youtube: link to display HD video by default

Question

Is there a way to link a youtube video so that it plays automatically in HD?

I've tried several things (adding &hd=1, &vq=hd720) but none of them works

For example: https://www.youtube.com/v/BH_lZSTYFHs&hd=1

It starts always as 480p, it does not care apparently about the hd=1 parameter in the url

Answer 1

via Is there a way to link someone to a YouTube Video in HD 1080p quality?

Yes there is:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Susj4jVWs0s?version=3&vq=hd720 

options are:

default|none: vq=auto; Code for auto: vq=auto; Code for 2160p: vq=hd2160; Code for 1440p: vq=hd1440; Code for 1080p: vq=hd1080; Code for 720p: vq=hd720; Code for 480p: vq=large; Code for 360p: vq=medium; Code for 240p: vq=small; 

As mentioned, you have to use the /embed/ or /v/ URL.

Note: Some copyrighted content doesn't support be played in this way

Answer 2

Nick Vogt at H3XED posted this syntax: https://www.youtube.com/v/VIDEOID?version=3&vq=hd1080

Take this link and replace the expression "VIDEOID" with the (shortened/shared) ID of the video.

Exapmple for ID: i3jNECZ3ybk looks like this: ... /v/i3jNECZ3ybk?version=3&vq=hd1080

What you get as a result is the standalone 1080p video but not in the Tube environment.