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How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts for YouTube Playback Speed

Follow these steps in order.

  1. Press "Shift + ." to speed up

    Pressing this shortcut while a video is playing increases the playback speed by 0.25x each time.

  2. Press "Shift + ," to slow down

    Pressing this shortcut instead slows the playback speed down by 0.25x each time.

  3. Pick an exact speed from the settings menu

    Clicking the gear icon in the bottom right of the video and selecting "Playback speed" lets you jump straight to any speed from 0.25x to 2x.

  4. Return to normal speed from the settings menu

    To reset the speed back to default, open the settings menu again and select "Normal (1x)."

When opening the settings menu every time got tedious

Watching lectures or interviews sped up used to mean clicking the gear icon and adjusting the speed every single time. With keyboard shortcuts, the speed can be adjusted instantly without ever pausing the video.

These shortcuts only work in a desktop browser

Keyboard shortcuts like Shift+. and Shift+, only function in a web browser on a computer. In the mobile app, the same adjustment has to be made by tapping the screen to bring up the speed control menu instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to play a video faster than 2x?

The default menu only goes up to 2x, but selecting "Custom" sometimes allows entering a finer or higher speed value directly.

Do the same keyboard shortcuts work in the mobile app?

No β€” keyboard shortcuts only work in a desktop web browser. On mobile, you'll need to tap the screen and use the speed control menu that appears instead.