How to Always Play YouTube Videos in a Certain Quality/Size

YouTube offers various quality options for playing videos, some of which will suit users with high speed connections while others low quality formats are ideal for people having limited bandwidth or slower connection. YouTube also has the ability to automatically determine the optimal quality depending on the user’s connection speed, but it doesn’t work well enough for the ones on wireless connection where speeds keep on fluctuating. On the other hand there are many users (like me) who keep YouTube running in the background just for listening to the audio. So choosing a lower quality will help in reducing the bandwidth usage, plus faster streaming.

How to Play all YouTube Videos in Same Quality

YouTube as of today does not provide any option to select a certain quality for all the videos played. Although there is a setting to Always play in HD or Never play HD, but that hardly provides enough choice to the users. However there are certain browser plugins/extensions which extend the functionality and allow users to set a quality standard for all the YouTube playbacks. At any point of time, user can change the quality as needed.

Mozilla Firefox – YouTube High Definition

If you are using Firefox or any other browser based on the same code, YouTube High Definition is the Addon for you. Unlike its name, the Addon lets you play all YouTube videos not just in HD, but also in any quality of your choice. There is also the option to select the size of the video player i.e Shrink, Large or Default. Video Quality options range from the low 240p to 1020p or even the highest resolution available.

Get the Addon for Firefox

Google Chrome – Auto HD For YouTube

Chrome users can use the Auto HD for YouTube extension to define the quality for playing all of the YouTube videos. Just like its Firefox alternative, the extension does more than its name. Besides HD, it also lets you select from the various other video quality options like 240p or 720p. Sadly there is no option to select a quality lower than 240p. So disappointment of some is expected.

Just install the extension and the option to select the quality will show up in the Address Bar once you are on a YouTube video page.

Get the Extension for Chrome