The fastest way to fast forward depends on your remote

On Apple TV, you fast forward by holding down the right arrow on your remote or by swiping right on the touchpad. The longer you hold or swipe, the faster the video moves forward. On a Siri Remote (the newer aluminum remote), you can also press and hold the right side of the clickpad. On older Apple TV remotes, the approach is the same: press and hold the forward arrow button until you reach the spot you want.

The speed increases in stages as you hold the button. After a second or two, the video jumps ahead at 2x speed. Keep holding and it accelerates to 4x, then 8x, then 16x, and finally 32x speed. Release the button whenever you want to stop and resume normal playback. This method works across all Apple TV models and all apps that support video playback.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold the right arrow button or swipe right on the touchpad to fast forward; the longer you hold, the faster it goes.
  • Speed increases in stages from 2x to 32x the normal playback rate as you continue holding the button.
  • You can also use the scrubber bar at the bottom of the screen by swiping left or right to jump to a specific point in the video.
  • The scrubber bar method is more precise if you know roughly where in the video you want to go.
  • Fast forward behavior is the same across all Apple TV models and works in Apple TV+, streaming apps, and local content.

Using the scrubber bar for precise jumps

The scrubber bar is the timeline that appears at the bottom of the screen during playback. You can swipe left or right on the touchpad to move a cursor along this bar and jump to any point in the video. This method is more precise than holding the fast forward button because you can see exactly where you are in the video as you move.

To use it, swipe right on the touchpad to move forward along the timeline, or swipe left to move backward. The further you swipe in one direction, the more the cursor moves. Once you find the spot you want, release and the video will jump there. This is especially useful if you know roughly where a scene is — for example, if you want to skip to the second half of a movie, you can swipe to the middle of the scrubber bar and land close to where you want to be.

Differences between Siri Remote and older Apple TV remotes

The Siri Remote (the newer aluminum remote that comes with Apple TV 4K models from 2021 onward) uses a clickpad instead of separate buttons. To fast forward with the Siri Remote, press and hold the right side of the clickpad. The clickpad is touch-sensitive, so you can also swipe across it to move along the scrubber bar.

Older Apple TV remotes have a separate directional pad with distinct arrow buttons. On these remotes, press and hold the right arrow button to fast forward. The behavior is identical to the Siri Remote — speed increases in stages as you hold the button. Both remote types work the same way; the only difference is the physical layout of the buttons.

Fast forwarding in different apps and content types

Fast forward works the same way across Apple TV+, third-party streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+, and locally stored content. The remote controls are app-agnostic, so the button press or swipe you use in one app works in all of them. Some apps may display the scrubber bar differently or add their own playback controls, but the underlying fast forward function remains unchanged.

Live TV and sports streams may behave differently depending on the app and whether the content is being broadcast in real time. Some live streams do not allow fast forwarding at all, while others let you jump ahead only to a certain point (usually a few minutes behind the live broadcast). Check the app's playback controls to see what options are available for the specific content you are watching.

Adjusting playback speed instead of fast forwarding

Some apps, including Apple TV+, offer a separate playback speed control that lets you watch at 0.75x, 1x (normal), 1.25x, or 1.5x speed without jumping ahead in the timeline. This is different from fast forwarding — you are watching the entire video, just at a different rate. To access this, open the playback controls (usually by clicking the touchpad or pressing a button on the remote) and look for a speed or playback settings option.

Playback speed adjustment is useful if you want to watch faster without skipping content, or slower if you want to catch details. Not all apps support this feature, so it may not be available in every streaming service. Apple TV+ and some others do offer it, but Netflix and many third-party apps do not.

Troubleshooting fast forward that is not working

If fast forward is not responding, first check that your remote has fresh batteries. A weak battery can cause the remote to register button presses inconsistently. Replace the batteries and try again. If you are using a Siri Remote, make sure you are pressing the right side of the clickpad firmly — a light touch may not register.

If the remote is working but fast forward still does not work in a specific app, the app itself may not support the feature. Some apps, particularly live TV services, restrict fast forward for licensing reasons. Try fast forwarding in a different app (like Apple TV+) to confirm the remote is working. If it works elsewhere but not in one app, the limitation is with that app, not your Apple TV. If fast forward does not work anywhere, restart your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fast forward through ads on Apple TV?

It depends on the app and the type of ad. On Apple TV+, there are no ads, so this is not an issue. On ad-supported streaming services, some allow you to skip ads after a few seconds, while others do not allow fast forwarding through ads at all. The app controls this, not your Apple TV.

Why does fast forward sometimes jump too far ahead?

The speed increases in stages, so if you hold the button too long, you may overshoot. Release the button sooner, or use the scrubber bar instead for more precise control. The scrubber bar lets you see where you are as you move, so you can land exactly where you want.

Does fast forwarding work on Apple TV through AirPlay?

Yes. When you AirPlay video from your iPhone or Mac to Apple TV, the remote controls the playback on your TV, and fast forward works the same way. The video is being played by Apple TV, so your remote communicates with it directly.

Can I use Siri to fast forward?

Siri on Apple TV does not have a voice command for fast forwarding. You can use Siri to search for shows, launch apps, and control volume, but for playback scrubbing you need to use the remote buttons or touchpad.