YouTube never stops improving the experience for YouTube Premium viewers by introducing new experimental features. The latest addition is the 4x Playback Speed option, allowing users to watch content at four times the normal speed — ideal for quickly browsing through long videos. The feature allows users to watch videos at four times the normal speed.
This feature is now available to YouTube Premium members and is being tested. However, it is only accessible through YouTube’s ongoing efforts to refine playback controls.
What Is the 4x Playback Speed Feature?
Now, users can super-speed video playback by choosing from more than seven speed levels. The available range spans from 0.25x up to 2x, and the newly introduced option is the 4x speed mode.
This feature is useful for users who want to consume content faster. It includes watching videos on educational topics, online courses, academic lectures, technical tutorials, or detailed discussions.
It allows users to play back faster and optimize their learning or content consumption experience. This option is also suitable for professionals, researchers, and students who want to review materials without losing comprehension.
How to Access the Feature
You must opt into YouTube’s experimental features, which bring you 4x playback speed as a YouTube Premium subscriber. Here’s how to enable it:
Make sure to have an active YouTube Premium subscription.
Scroll down on your YouTube, click on YouTube settings, and visit YouTube’s experimental features page.
If it is available for your account, opt into the 4x playback speed experiment.
If you use Android, iOS, or desktop, update your YouTube app to the latest version.
Pick a video, tap the settings icon, choose “Playback speed,” and 4x.
Benefits of 4x Playback Speed
Here are some important benefits of the 4x playback speed option.
Faster content consumption: This method presents information more efficiently by letting users acquire main points from videos without watching them live.
Improved productivity: Medically important when used by students and professionals, specifically to revise educational material, academic lectures, or long talks.
Custom viewing experience: Users can choose how fast to watch for rapid information intake, decide to slow things down and watch details, or give control over what to play.
Limitations and Availability
This feature is still experimental, so it may not exist in all YouTube Premium users yet. Features on YouTube are often rolled out in phases so YouTube can get their usability, take user feedback, and make any fixes to a wider rollout.
Moreover, while 4x playback speed helps consume educational content, long-form presentations, and discussions, it may not always be the best option for all videos. The faster we go, the less we may understand the content because it utilizes a lot of dialogue, subtle explanations, or music.
YouTube will continue to refine this feature as users give feedback on it, which will, in turn, help YouTube decide on the final implementation, availability, and potential changes needed concerning the content types.
The Extract
This is part of YouTube’s attempts to improve the user experience and provide better playback controls. This feature is still being tested but may become permanent if users like it. Premium users interested in faster playback should try it until it’s no longer available.
Also Read: The Devices You Need to Run YouTube TV
