Tech - News
Why Netflix Isn't Streaming In 4K and How to Fix It
MONICA J. WHITE
If you can't get Netflix to stream in 4K or Ultra HD despite being on the Premium ($15.99/month) plan, first ensure that the title is available in 4K. While Netflix doesn't disclose this on title cards, searching for "4K" in the search bar will only display titles that offer Ultra HD streaming.
If your movie or show of choice is available in 4K, try to check your Netflix settings, which by default sets the streaming quality setting to "Auto," meaning the best possible mix of quality and data usage. To change the setting to the highest possible option, start by loading the Netflix profile you want to make changes to.
Click your profile picture in the top-right corner, enter the "Account" section, click "My Profile" and then "Playback Settings." Choose "High" to make sure that your data usage is the highest it can be and isn't being throttled at the cost of quality.
If your TV, laptop, mobile device, or streaming box is not compatible with Ultra HD, Netflix may still try to stream at 4K (and thus consume more data), but your device won't display it as such. To make sure that your device supports 4K, search the full model name on the internet and double-check.
According to Netflix, you need "a steady internet connection speed of 25 megabits per second or higher" to be able to watch in 4K Ultra HD. You can check your connection speed using the Ookla Speed Test after you’ve turned Netflix off, as simultaneously streaming will artificially slow down your internet speed.
If your download speed is above 25 MB/s, your internet should not be the problem. However, if everything checks out and your streaming quality is still sub-par, you should check other tips provided by Netflix or contact Netflix support.