A YouTube video feels slow when you just want to get through the explanation. The player’s speed menu lets you pick a faster rate, and a hold gesture gives you a temporary 2× boost. Here’s where to find those controls on your phone, computer, or TV, plus the separate gesture for Shorts.
Speed up videos on iPhone or Android
Open a video in the YouTube app on your Android phone, iPhone, or iPad. On Android, YouTube requires version 5.0 or later to play videos at different speeds, and current app releases may require a newer Android version to install.
Tap the video to reveal its controls.
Open Settings.
Select Playback speed.
Choose a rate above normal to make the video play faster.
Tip: The app also supports temporary 2× playback with a touch-and-hold gesture.
Find the speed menu on your computer
With a video open on YouTube’s desktop website, hover over the player to reveal its controls.
Click Settings.
Select Speed. YouTube also uses the label Playback speed for this menu.
Choose a rate above normal. Players with fine-adjustment controls support changes in 0.05 increments for smaller adjustments between speeds.
Hold the video for a temporary 2× boost
This speeds up a slow stretch without a trip to the speed menu.
On a computer, click and hold the video to play it at 2× speed.
Release the mouse button to end the temporary acceleration.
In the Android, iPhone, or iPad app, touch and hold the video to start temporary 2× playback.
Lift your finger when you want the boost to stop.
Use keyboard shortcuts for quick adjustments
On YouTube’s desktop website, these keys change playback speed:
- 1.Click the video player to give it keyboard focus.
- 2.Press > to increase playback speed. On a US keyboard, use Shift + period; the physical key combination varies by layout. Pressing period without Shift advances one frame when paused instead of increasing speed.
- 3.Press < to decrease playback speed when you need to slow down.
Give Shorts their own speed boost
Open a Short in YouTube’s updated touch-screen Shorts player, where the speed gesture is available.
Press and hold the edge of the screen to start 2× playback.
To keep that speed for the entire Short, swipe down while continuing to press.
Tip: For a temporary boost instead, release your finger without swiping down.
Change playback speed on your TV
This speeds up videos on smart TVs and streaming devices with YouTube’s Speed control.
Use your remote to open Settings on the video’s watch page.
Select Speed.
Choose a faster rate.
If Speed is missing, open the video in the YouTube mobile app or desktop website instead. Some TVs and streaming devices do not support this feature.
Go beyond 2× with YouTube Premium
Sign in with your YouTube Premium account on Android, iPhone, iPad, or the web to access playback speeds up to 4×. Experimental-feature enrollment is no longer required.
Open the video’s Settings > Playback speed or Speed menu.
Choose your rate, with fine adjustments available in 0.05 increments.
For automatic speed changes on Android, tap a playing video to reveal its controls. Premium’s Auto speed works with English content and excludes Shorts, premieres, live streams, music, movies, and shows.
Open Settings > Playback speed.
Turn on Auto speed below the speed-setting bar.
Choose a minimum baseline between 1.0× and 4×.
Re-enable Auto speed after closing and reopening the app.
If automatic speed is unavailable for your video, select a fixed rate from Playback speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a default speed for every YouTube video?
On desktop Chrome, Video Speed Controller offers a remembered-speed option and per-site speed rules for youtube.com. These preferences belong to the extension; YouTube has no current official Google-account default-speed setting.
Will speeding up playback fix YouTube buffering?
Playback-speed controls change how quickly the video plays. They do not fix buffering.
Does my phone’s playback speed carry over when I cast to a TV?
YouTube does not guarantee that your phone’s selected speed transfers to a Cast receiver. On a supported TV, use the video’s Settings > Speed menu.
Is fast-forwarding the same as increasing playback speed?
No. Fast-forwarding, double-tap seeking, and Jump ahead skip content. Increasing playback speed plays the video continuously at a faster rate.