System requirements & supported devices for YouTube

To watch YouTube videos, make sure you have the most up-to-date browser, operating system, and a good internet connection:

• Newest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
• Internet connection with 500+ Kbps

Movies and TV shows requirements

Some premium videos on YouTube -- like movies, TV shows, and live streams -- require a faster connection and greater processing power for optimal streaming speeds. Here's what you need:

• Newest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari
• Operating system: Windows 7+, Mac OS X 10.7+, or Ubuntu 10+
• Internet connection with 1+ Mbps

It can help to close other tabs, browsers, and programs while streaming your video. It may also help to hardwire your internet connection, instead of using a wireless network connection.

The table below shows the approximate speeds recommended for playing each video format.

Video Resolution	Recommended sustained speed
4K UHD	20 Mbps
HD 1080p	5 Mbps
HD 720p	2.5 Mbps
SD 480p	1.1 Mbps
SD 360p	0.7 Mbps

 

Notes:

• Playback in HD is unavailable for streaming on a browser, except for Safari for HD streaming only. You can also stream in HD using one of the supported devices listed here.
• Sometimes, you can buy or rent the HD/UHD version of a video on a device or browser that doesn't support HD/UHD playback. You can still watch the title in lower quality on that device, or watch HD/UHD from a different compatible device.

Supported devices for Primetime Channels (US, Germany, France, Australia & UK only)

If you are a Comcast Xfinity customer and unable to watch NFL Sunday Ticket or YouTube Primetime Channels through your current TV box, you may need a replacement. Visit an Xfinity Store or call Comcast support to learn more. 

If you’re in the United States, Germany, France, Australia, or the United Kingdom, you can watch YouTube Primetime Channels on the following devices:

Game consoles	PlayStation 5 PlayStation 4 PlayStation 4 Pro
	Xbox Series X Xbox Series S Xbox One X Xbox One S Xbox One
Smart displays	Nest Hub Max Nest Hub
Smartphones & tablets	Phones & tablets running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later
	iPhones & iPads running iOS 12 or later
Smart TVs	Hisense Smart TVs (select models)
	LG smart TVs (2016+ models only)
	Roku TVs (all models)
	Samsung smart TVs (2017+ models only)
	Sharp smart TVs (select models)
	Sony smart TVs (select models)
	Vizio SmartCast TVs (select models)
	Select TVs with Android TV built-in and NVIDIA Shield
	Select Fire TV Edition smart TVs
Streaming devices	Apple TV (4th generation & 4K)
	Chromecast with Google TV
	Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) Fire TV Stick Lite Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen) Fire TV Stick 4K Fire TV Cube Fire TV Cube (1st Gen)
	Select cable TV devices (such as Xfinity X1)

You can watch but not purchase YouTube Primetime Channels on any of the following devices:

• Apple TV
• Xbox
• Select Panasonic TVs