# YouTube AV2 video codec implementation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/youtube-av2-video-codec-implementation > Updated: 2026-10-26T04:32:57.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. YouTube has announced plans to begin transitioning its web platform to the AV2 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), starting in early 2027. The AV2 format serves as the successor to the AV1 standard, which currently accounts for over 90 percent of the platform’s catalog by watch time. The new codec is expected to offer approximately 25 to 32 percent greater compression efficiency compared to AV1. This advancement is intended to allow for higher image quality at existing bitrates or reduced data consumption while maintaining current quality levels. Engineering leadership noted that the shift aims to enhance playback stability and visual quality, potentially enabling features such as smoother multi-video viewing and improved video conferencing. Beyond basic playback, the transition is anticipated to support enhanced High Dynamic Range (HDR) content and multi-stream viewing, which could allow users to watch different camera angles simultaneously. While Google has demonstrated AV2 functionality in Chrome, specific rollout dates for mobile applications and smart TVs remain unestablished. Full-scale adoption will likely depend on future hardware developments, as current processors lack dedicated silicon for efficient AV2 decoding. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-26: YouTube to implement AV2 video codec by early 2027 YouTube plans to introduce the AV2 codec in early 2027, offering 30% better data efficiency and improved video quality compared to AV1. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/youtube-to-adopt-av2-video-codec-by-2027 ### 2026-10-23: YouTube plans AV2 video codec rollout for web in early 2027 YouTube aims to introduce the AV2 video codec to its web platform by early 2027, offering up to 32% better compression efficiency than AV1. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/youtube-to-adopt-av2-video-codec-in-early-2027 --- Cite as: YouTube AV2 video codec implementation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/youtube-av2-video-codec-implementation