iTunes bug causing many users’ 4K titles to be downgraded to HD

Image credit: Apple

Back in 2017, Apple TV 4K users cheered when selected films in their iTunes libraries started receiving Ultra HD upgrades at no extra cost.

Now, it appears the opposite is happening (albeit unintentionally), with both purchased and unpurchased 4K movies being downgraded to HD thanks to an alleged bug, as reported by 9to5Mac.

Originally believed to be an issue only affecting Warner Bros. titles, the list of downgraded movies has since extended to productions from other studios, including MGM, Columbia, Twentieth Century Fox and more.

One user has compiled a list of downgraded titles over on Blu-ray.com's forums, which includes the following:

22 Jump Street (2014)
About Last Night
Aloha (2015)
American Sniper
Annie (2014)
Batman vs. Superman
The Brothers Grimsby (2016)
The Equalizer (2014)
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Ghostbusters II (1989)
Goosebumps (2015)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Hercules (2014)
Hitch (2005)
Hotel Deluxe (2013)
Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Risen (2016)
Spaceballs (1987)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Unforgiven (1993)
The Walk (2015)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Thankfully, it appears that Apple is already rectifying the situation, with some users on Twitter reporting that several titles have returned to their full 4K Ultra HD resolutions, although that hasn't happened for everyone.

How long for the fix to propagate? Still seeing Harry Potter in HD here. Does it take a reboot or something? LolMay 15, 2019

If you've noticed that your 4K purchases have suddenly regressed to HD, your best bet is to wait it out as it looks like the problem is only temporary.

Want films that will never downgrade? Here are the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies

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Stephen primarily covers phones and entertainment for TechRadar's Australian team, and has written professionally across the categories of tech, film, television and gaming in both print and online for over a decade. He's obsessed with smartphones, televisions, consoles and gaming PCs, and has a deep-seated desire to consume all forms of media at the highest quality possible.

He's also likely to talk a person’s ear off at the mere mention of Android, cats, retro sneaker releases, travelling and physical media, such as vinyl and boutique Blu-ray releases. Right now, he's most excited about QD-OLED technology, The Batman and Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga.

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