How to Change Quality on Netflix on iPhone or iPad

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Get the best video quality on the Netflix app for iOS

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: April 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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Changing Download Quality

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Improving Streaming Quality

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FAQ

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Video

Do you have bad quality on the Netflix app? If you have low resolution on downloaded videos, you can easily change the video quality of a download. There are also plenty of ways to improve your quality if you're streaming Netflix on your phone, tablet, or TV. Here's how to change the quality on Netflix on iPhone or iPad, and many other devices.

Improving Netflix Download Quality: Quick Steps for iOS

Open the Netflix app.
Tap My Netflix.
Tap ☰.
Tap App Settings.
Tap Download Video Quality.
Select Higher.

Section 1 of 3:

Changing Download Quality

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Open the Netflix app on your phone or tablet. If the videos you download from Netflix are blurry or have otherwise bad quality, you can fix it by changing the download resolution. The app icon looks like a red letter N on a black background.
- If you see a list of profiles, tap your icon to open your profile.
This is at the bottom-right corner of the screen. You should see your current icon.

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You can find this in the top-right corner. A pop-up menu will open at the bottom.
This is near the top of the pop-up menu.
On some devices, this will look like Video Quality.
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Select Higher. This will increase the video quality of any downloads. Keep in mind that it may take more time to download the content, and it may use more storage space on your device.^{[1]
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- Downloads can play up to 1080p or high definition (HD).

Section 2 of 3:

Improving Streaming Quality

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Find the video's quality label. Go to a Netflix TV show or movie and open its details page. You'll find the video quality label next to the title. If you see 4K or 4K HDR, the video is capable of streaming in the highest possible quality on your device (Ultra HD or Ultra 4K). If your device supports it, you'll get the best quality when watching movies and shows with those labels.
- If you see HD, the video can play in high definition, but not 4K.
- Look for Dolby Vision, HDR, or HDR10+ for the best color range.
  - If your phone is in low power mode or connected to cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, it may not stream in HDR, even if you see an HDR quality label.^{[2]
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Check your internet connection. Blurry video, buffering, and choppy playback on Netflix could indicate a problem with your internet connection. If you're connected to cellular data, try connecting to Wi-Fi. If you're on Wi-Fi, check your Wi-Fi network and troubleshoot it if necessary.
- It's not recommended to stream videos using cellular data. This can easily use all or most of the data on your plan.
- If you're using the Netflix app for iPhone, iPad, or Android, you can test your internet speed directly in the app. Do the following:
  - Tap My Netflix at the bottom.
  - Tap ☰.
  - Tap App Settings.
  - Tap Internet Speed Test.
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Check your Netflix plan. If you have the Standard with ads or Standard plan on Netflix, the highest video quality you're able to stream in is Full HD (1080p). However, if you have a Premium subscription, you can stream videos in Ultra HD (4K) and HDR for available content.^{[3]
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- On smaller devices, Full HD should still give you pretty good quality video, just not as detailed as 4K.
- If you want to upgrade your plan, you can do so by logging into the Netflix website and going into your account settings.
To make sure you're streaming in the best possible quality on your device and plan, make sure your device is running the latest software version available. If you're watching Netflix on an old phone, tablet, or TV, and your other streaming services are also looking kind of bad, it may be time for a new device.
If you're using a TV and streaming stick or a streaming device, make sure the video resolution settings on your device are equal to or greater than the resolution you want to stream.
If you're using a TV or TV streaming device, you'll need to use a cable that can support the resolution. For example, if your TV is capable of streaming 4K, you'll need an Ultra High Speed or Premium High-Speed HDMI cable. Otherwise, your quality is limited to your standard HDMI cable.
While most shows and movies on Netflix are available in HD or 4K, there are some that are not. You can check by looking on the details page of a title.
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Change your playback settings. This setting can only be changed on a web browser. Do the following:
- Go to your Netflix Playback Settings in a web browser.
- Log into your account if needed.
- Select High.
- Click Save.

Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I change the Netflix quality on my iPhone or iPad? To change the download quality, open the Netflix app and tap My Netflix. Tap the menu icon and select App Settings. Select Higher to increase the quality of video downloads.
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Why can't I stream in 4K? If you have a Standard subscription on Netflix, you can only stream at Full HD (1080p) highest. If you want to stream in 4K, you'll need to update your subscription to Premium.
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Why does Netflix look bad on my iPad? If Netflix looks bad on your iPad and only your iPad, it may be an issue with the device itself. Make sure your iPad is fully updated to the latest version, and update the Netflix app. Be sure your iPad is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network when streaming.
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How do I check the Netflix resolution on my TV? All Netflix titles have a quality label that shows the resolution you're currently streaming at. To find it, open a TV show or movie's detail page. You'll see the quality label next to the title.