Do you feel like your internet data is disappearing too fast whenever you stream live shows on YouTube TV?
Are you trying to figure out exactly how much data YouTube TV is using up every time you watch?
YouTube TV is a service that lets you watch live TV and on-demand shows online without a cable box or satellite dish.
The first time you subscribe to YouTube TV, you get access to tons of popular channels and cloud DVR recording all streamed over the internet.
Since it streams everything over the internet, the data usage depends heavily on how long you watch and the video quality.
While this gives you the freedom to watch anywhere anytime, it can seriously eat into your data plan if you are not careful.
So, to manage your data usage, you need to understand how much is used per hour and how to reduce it if needed.
In this guide, you will learn how much data YouTube TV uses per hour and how to reduce the data usage without affecting your streaming.
How much data YouTube TV uses per hour
In this section, you will learn how much data YouTube TV uses per hour at different video quality levels.
So that you can choose the best settings that suit your internet plan.
Here’s what to expect:
- Low quality streams use around 0.3 GB per hour,
- Standard definition uses about 0.7 GB per hour,
- High definition uses about 3 GB per hour, and
- Full HD or 4K can use up to 7 to 14 GB per hour.
1. Low quality streams use around 0.3 GB per hour
If you are on a tight data plan or using mobile data, switching to low quality will use the least amount of data.
This setting can be found in the playback settings and works well if you are watching on a small screen or do not mind a blurry picture.
2. Standard definition uses about 0.7 GB per hour
SD is better than low quality and still saves a lot of data compared to HD.
This is a good balance if you are streaming casually or want to watch something in the background without wasting data.
3. High definition uses about 3 GB per hour
Most users prefer HD for the best viewing experience but it comes with a heavier data cost.
If you are watching sports, movies, or news where clarity matters, HD is the ideal pick but be ready for faster data consumption.
4. Full HD or 4K can use up to 7 to 14 GB per hour
If you have a 4K screen and want to see every detail, streaming in 4K is the way to go.
However, this quality level can quickly exhaust limited data plans unless you are on unlimited internet.
How to reduce YouTube TV data usage
If you want to cut back on how much data YouTube TV uses, here is how to do it easily.
- Change video quality to SD or low quality,
- Watch on smaller screens instead of large smart TVs,
- Avoid 4K streams unless necessary,
- Use WiFi instead of mobile data whenever possible.
Once you apply these tricks, you will notice your data lasting longer while still enjoying your favorite shows.
Conclusion
YouTube TV is super convenient and gives you access to live TV channels anywhere but it can also burn through your data.
For mobile users or anyone with a capped internet plan, switching to SD or low quality and watching on smaller screens can make a big difference.
So take control of your streaming habits and keep your data from disappearing without notice.
Additional Reading:
How To Speed Up YouTube HD Processing
Why Does YouTube Music Keep Pausing? + How To Fix
How To Fix YouTube Search Bar Only Showing Four Results
Brianna is based in Minnesota in the US at the moment, and has been writing since 2017. She is currently a 3rd Year med student at the time of writing this.
