Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
To change Crave’s playback quality, open Profile or Settings, choose Video Playback Quality or Streaming Quality, and select the level you want. The exact menu and available choices vary by app, device, subscription, title, and playback route.
Change video quality in the Crave mobile app
- Open the Crave app and sign in.
- Open your Profile, account area, or Settings.
- Select Video Playback Quality, Streaming Quality, or a similarly named option.
- Choose the highest available setting for maximum picture quality, or a lower setting to reduce buffering and data use.
- Stop and restart playback if the change does not take effect immediately.
Some versions show descriptive choices such as Best, Better, Good, and Data Saver. These labels do not always correspond to a fixed resolution, so do not assume that “Best” automatically means 1080p or 4K. Reported menu names and options differ between Crave apps and devices (recent user reports; third-party troubleshooting guide).
Use Wi-Fi for higher-quality viewing where possible. On cellular data, select Data Saver or the lowest setting that still looks acceptable. Actual data consumption varies with the title, device, duration, selected preference, and adaptive streaming; published third-party hourly estimates should not be treated as fixed Crave limits.
Change quality on Crave.ca
- Open Crave.ca and sign in.
- Start the movie, show, or live channel.
- Move the pointer over the player to reveal the controls.
- Open the gear or playback-settings icon, if one is available.
- Choose an available quality level.
Browser playback may offer different quality options from the mobile, smart-TV, or streaming-device app. A browser can also have different device or DRM-related limits, so the highest setting shown there may be lower than the maximum available through another supported route.
#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Change quality on a smart TV or streaming device
Some smart-TV and streaming-device versions of Crave do not provide a manual quality menu. If you cannot find Video Playback Quality, Streaming Quality, or a player gear icon, the app may be selecting quality automatically or the device version may not support manual selection.
Crave is available through multiple Canadian platforms, including standalone apps and services such as Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, selected LG and Samsung televisions, Roku, PlayStation, and Xbox. Bell also offers Crave through Prime Video Channels in Canada. Controls and maximum quality can differ between the standalone Crave app and a host platform such as Prime Video (Bell Media platform information).
Rank #2
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
If the quality control is missing on your TV, try the Crave mobile app or website to see whether the account exposes the setting there. Do not rely on the television’s display-resolution menu: setting a TV to 4K can upscale a lower-resolution Crave signal, but it cannot restore detail that Crave did not deliver.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What the quality settings mean
| Setting | Best use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Best or highest | Stable broadband, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet when picture quality matters most | Uses more bandwidth and data and may buffer on an unstable connection |
| Better or medium | A balance between clarity and reliability | Less detail than the highest option |
| Good or low | Slower or congested connections | Noticeably softer picture |
| Data Saver | Mobile viewing or limited data plans | Lowest detail and potentially reduced sharpness |
| Auto | Connections that change speed or stability | Quality may rise or fall during playback |
“Highest” is a preference or ceiling, not proof of the resolution currently being delivered. Adaptive streaming can start at a lower quality and increase it after playback stabilizes, or reduce it when the connection becomes unreliable.
Rank #3
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Why you may not see 1080p or 4K
Crave’s quality control and Crave’s maximum available quality are different things. Bell says delivered video quality depends on the subscription plan, source material, internet connection, and device (Bell support).
A higher setting cannot create 4K—or any other format—when:
Rank #4
- Hides behind your TV: The all-new design plugs right into your TV with a simple setup
- Super-fast startup: Start streaming channels like Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu in a snap—just turn on your TV
- Long-range Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room with a strong Wi-Fi connection, now up to 2x faster
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku Streaming Stick with the Roku remote
- Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
- the title is not offered in that format;
- your current plan does not include the relevant quality tier;
- the app, browser, TV, or streaming device has a lower capability or DRM limit;
- the connection cannot sustain the stream;
- the title is live, older, or encoded at a lower quality; or
- you are accessing Crave through a platform with different technical limits.
Older coverage described Crave as limited to 720p on most devices, but that was historical and should not be treated as a universal current rule. Recent user reports also describe inconsistent 4K and browser behavior across playback routes (historical 720p report; community report on playback routes). Check Crave’s current plan and device information rather than relying on old plan names or old resolution claims.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf Crave still looks blurry
Work through these checks in order:
- Test another title. If only one movie or episode looks soft, the source, encoding, or title availability may be the cause.
- Select the highest available setting. If there is no manual control, leave quality on Auto and continue troubleshooting.
- Check the connection. Switch from cellular data to Wi-Fi, move closer to the router, or use Ethernet if available. Pause large downloads and other streaming activity.
- Disable a VPN temporarily. VPN routing can add congestion or instability.
- Close and reopen Crave. Then restart the television or streaming device.
- Update the app and device software.
- Restart the modem or router. A speed test alone does not prove that the route to Crave is stable.
- Try another supported device or playback route. This helps identify an app, browser, DRM, or device limitation.
- Clear the app cache or reinstall Crave if your platform provides those options.
Also distinguish resolution from bitrate and source quality. A stream can be technically HD yet still appear soft because of compression, the original source, fast motion, or title-specific encoding. If every title remains at visibly low quality on a fast, stable connection—and the same issue follows you across supported devices—contact Crave support.
Best Value
- Upgrade your TV, instantly – Fire TV Stick HD is our fastest HD streaming stick ever, with a streamlined navigation that jumps straight to your movies, shows, and live TV. Take your entertainment on the go with the new ultra-portable profile. And watch it all come to life with crisp Full HD and Wi-Fi 6 support.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- All your apps in one place – Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, and thousands more. It’s easy to find what to watch from hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including free, ad-supported content. Subscription fees may apply.
- Our most portable stick – Thin and light, without extra clutter. Connects directly to your TV's HDMI port without blocking other ports.
- Easier than ever to set up – Now with Direct Power, it's powered by your TV with the included USB-C cable and eliminates the need for a wall adapter.
Best Crave setting for buffering
For frequent pauses, choose Auto, Better, or one level below the maximum. Manually choosing Best does not guarantee uninterrupted playback; it can demand more sustained bandwidth than an unstable Wi-Fi connection can provide.
For the clearest picture, use the highest available option over stable broadband or Ethernet. For the lowest mobile-data use, choose Data Saver or Good and prefer Wi-Fi. A setting described as “highest quality on Wi-Fi,” where available, remains a preference—not a guarantee of a particular resolution.
Platform-aware diagnosis
- Setting visible: Change it directly, then restart playback.
- Setting missing: The app or device probably controls quality automatically; test another supported app or device.
- Only one title affected: A title or source-quality limitation is more likely than an account problem.
- Every title affected: Check the plan, app version, device, connection, and service status.
- Stuck at 480p, 540p, or 720p: Restart, update, test another playback route, and confirm that the title and plan support higher quality.
Buying a new streaming device or upgrading a plan should be a last step, not the first fix. First confirm that the title supports the desired quality, the current plan permits it, and the existing app or device is the limiting factor. Do not assume that casting, a particular TV app, or a plan upgrade universally guarantees better picture quality.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
