AT&T’s Stream Saver throttles video to standard definition or 480p quality.1 Stream Saver is enabled by default on AT&T’s Unlimited Elite plan and most of AT&T’s prepaid plans.
How do you turn Stream Saver off (or back on)
AT&T has a webpage with instructions for turning Stream Saver on or off. Here are AT&T’s instructions for personal (non-business) plans:
- Go to your usage in myAT&T.
- Look under the usage pie chart and select Manage data.
- Toggle Stream Saver Off or On for the device you want to manage.
- Select Save.
- Wait 5 minutes and restart the device you updated.
What does the video quality look like?
480p is sometimes referred to as “DVD-quality.” While streaming at 480p uses substantially less data than streaming in high definition, video should still be very watchable on a mobile device. The average person won’t find 480p video to look pixelated or grainy.
In my opinion, the video-watching experience is basically identical whether you’re watching something on your phone in 480p or high-definition quality. However, those with an eye for visual quality might appreciate being able to stream at a quality higher than 480p.
Is all video throttled?
No. Stream Saver will only throttle traffic that AT&T has pre-identified as streaming video traffic. Most popular streaming services will be throttled when Stream Saver is enabled, but video traffic from less popular sources may be unaffected.
