YouTube's Experimental 4x Playback Speed Now Available For Premium Subscribers

YouTube already has a 2x speed multiplier for videos that seem to go on a little too long. The company is furthering that with an experimental 4x speed multiplier, available only to YouTube Premium subscribers for the time being.

In the YouTube app for Android, users have the option to scrub through videos with a simple tap and hold on the screen. The touch will speed the video up by 2 times, allowing users to watch the video in half the amount of time it would normally take. This is accompanied by the option to play the video faster without holding your finger to the screen.

YouTube’s experimental feature cabinet now includes the expected 4x speed multiplier (via The Verge). This extra speed means the video will speed up to twice the speed of the fastest currently available option. This doesn’t look like it can be achieved by long-pressing the screen; rather, it needs to be adjusted in the video settings under “Playback speed.” In that menu, the new 4x speed is accompanied by the standard range of speeds, going as low as 0.25x.

Notably, YouTube’s 4x speed is a lot faster than the previous highest speed, and speech is almost impossible to decipher. The speed option is good for tutorials or turning a long-form video into a short, sped-up clip.

This experimental feature is available on Android and iOS for YouTube Premium members. It can be turned on by heading to the You page > premium benefits > experimental features. This is accompanied by a new HD audio bump for music on YouTube. The 4x speed feature will be available through the experimental tab until February 26.