YouTube app update broke playback speed option

A recent update to the YouTube app on Android seems to have botched the playback speed function. Many users have taken to Reddit and X to report that they are no longer able to change the playback speed when watching videos.

According to reports, tapping on the 0.25, 1.25, 1.5, or 2.0 playback speed options does absolutely nothing. I was able to replicate this problem on a couple of my Android smartphones too with version 19.44.37 of the YouTube app. I could not replicate the same bug on an iPhone with YouTube version 19.45.4.

Some users report that clearing the app’s cache or reinstalling didn’t help, so they’re left hoping for a quick bug fix. In the meantime, a few have found creative workarounds. For example, some users shared on Reddit that holding a finger down on the screen while playing a video might temporarily change the speed, though it’s a hassle and reverts as soon as you lift your finger. Another user managed to get 2x speed by sliding their finger down the right side of the screen while holding a specific area, though they admitted it’s not reliable.

This issue has led to plenty of frustrated comments, with many saying they rely on faster playback speeds for lectures, podcasts, or just to get through videos more quickly. Some users, like @YangZingEnjoyer on Reddit, said they watch all their videos at 2x speed and find it “inconvenient” to watch at normal speed.

Google hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issue yet, so there’s no word on when a fix might arrive. It seems like we’ll have to wait for YouTube to send out an update that fixes the bug. If you absolutely have use the playback speed feature, you could try using YouTube on your mobile’s browser until a fix arrives. I tested it on my Android devices and it did the trick.