How to Change Playback Speed on YouTube
Speed up or slow down any YouTube video from 0.25x to 2x using the player settings, a keyboard shortcut on the website, or a long press in the app.
Every YouTube video can play anywhere from 0.25x to 2x speed, with a custom value in between, and the audio pitch stays normal. The control is in the player on both the website and the app.
Open the player settings
Click the gear icon at the bottom right of the video player. Choose Playback speed.
Pick a speed
Choose a preset from 0.25 to 2. Normal returns to 1x. For a value that is not listed, click Custom and drag the slider; it moves in steps of 0.05, so 1.35x or 1.8x are both available.
Use the keyboard on the website
Press Shift + . (period) to speed up by 0.25x and Shift + , (comma) to slow down by 0.25x. The player flashes the new speed on screen for a second. Click the video first so the player has focus.
Change it in the phone app
Tap the video once to bring up the controls, then tap the gear icon at the top right. Tap Playback speed and pick a value, or drag the slider under Custom. Tap outside the panel to close it.
Return to normal speed
Open the same menu and choose Normal. On the website you can also press Shift + , until the speed reads 1x.
Press and hold for 2x. In the phone app, press and hold anywhere on the video to play it at 2x for as long as your finger stays down. Release to return to whatever speed you had set. A 2x label at the top of the video confirms it is active.
It may reset. On some devices the speed applies only to the current video, so the next one may play at normal speed. Check the gear menu if a video sounds slower or faster than expected.