How to Fix YouTube Stuttering in Chrome, Edge, Brave and Vivaldi

Summary

In this video, you'll learn how to fix stuttering issues while watching YouTube videos in Chromium-based browsers like Edge, Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi. The problem may stem from an experimental feature called the 'Experimental Quick Protocol,' which is designed to improve video streaming. By navigating to the browser flags and disabling this feature, you might resolve the stuttering issue. However, it may not work for everyone. If the problem persists, you can always re-enable the feature. Watch the video for detailed steps and troubleshooting tips.

Takeaways

• 😀 If you're experiencing stuttering issues while watching YouTube videos in Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi), there may be a fix you can try.
• 😀 The fix involves disabling an experimental feature called the 'Experimental Quick Protocol' flag in the browser settings.
• 😀 Quick, spelled 'QUIC', is a protocol developed by Google to speed up web applications and video streaming services like YouTube.
• 😀 Despite being developed by Google, the Quick protocol may cause stuttering on YouTube videos in some systems.
• 😀 To disable the Quick protocol flag, open the browser flags page by typing the appropriate command in the address bar: 'edge://flags' (Edge), 'chrome://flags' (Chrome), 'brave://flags' (Brave), or 'vivaldi://flags' (Vivaldi).
• 😀 After opening the flags page, search for the 'Experimental Quick Protocol' flag and change it from 'Default' to 'Disabled'.
• 😀 Once the flag is disabled, restart your browser for the changes to take effect.
• 😀 After restarting, check YouTube to see if the stuttering issue is resolved.
• 😀 Disabling the Quick protocol flag may not work for all users. Some reports suggest the problem persists even after disabling it.
• 😀 Some users may not notice any difference in YouTube performance after disabling the flag, meaning the issue could lie elsewhere in the system.
• 😀 The flag commands for different browsers (Edge, Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi) will be available in the description for easy access and copy-paste.

Q & A

What is causing the YouTube stuttering issue in Chromium-based browsers?

The stuttering issue in YouTube videos is caused by an experimental feature called the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol,' which is enabled by default in Chromium-based browsers. Although QUIC is designed to improve web application performance and video streaming, it can sometimes cause glitches like stuttering, particularly with YouTube videos.

What is the QUIC protocol and why is it important for web browsers?

QUIC is an Internet protocol developed by Google, designed to speed up web applications by reducing latency and improving the performance of video streaming, such as on YouTube. It uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) instead of TCP, aiming to deliver faster web page loading and video streaming.

How can I disable the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' flag in Microsoft Edge?

To disable the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' flag in Microsoft Edge, type 'edge://flags' in the address bar, press Enter, search for 'QUIC' or 'Experimental QUIC Protocol,' and set it to 'Disabled.' Afterward, restart the browser to apply the changes.

Do the steps to disable the QUIC protocol work for all Chromium-based browsers?

Yes, the process to disable the QUIC protocol works across all Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi. The only difference is the URL you use to access the flags menu, such as 'edge://flags' for Edge, 'chrome://flags' for Chrome, 'brave://flags' for Brave, and 'vivaldi://flags' for Vivaldi.

Will disabling the QUIC protocol fix YouTube stuttering in every case?

Disabling the QUIC protocol might not fix the stuttering issue for everyone. Some users have reported that the problem persisted even after disabling the flag. However, it is a potential solution worth trying, especially if you notice performance issues while streaming YouTube videos.

What should I do if disabling the QUIC protocol doesn't resolve the stuttering?

If disabling the QUIC protocol doesn't resolve the stuttering issue, consider other factors that could be affecting your video playback, such as a slow internet connection, outdated browser versions, or other browser extensions that might interfere with video streaming.

Why was QUIC developed by Google, and why might it cause issues with YouTube?

QUIC was developed by Google to improve internet speed, particularly for video streaming, by reducing latency. Ironically, it can cause issues with YouTube, even though both QUIC and YouTube were developed by Google. This could be due to how the protocol interacts with the specific video streaming processes used by YouTube.

What is the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' setting in browser flags?

The 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' setting in browser flags is a feature that allows the browser to support the QUIC protocol for faster web and video performance. It is an experimental feature, which means it is still being tested and may have unintended side effects, like causing YouTube stuttering in some cases.

What happens when you disable the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' flag?

When you disable the 'Experimental QUIC Protocol' flag, the browser stops using the QUIC protocol for web and video streaming. This may help resolve issues like stuttering or glitches when watching YouTube videos, as QUIC can sometimes cause these problems.

Can I enable or disable the QUIC protocol permanently in my browser settings?

Yes, you can enable or disable the QUIC protocol at any time in the browser's flags menu. If you disable it and notice no improvement, you can always revert to the default setting by changing the flag back to 'Default.' Keep in mind that the feature is experimental and may be updated in future browser versions.