YouTube is testing a new way for users to easily watch videos at 2x speed

YouTube is experimenting with a new capability that will allow Premium subscribers to watch videos at 2x the speed. This feature lets users long-press on the player to automatically set the playback speed to 2x, per YouTube experiment page.

Users taking part in the test on mobile simply held down anywhere on the screen with their finger until a message appeared at the top of the window saying, “Playing at 2x speed”. This feature is also available on the web.

This will likely be a great upgrade for Android and iOS device users as there is currently a four-step process for increasing playback speed. To adjust the speed, subscribers must tap on the video before entering the control menu, selecting the playback speed, and then selecting the desired speed option.

We can also see this option as useful for podcasts, which the company has prioritized in recent years. YouTube Music launched the podcast to US users in April.

Premium subscribers can also try two other features on the YouTube experiment page, including a “larger preview,” which allows Premium users to enlarge the preview thumbnail when searching for a particular clip or moment in the video they’re watching.

The 2x speed and larger preview features are available for testing until August 13th.

YouTube is also experimenting with a feature where users can lock their screen to avoid accidentally interrupting the video. This feature is currently available for users to test through August 5th. (Previously it was supposed to end on July 30.)

Additionally, the video-sharing platform recently confirmed it is testing a new feature on its mobile app called “Stable Volume”, which is designed to keep videos at a consistent volume.

Earlier this month, Zero2Billions reported on another mobile app experiment — an AI-generated quiz — a feature that will help viewers learn more about subjects featured in educational videos.