Where to find Netflix quality settings

Netflix lets you control video quality in your account settings, not in the player itself. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV, but the setting lives in the same place: your account menu.

On any device, sign into Netflix and look for your profile icon or account menu — usually in the top right corner on computers and web browsers, or in a menu button on phones and tablets. From there, select "Account" or "Settings". You're looking for a section called "Playback settings" or sometimes "Video playback quality". This is where Netflix shows you what quality you're currently set to and lets you change it.

Key Takeaways

  • Netflix quality settings are in your account menu under "Playback settings", not in the video player itself.
  • The three quality options are Low (saves data), Medium (standard), and High (4K on compatible plans and devices).
  • Changing your setting affects all devices on your account unless you adjust it per-device on a phone or tablet.
  • Your actual video quality also depends on your internet speed, your Netflix plan tier, and whether your device supports that quality.
  • Netflix automatically reduces quality if your connection is slow, even if your setting says High.

Understanding Netflix's three quality levels

Netflix offers three quality tiers: Low, Medium, and High. Low uses the least data and is useful if you're on a limited connection or a metered phone plan. Medium is standard definition and is what most people watch. High is where Netflix offers 4K resolution, but only if your plan includes it and your device can display it.

The confusing part is that "High" does not always mean 4K. On the Premium plan, High means 4K. On the Standard plan, High means 1080p (full HD). On the Basic plan, you're capped at 720p no matter what you select. Netflix does not let you pick a specific resolution — you pick Low, Medium, or High, and the service delivers whatever that means for your plan and device.

If you want to know what quality you're actually watching right now, pause the video, look for an information icon (usually an "i" in a circle), and tap it. Netflix will show you the resolution, frame rate, and audio format of the current stream.

How to change quality on a computer or web browser

Open Netflix in your web browser and sign in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account". On the Account page, find the section labeled "Settings" and click "Playback settings". You'll see three radio buttons: Low, Medium, and High. Select the one you want and scroll down to click "Save".

This change applies to Netflix on all your devices unless you override it on a specific phone or tablet. If you change it back and forth frequently, remember that Netflix remembers your choice, so you won't have to hunt for the setting again next time.

How to change quality on a phone or tablet

Open the Netflix app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap "Settings", then "Playback settings". You'll see the same three options: Low, Medium, and High. Select your choice and tap the back arrow to save it.

On phones and tablets, you can also set a separate quality level just for when you're using mobile data versus WiFi. In the same Playback settings menu, look for "read quality" or "Cellular data usage" depending on your app version. This is useful if you want to watch in High quality at home on WiFi but automatically drop to Low when you're out and using your phone's data plan.

How to change quality on a TV or streaming device

On a TV app — whether that's a smart TV, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or gaming console — navigate to your profile icon and select "Settings" or "Account". Find "Playback settings" and select your preferred quality. The exact menu layout varies by device, but the setting is always in the same general location.

TV apps do not usually offer per-connection quality settings the way phones do. Your TV will use whatever quality level you set, and Netflix will adjust downward automatically if your internet connection is too slow to handle it. If you're seeing pixelated or blurry video on your TV, check your internet speed first — Netflix needs at least 5 Mbps for High quality, 3 Mbps for Medium, and 1 Mbps for Low.

Why Netflix might ignore your quality setting

You set your quality to High, but the video looks fuzzy. This usually means one of three things is happening. First, your internet connection is too slow. Netflix automatically reduces quality if your speed drops below what's needed for your setting. Second, your device does not support that quality — older phones and tablets, for example, cannot display 4K even if you select High. Third, your plan does not include that quality tier.

Netflix does not tell you which of these is the problem. The easiest way to check is to look at what you're actually watching: pause the video and check the info icon. If it shows a lower resolution than you expected, your connection or device is the bottleneck, not your setting.

What happens when you change quality mid-stream

If you change your quality setting while a video is playing, Netflix does not when ready switch the current stream. It will use your new setting the next time you start a video or resume after pausing for a while. This means if you change from High to Low to save data, the current episode will keep playing in High until you stop and restart it.

This is actually useful: you can change your setting without interrupting what you're watching. Just remember that the change does not take effect until you start something new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing to Low quality make my Netflix slower to load?

No. Low quality actually loads faster and uses less data, but it does not speed up Netflix itself. If Netflix is slow to load shows or is buffering, the problem is your internet connection, not your quality setting. Lowering quality might help if you're constantly buffering, because it requires less bandwidth.

Can I set different quality levels for different profiles on my account?

No. The quality setting applies to your entire account across all profiles. If you share your Netflix account with family members who want different quality levels, you would each need to change the setting when you use it, or you need separate accounts.

Does changing quality to Low save money on my Netflix bill?

No. Your bill is based on your plan tier, not on what quality you watch. Changing to Low quality saves data on your phone plan and reduces the bandwidth Netflix uses, but it does not reduce your Netflix subscription cost.

What quality should I use if I have a slow internet connection?

Start with Medium. If you're still seeing buffering or pixelation, drop to Low. Netflix needs at least 1 Mbps for Low quality to work smoothly. You can check your internet speed using a free tool like Speedtest.net to see if your connection is the problem.

Why does my Netflix look worse on my TV than on my phone, even though I set both to High?

Your TV is probably a larger screen, so lower resolution is more noticeable. A 4K picture looks sharp on a 6-inch phone but blurry on a 55-inch TV. Also, your TV might not support 4K, or your internet connection might not be fast enough to stream 4K to both devices at once. Check your TV's specs and your internet speed.