Tesla is reducing video streaming quality on YouTube
Not a Tesla App
Steaming YouTube and potentially other streaming services on Teslas is now limited to 360p resolution. The quality of other streaming services appears to be affected as well.
A recent video shared on Reddit showed an owner attempting to adjust the streaming quality in Tesla’s YouTube app but to no avail. The owner was connected to a WiFi network, but the vehicle still did not allow the quality setting to be changed.
Tesla’s Streaming Apps
To bring an unparalleled entertainment experience to its vehicles, Tesla uses video streaming “apps” that are actually just websites loaded in a chromeless browser. This allows Tesla to easily add streaming services without having to build out native apps. Since the apps aren’t native to Tesla’s operating system, the UI or features available can be changed whenever the site is updated. Initially, this appears to be what is causing the issue with YouTube's lower resolution.
Lower Resolution
Google updated the YouTube user interface for the size and resolution Teslas use, which caused some changes. The new UI that appears in Tesla's YouTube app is now the same one that is used on mobile devices, which defaults to 360p resolution.
With this UI change, the resolution button is no longer in the same spot. Although mobile users can still change the resolution through the Settings icon at the top right corner of the video, the dropdowns in the settings menu do not work in a Tesla.
Was This Accidental?
Tesla’s built-in browser, which is Chromium-based, has had issues in the past, so the inability to adjust the resolution through the use of the dropdown offered in the YouTube app appears to be a bug in the Chromium browser Tesla is using.
So initially it looks like YouTube just changed the UI and the default resolution, but a bug in the browser Tesla uses is preventing users from increasing the resolution. However, the issue is that other streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ in a Tesla appear to be using much lower resolutions as well.
Since multiple apps now appear to stream at a lower resolution, Tesla may have been involved in changing the streaming quality behind these apps. However, there is no official confirmation from Tesla.
Since these apps are just websites, these changes are not due to a specific update and they affect everyone who has access to these streaming services.
Reducing Costs
Tesla uses AT&T to provide its built-in LTE service in the US. They pay based on the amount of data used, and charge customers a flat $9.99/mo. fee for Premium Connectivity. This may be Tesla’s attempt at lowering data usage and costs.
For a brief period in 2019, Tesla showed the bandwidth a vehicle had used in the vehicle's Software menu. However, that information was short-lived in disappeared in the following update.
Tesla used to display the bandwidth a vehicle had used on the screen
Not a Tesla App
Furthermore, the refreshed Model X and Model S cars feature an 8-inch screen in the rear, allowing for passengers to stream Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, among others, while driving. Owners of these models may use significantly more data since their car doesn't need to be in park to stream video. Bumping the streaming quality down to 360p could save a lot of data, and the quality won’t be as noticeable on an 8-inch screen, as opposed to the Model Y and Model 3’s 15-inch screen.
WiFi
Tesla tries to limit cell data usage, but they’re usually pretty lenient and allow owners to use WiFi for practically whatever they want, even if they’re not subscribed to Premium Connectivity. They also allow owners to download lossless songs from TIDAL over WiFi.
However, being connected to a WiFi network does not resolve the current low-resolution limitation on streaming services.
Workaround to Low Resolution
There are a couple workarounds to use a higher resolution. The first was posted by Reddit user u/taska9. “So far, I have found that if you use the YouTube embed link with the vq parameter, I can get 1080p,” u/taska9 writes.
The user adds: “Say the link is https://youtu.be/nzYrogkhmXI Then you enter this link to the browser, youtube.com/embed/nzYrogkhmXI?vq=hd1080. It works.”
This workaround forces the vehicle to use the desktop version of the site, allowing you to adjust the video’s quality. According to other users in the Reddit thread, using Tesla’s browser and going to the provider’s site also allows for HD access.
The second workaround was brought up by our forum user, SteveM3P. The workaround has you load the YouTube app as you normally would and go to the video Settings icon. You then tap the resolution dropdown twice. Nothing will appear on the screen, but you will then be able to use your steering wheel's left scroll wheel to change the resolution. You'll need to press 'left' on the scroll wheel to go through each resolution option.
Video of the Issue
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The Cybertruck has now celebrated its first Halloween, and owners did not disappoint in coming up with clever and unique decorations for their stainless steel trunk. Make sure you’ve got whatever is left of your candy nearby cause we’re going in.
Aliens
Up in the hero image to get us started - the Cybertruck is really a piece of alien technology. At least, that’s how it appears when it first arrives in town. So, why not celebrate the alien-ness of the Cybertruck to North American roads? We love it.
Spooky
@jayvee10x over on X put together this fantastic display for Halloween and included their Cybertruck! The Cybertruck would definitely be a good vehicle of choice to take on zombies and walking skeletons.
By @jayvee10x.
@jayvee10x
Halo
TeslaKen over on the Cybertruck Owner’s Club forums put together this outstanding Cosplay of Master Chief from Halo, and wrapped up his Cybertruck to look like a Warthog. Probably one of the coolest costumes we’ve seen so far.
By TeslaKen on the CT Owners Club
TeslaKen
Jaws
Sometimes, all you need to do to get a scare is to show some nice sharp teeth. The smoke machine just completes the look with the red glow.
Fangs!
Not a Tesla App
More Aliens
Terry Stach and Robert Martin captured some aliens in their trucks. Best to keep an eye on these ones, lest they whisk you away in their Cyber-UFO. Just watch out though, because @brandtsla over on X is being chased by that UFO!
The Cyberbeast’s logo is the three-headed hound that guards the gates of hell - Cereberus. Turns out that S.E. Robinson let the dogs out. Our favorite, all things said. Maybe a smoke machine and some red lights to complete the look though! Oh wait, he’s got that too!
The Cybertruck makes an incredible canvas for Halloween decorations, and we’re eager to see even more creative ideas emerge as it heads into its second Halloween season next year.
While this isn’t exactly a feature most users will see often, Tesla has added some features that should help technicians know more about a vehicle’s history. Best of all, while Service History is aimed at technicians, it’s also accessible by any Tesla owner.
So, grab your wrench, and let’s take a detailed look at Tesla’s new Service History.
Service History
Service History is a new feature in Tesla’s Service Mode that tracks all the maintenance a vehicle has received. Technicians are prompted to use Tesla’s Correction Codes, which define the repair that took place and then provide an optional timestamp for the repair being completed. In short, it’s a way to keep track of repairs and services within the vehicle. This should make it easier for technicians to solve issues by being aware of the vehicle’s history.
Service History is accessible directly on the main panel of Service Mode. While Tesla already has internal tools to access a vehicle’s history, the real benefit will be when the vehicle is serviced by different technicians. For example, a local tech could now be services that Tesla serviced performed and vice-versa.
Service history is also permanent and stays with the vehicle. Once entries are added, they cannot be edited or removed, so there’s no tampering with a vehicle’s service history.
You can see the new Service History option on the bottom right.
Mahtava
These timestamped history logs are permanently saved to your vehicle and are accessible by Tesla and anyone else who can put their car into Service Mode. If you want to take a peek and are on 2024.38 or higher, you can follow our Guide on Service Mode here.
Entering a Service Item
When entering a new Service History entry, you’re given a few options, including a Correction Code. Tesla maintains a list of Correction Codes for pretty much everything under the sun, from a full-out swap of the battery pack or one of the motors to things as simple as replacing the wiper blades or adding windshield washer fluid.
Technicians servicing Tesla vehicles will have the option to indicate whether they’re a first-party doing the work (Tesla Service), a qualified third-party independent repairer, or an unknown—like the vehicle owner themselves.
The pop-up that displays when you open Service History.
Mahtava
If you’d like to add an entry yourself, you can give it a try, as it’s pretty straightforward. You can select a Correction Code for something you’d normally DIY, like adding washer fluid. You can then select a timestamp, which is optional, and then select what type of repairer you are - first party, qualified third party, or other.
The Record Service Menu.
Mahtava
Expanding Service History
Tesla’s new Service History is a really interesting idea. It puts third-party technicians and vehicle owners on equal ground, with everyone having access to a vehicle’s history. It’s also going to be useful for owners to keep track of simple tasks like tire rotations, wiper blade replacements, low-voltage battery replacements, and more.
Service History also helps solve the issue of Tesla not being able to effectively track vehicle services done by qualified third-party repair shops, who often won’t push the vehicle correction codes via Toolbox 3.
Instead, this allows even unfamiliar repair technicians an easy-to-see and easy-to-use solution to log and diagnose potential issues quickly.
We’d love for Tesla to make Service History even more accessible, potentially moving it out of Service Mode, which only a small percentage of owners will ever go into.
It’d be useful if Tesla moved certain options into the main Controls > Service area, allowing vehicle owners to add simple things like adding windshield wiper fluid. For more complex changes, Tesla could ask owners to enter Service Mode, and remind them that all entries are permanent and can not be changed or removed, even by Tesla.
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