How to Fast Forward on YouTube
YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, offering a vast collection of content ranging from music videos and movie trailers to documentaries and tutorials. With thousands of hours of videos uploaded every minute, it’s important to know how to navigate through the content efficiently. One feature that comes in handy when watching longer videos or trying to find a specific part within a video is fast forwarding. In this article, we will guide you through different ways to fast forward on YouTube.
1. Keyboard Shortcuts:
YouTube provides various keyboard shortcuts to control your video playback. Pressing the right arrow key (→) on your keyboard will fast forward the video by 5 seconds. If you want to fast forward in larger increments, you can press the same key multiple times. Likewise, combining the right arrow key with the Shift key (→ + Shift) will fast forward by 10 seconds. However, please note that the availability of keyboard shortcuts may vary depending on your browser or operating system.
2. Drag the Slider:
Another simple method to fast forward on YouTube is by manually dragging the video progress slider. While watching a video, you’ll find a horizontal bar at the bottom representing your video’s timeline. To fast forward to a specific part, hover over the progress bar with your mouse cursor. Click and hold the left mouse button to drag the slider forwards. This method allows you to navigate precisely to your desired section of the video.
3. YouTube Mobile App:
If you prefer watching YouTube on your smartphone, you can also fast forward using the YouTube mobile app. While watching a video, tap anywhere on the video screen to reveal the playback controls. You’ll see a timeline at the bottom of the video player. Simply swipe your finger from left to right on the timeline to fast forward. Similar to the web version, dragging your finger along the timeline allows for precise navigation.
4. Video Description:
You may not know this, but YouTube videos often include timestamps in their descriptions. Creators use timestamps to link different sections of a video, allowing viewers to jump directly to specific content. To fast forward using video descriptions, open the description box located below the video player. Look for any timestamps provided, usually formatted as hours:minutes:seconds. Clicking on a timestamp link will take you directly to the corresponding section of the video, saving you precious time.
5. YouTube Playback Speed:
If you’re looking to navigate even faster, consider adjusting the playback speed of the video. By default, YouTube videos play at 1x speed. However, you can speed up or slow down the video’s playback as per your preference. Simply click the settings (gear) icon located at the bottom right corner of the video player. In the playback speed options, choose a higher value like 1.25x, 1.5x, or 2x to fast forward the video. Keep in mind that this will also affect the audio pitch, so choose a speed that best suits your needs.
Remember, fast forwarding on YouTube allows you to skip boring or irrelevant parts of a video and quickly find what you are looking for. Whether you’re watching YouTube on a web browser or using the mobile app, these methods will help you navigate efficiently through any video. Try out these different techniques and enhance your YouTube viewing experience today!