Sur Beta 4. It’s a shame I had to downgrade to Catalina this week. Maybe someone can test this.

 

[LFC2020]

Safari and Webkit
New Features in macOS Big Sur 11 beta 4

• Support for 4K HDR playback of YouTube videos. (64824895)

Apple supposedly started supporting 4K HDR YouTube videos with Big Sur Beta 4. It’s a shame I had to downgrade to Catalina this week. Maybe someone can test this.

Only for 2018 and newer MacBooks.

 

[Birkan]

Only for 2018 and newer MacBooks.

Where did you see that it is limited to 2018 and newer Macs if I may ask?

 

[LFC2020]

Where did you see that it is limited to 2018 and newer Macs if I may ask?

 

[Birkan]

Ah, you were talking more about the HDR aspect. Personally, I'm more interested in 4K SDR playback (most of the actual YouTube videos) currently so I think it should be doable on Macs that were introduced before 2018. I saw a comment on Reddit that said it's even available on 2015 Macs but cannot confirm of course.

 

[EugW]

Only for 2018 and newer MacBooks.

That is for DRM’d 4K. YouTube 4K usually has no DRM.

Furthermore, you can already get non-DRM 4K playback in Chrome although it is software decode.

 

[Smici]

That TOTALLY worked for me!! Thank’s for the tip!

Now it’s working on my main account too.

 

[Smici]

Now it’s working on my main account too.

What the heck! Now the youtube app shows one giant thumbnail which takes the whole screen on the 12.9 inch screen. I already restarted the ipad..

 

[xxray]

With beta 4, I lost 4K on my iPhone XS Max, but am able to get it in incognito mode. Nothing will or has ever worked on my iPad Pro 10.5 though.

Have any iPad Pro 10.5 owners been able to get any sort of 4K on YouTube yet? I’m kinda scared that Apple won’t roll it out to a 3-year old iPad Pro, even though it supports HDR.

 

[Ansath]

My 2018 iPad Pro 11" is showing 2160p @ 60, but my iPhone 11 Pro Max is showing 2160p HDR

 

[Jacksavage13579]

Update: Youtube has released the 4K option to more accounts. I have 5/7 accounts now able to watch 4K VP9. Still not on my main though...