● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
How to Improve YouTube Music Audio Quality to 256 kbps
Key points
- YouTube Music defaults to 128 kbps audio quality.
- Premium subscribers can change settings to 256 kbps for streaming and downloads.
- Higher quality uses more data and requires a strong connection.
- Previously downloaded tracks must be re-downloaded for improved quality.
Default Audio Quality and Premium Requirement
YouTube Music's default audio quality is 128 kbps, which is suitable for data conservation but not for high-fidelity listening. To access higher audio quality settings, users must subscribe to YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium. Without a premium subscription, the audio quality remains capped at 128 kbps.
Increasing Streaming Quality
Premium subscribers can adjust their streaming quality to 256 kbps. This is done by navigating to the profile picture, then Settings, and finally the playback menu (Data saving on Android, Playback & restrictions on iPhone). Users can then select 'High' or 'Always High' for both mobile network and Wi-Fi audio quality. 'High' uses 256 kbps when the connection is strong, while 'Always High' attempts to maintain this quality even on weaker connections.
Adjusting Download Quality
The audio quality for downloaded music can also be set to 256 kbps. This setting is found under profile picture > Settings > Download & storage > Audio quality, where users can choose 'High'. A key consideration for downloaded music is that existing downloads will not automatically upgrade to the higher quality; they must be removed and re-downloaded to reflect the 256 kbps setting.
Impact of Higher Quality
Upgrading to 256 kbps can provide noticeably cleaner audio, particularly when using high-quality headphones or speakers. However, this improvement comes at the cost of increased data usage. Therefore, it is most beneficial for users with a stable internet connection and a sufficient data plan.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
YouTube Music users can increase their audio streaming and download quality to 256 kbps from the default 128 kbps by adjusting settings within the app. This higher quality setting is only available to YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscribers. The change can result in cleaner audio, especially with quality headphones or speakers, but uses more data.