Why YouTube is quiet at 100% volume, and how to fix it
Updated · tested in Chrome
Short answer
YouTube lowers videos it measures as loud, so 100% on the slider can play at about half the level (“content loudness” in Stats for nerds). ytbud’s “Optimize volume” tool makes 100% mean 100% of the original sound, with a limiter so loud videos don’t clip.
Add to Chrome — it’s freeCheck it yourself
- Right-click the player and open Stats for nerds.
- Look at Volume / Normalized: “100% / 52% (content loudness 8.3dB)” means YouTube plays it at 52%.
- Turning off Stable Volume doesn’t change this.
With ytbud, step by step
- Add ytbud to Chrome. “Optimize volume” is on by default.
- Play a loud music video: it now plays at the slider’s level, not YouTube’s reduced one.
- For films, add “Night mode audio”: quieter explosions, clearer dialogue.
Good to know
- Measured, not boosted
- On a test video YouTube reduced by 5.71 dB, ytbud measured +5.9 dB. It never boosts above the original.
- One earbud?
- “Mono audio” puts both channels in each ear.
Questions
Is this a volume booster?
No. It undoes YouTube’s reduction, up to the original level, so nothing distorts. Quiet videos YouTube didn’t lower stay as they are.
Does it change my YouTube volume setting?
No. YouTube’s slider and saved volume stay the same.