YouTube add-ons and tricks to improve your watching

Unlock YouTube's Hidden Potential: Tips, Tricks, and Add-ons

Almost everyone uses YouTube, but most users only scratch the surface. This guide reveals advanced features, hacks, and extensions to elevate your YouTube experience.

Create a Video Queue with "Watch Later"

YouTube's built-in "Watch Later" playlist is a game-changer. It's a default playlist where you can queue videos for later viewing. You can also create custom playlists for any purpose.

To add a video: Click "Add to" below the video and select "Watch Later." On mobile, tap the plus icon and then "Watch Later."

Edit Videos Directly on YouTube

No video editing software? No problem! YouTube's built-in editor lets you combine clips, split scenes, adjust brightness/contrast, stabilize shaky footage, add transitions, and even include royalty-free music.

Access it via youtube.com/editor or by clicking "Edit" under a video in your Video Manager.

Manage Your Viewing History and Recommendations

YouTube tracks your viewing history across devices. Review your history, delete unwanted videos (especially useful on shared computers), or improve recommendations by removing irrelevant entries. You can even clear your entire history.

Find your history via the website's main menu or your app's profile page.

Customize Video Quality and Playback Speed

On desktops, adjust video quality (resolution) manually via the cog icon on the video controls to optimize for your connection. You can also change playback speed for faster or slower viewing.

On mobile, adjust quality to save data via the three dots menu. App settings also offer a toggle to prevent high-definition playback unless on Wi-Fi.

Share Specific Video Moments

Need to share a specific part of a long video? Right-click a playing video and select "Copy video URL at current time." Alternatively, use the Share button, check "Start at," and enter the timestamp. The link will begin playback at the specified point.

Create GIFs and MP3s from Videos

Websites like Giphy (for GIFs) and Online Video Converter/Peggo (for MP3s) allow you to convert YouTube videos. Paste the video URL into these tools for easy conversion. (Note: Audio extraction may violate YouTube's terms of service.)

Master YouTube Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts significantly improve navigation. The spacebar pauses/plays; arrow keys (or J/L) jump forward/backward; M mutes; and 0-9 jumps to 0-90% of the video's length.

Enhance Your YouTube Experience with Extensions

Extensions like Particle (Chrome/Firefox) offer numerous enhancements: pop-out windows, frame-by-frame playback, ad blocking (for unsubscribed channels), playlist control, recommendation filtering, screenshot capture, and more. (Note: Extensions typically don't work on mobile apps.)

Try Out New Features with YouTube TestTube

YouTube TestTube lets you preview upcoming features. You might be asked for feedback, but participation is optional. Available features vary; examples include ultra-high-definition videos and design previews (including dark mode).

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