How to change playback speed on YouTube
YouTube lets you slow down or speed up any video you're watching. The playback speed control is built into the player itself — you don't need an extension or a separate tool. On desktop, click the settings icon (the gear) in the bottom right corner of the video player, then select "Playback speed" and choose your speed. On mobile, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the player, then tap "Playback speed" and pick what you want.
The speed options are the same across devices: 0.25x (very slow), 0.5x (half speed), 0.75x (slightly slow), 1x (normal), 1.25x (slightly fast), 1.5x (faster), and 2x (double speed). YouTube remembers your last choice and will use that speed the next time you watch a video, so if you always watch at 1.5x, you won't have to reset it every time.
Key Takeaways
- On desktop, click the settings gear in the bottom right corner of the player, then select "Playback speed" from the menu.
- On mobile, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the player and choose "Playback speed."
- YouTube offers seven speed options ranging from 0.25x to 2x normal speed.
- Your chosen speed stays set for future videos until you change it again.
- Slowing down videos (0.5x or 0.75x) is useful for learning or following along with tutorials.
Changing speed on a computer or laptop
Start the video you want to watch. Look at the bottom right corner of the video player — you'll see several icons lined up. The settings icon looks like a gear or cog. Click it once.
A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Playback speed" in that menu and click it. A submenu will appear showing all seven speed options. Click the speed you want. A checkmark will appear next to your choice, and the video will when ready start playing at that speed.
If you want to go back to normal speed, repeat the same steps and select "1" (which means 1x or normal speed).
Changing speed on a phone or tablet
Open the video you want to watch in the YouTube app or in your mobile browser. Look at the top right corner of the video player — you'll see three vertical dots (sometimes called a menu icon). Tap those three dots.
A menu will appear. Look for "Playback speed" and tap it. The speed options will show up, and you can tap whichever one you want. The video will start playing at that speed right away.
On some older versions of the YouTube app, the three dots might be in a different spot or the menu might look slightly different, but the "Playback speed" option is always there somewhere in the player controls.
Why you might want to change the speed
Slowing down videos is helpful when you're trying to learn something. If you're watching a tutorial on how to fix something in your home, or learning a new skill, 0.75x or 0.5x speed gives you time to pause and follow along without rewinding constantly.
Speeding up videos saves time. If you're watching a long lecture, podcast, or educational video, 1.5x or 2x speed lets you get through the content faster without missing the important parts. Many people find 1.25x or 1.5x is the sweet spot — fast enough to save time, but slow enough that you can still understand what's being said.
You can also use different speeds for different types of content. You might watch music videos or movies at normal speed, but speed up a long how-to video or a podcast.
What happens to audio when you change speed
When you change the playback speed, YouTube speeds up or slows down both the video and the audio together. The audio pitch stays natural — it doesn't get higher or lower the way it would if you used an old tape recorder. This means the person speaking still sounds like themselves, just faster or slower.
At very slow speeds (0.25x or 0.5x), speech can sound a bit robotic or drawn out, but it's still understandable. At very fast speeds (1.5x or 2x), you might miss some words if you're not paying close attention, so it helps to have subtitles on if they're available.
Using subtitles with different playback speeds
If the video has captions or subtitles, they will speed up and slow down along with the video. This is especially useful when you're watching at a faster speed — you can read the words if you miss them when spoken.
To turn on subtitles on desktop, click the "CC" button in the bottom right corner of the player. On mobile, tap the three dots, then tap "Captions" (if available). Not every video has captions, but most YouTube videos do.
Troubleshooting playback speed problems
If the playback speed option isn't showing up, make sure you're using a recent version of the YouTube app or an updated web browser. YouTube regularly updates its player, and older versions might not have all the features.
If you're watching a video that won't let you change the speed, it's usually because the video creator has disabled that feature. Some creators lock the playback speed on their videos, though this is uncommon. In that case, you won't see the playback speed option at all, and there's no way around it.
If the video is buffering or stuttering when you try to use a faster speed, your internet connection might be too slow. Try slowing the video back down, or wait a moment for the video to load more before playing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube remember my playback speed choice?
Yes. YouTube saves the last speed you chose and uses it for all future videos until you change it. If you watch one video at 1.5x speed, the next video will also start at 1.5x unless you manually change it back to normal.
Can I change the speed on YouTube Shorts?
No. YouTube Shorts (the short-form videos similar to TikTok) don't have a playback speed control. The speed option only works on regular YouTube videos.
What's the slowest and fastest speed YouTube offers?
The slowest is 0.25x (one-quarter normal speed) and the fastest is 2x (double speed). These are the minimum and maximum — you can't go slower or faster than that on YouTube.
Will changing the playback speed affect the video quality?
No. The video quality (resolution) stays the same no matter what speed you choose. Changing speed only affects how fast the video plays, not how clear or sharp it looks.
Can I change playback speed on a smart TV?
It depends on your TV and how you're watching YouTube. If you're using the YouTube app on a smart TV, look for the settings or menu option in the player — the exact location varies by TV brand. If you're casting from your phone or computer, you can change the speed on the device you're casting from, and the TV will follow along.