How to Change Playback Speed on YouTube (Phone, TV and PC)

Speeding a video up is one of the best time-savers on YouTube. A forty-minute webinar becomes a quicker watch, and a fast-talking tutorial becomes easy to follow when you slow it down. Whichever way you want to go, the speed setting's tucked away inside the player menu, which is why a lot of people never find it. Below I've set out the steps YouTube's help centre gives for each device, plus the shortcuts that make it quicker still.

Change YouTube playback speed in the Android app

YouTube's help centre says you need Android version 5.0 or above to play videos at different speeds. If you're on a recent phone or tablet, that won't be a problem. The steps are:

1. Open the video you want to watch.
2. Tap the video once so the controls appear, then tap Settings.
3. Tap Playback speed.
4. Select the speed you want.

The speed applies to the video you're watching. The help article doesn't describe it as a permanent setting, so expect to choose it again for the next video.

Change the YouTube playback speed on a smart TV or streaming device

On TV the label is slightly different. The help centre says playback speed may not be available on all smart TVs and streaming devices, so if you don't see it, that's not necessarily a fault. Where it exists, the steps are:

1. On the video's watch page, select Settings.
2. Select Speed.
3. Select the speed you want.

Finding the YouTube speed option on a computer or iPhone

YouTube's help article also covers computers and iPhone and iPad, but the exact wording of the menu varies by app version and by the layout your account's using. The general idea's the same as on Android: open the Settings icon in the video player and look for the playback speed entry. If your menu looks different from the steps above, look for the closest match. The keyboard shortcuts in the next section are a reliable alternative on a computer.

Keyboard shortcuts for faster and slower YouTube playback

YouTube's page of keyboard shortcuts lists two keys for speed, plus several others that help while you're adjusting. They work on a computer:

Key	What it does according to YouTube
Greater-than key	Speeds up the playback rate
Less-than key	Slows down the playback rate
k	Pauses or plays the video
j	Goes back 10 seconds
l	Goes forward 10 seconds
Left or right arrow on the seek bar	Goes back or forward 5 seconds
m	Mutes or unmutes the video

Those two speed keys are the same keys that carry the greater-than and less-than symbols, so on most keyboards you hold Shift while pressing them. The help page also notes that if you're using the newer computer layout, you must click the video player before the shortcuts will work. If nothing happens, click the video first.

YouTube speed controls you can use with a finger on a phone

There are two quick gestures on Android that sit alongside the speed menu, according to YouTube's help centre:

• Double-tap the left side of the screen to rewind 10 seconds, or the right side to fast-forward 10 seconds.
• Tap and hold anywhere on the video to fast-forward at 2x, then lift your finger to stop.

The hold gesture's handy for skipping a long intro without changing the speed for the rest of the video. When you lift your finger, normal playback comes back.

Why the YouTube playback speed option is missing

If you can't see the option, it helps to run through the possibilities in order:

1. Check your Android version. YouTube's help centre says Android 5.0 or above is needed to play at different speeds.
2. Check whether you're on a TV. Playback speed may not be available on all smart TVs and streaming devices.
3. Update the YouTube app. Old versions miss newer menu items. On Android, the Google Play Store lists available updates under Manage apps and device.
4. Look in the right menu. On a phone, tap the video first so the controls show, then use Settings. Playback speed sits in that list, not on the main screen.
5. Try the browser or keyboard route on a computer. If the menu won't show it, the speed keys might.

The help centre doesn't mention a custom speed option, so I won't promise one. What's in the menu is what you can choose from.

Using YouTube speed settings for work and learning

This is where playback speed comes into its own for small-business owners. A recorded webinar or competitor demo can be skimmed faster, then slowed down at the bit you need to copy. If you teach, consider reminding viewers in a pinned comment that they can slow your video down: it's useful for anyone learning a screen-based task, and for viewers who find fast speech hard to follow. Captions help too, and my guide to turning off subtitles on YouTube also shows where the caption controls sit.

Speed settings combine well with other player features. If you want to rewatch a short section repeatedly while you take notes, my walkthrough on looping a YouTube video pairs nicely with a slower speed, and if you'd rather the next video didn't start on its own, see turning off Autoplay on YouTube.

When YouTube playback speed doesn't seem to change

If you've picked a new speed and the video still seems to behave the same, check you chose the speed for the right video and that the video isn't buffering, since a stalled video gives the impression of a speed problem. YouTube's help centre suggests the usual fixes: update the app, restart it, or restart the device. If the problem's on one video only, it may simply be the way it was made.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change playback speed on YouTube on my phone?

According to YouTube's help centre, on Android you tap the video once, tap Settings, tap Playback speed and select a speed. The help centre says you need Android 5.0 or above.

How do I change the YouTube speed on a TV?

YouTube's help centre says to select Settings on the video's watch page, then Speed, then the speed you want. It adds that playback speed may not be available on all smart TVs and streaming devices.

What are the YouTube keyboard shortcuts for speed?

YouTube's shortcuts page lists the greater-than key to speed up the playback rate and the less-than key to slow it down. On the newer computer layout you need to click the player first.

Why can't I see playback speed on YouTube?

The usual reasons are an older Android version than 5.0, a TV or streaming device that doesn't offer it, or an out-of-date app. YouTube's help centre states the first two.

How do I fast-forward at double speed on YouTube?

YouTube's help centre says to tap and hold anywhere on the video on Android, which fast-forwards at 2x. Lift your finger to stop.