How to Speed Up a YouTube Playlist and Save Time
Watching at 1.5× or 2× speed is one of the most efficient ways to work through a long YouTube playlist. This guide covers how to change playback speed on YouTube and how to calculate exactly how much time you save before you start.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Change playback speed on YouTube
While watching a video, click the settings gear icon (⚙️) in the video player and select 'Playback speed'. Options range from 0.25× to 2×. For natural-sounding speech, 1.5× is comfortable for most people. For dense technical content, 1.25× is often easier to follow.
Use keyboard shortcuts
On YouTube, pressing Shift+> speeds up playback and Shift+< slows it down. This lets you quickly adjust speed without leaving the video.
Calculate time saved before starting
Go to wipelist.com/playlist-length and paste the playlist URL. The calculator shows the total duration at 1×, 1.25×, 1.5×, and 2× so you know exactly how much time you save. For a 20-hour playlist, watching at 2× saves you 10 hours.
Set speed preferences per device
YouTube does not always remember your speed preference between sessions. Some browser extensions can enforce a default playback speed automatically. On mobile, your speed preference is usually remembered within the app session.
Calculate your playlist duration at every speed
Find out exactly how long a playlist takes at 1.25×, 1.5×, and 2× before you start with Wipelist's free Playlist Length Calculator.
Try Wipelist Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does playing at 2× speed reduce comprehension?
Research suggests most people comprehend spoken content well at up to 1.5×. At 2×, comprehension drops for dense material but is fine for review or content you are already familiar with. Start at 1.25× and adjust based on your comfort.
Can I set a default playback speed on YouTube?
YouTube does not have a persistent default speed setting as a native feature. Browser extensions like 'Video Speed Controller' can apply a default speed automatically to every YouTube video.
Does Wipelist calculate audio time or video time?
Wipelist calculates the raw video duration from the YouTube API, which is the same as the actual video length. Speed adjustments are presented as estimates: divide the total by the playback speed factor.