YouTube users have spent the last few weeks noticing odd-looking videos that should have been crisp and sharp. The trouble began in early April when a handful of creators switched to AV1 for their uploads. AV1 is a modern codec that promises better compression and clearer pictures. Instead, some videos looked blurry or blocky in 1080p. A week ago, we dug into how viewers were angry over reduced 1080p bitrates and shared comparisons that showed the drop in quality.
This week, Team YouTube quietly confirmed that a glitch had been messing with AV1-encoded videos uploaded between April 1 and May 30. They say the bug was causing the platform to process those videos at a lower quality than intended. New uploads no longer suffer from the problem. Behind the scenes, YouTube engineers fixed the code so that any video flagged for AV1 will now render at the right resolution and bitrate. That means any creator who uploads a clip today can expect the full benefits of the newer codec.
Unfortunately, fixing the system does not instantly fix every affected video. The company notes that all of the older uploads still sit in YouTube’s processing queue. They plan to convert every impacted file to a high-quality VP9 or AV1 version by mid-June. For now, viewers who try to watch some 1080p videos may still see grainy playback or odd artifacts. The changeover will happen automatically, but patience is required.
This glitch did not affect live streams that use AV1. YouTube only points to VODs, or video-on-demand posts, as having the issue. That makes sense since live streams follow a separate processing path. Still, it left some creators worried. Many had switched to AV1 to save bandwidth. The promise of a smaller file size without a loss in picture quality had been hard to resist. Instead, they watched as subscribers complained about fuzzy visuals.
By mid-June, YouTube expects that every upload from that two-month window will look as sharp as intended. Until then, you might scroll past a few odd videos. If the issue impacts your own channel, rest assured the fix is on the way.
Dwayne Cubbins
1032 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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