Some YouTube users report mobile app randomly setting playback speed to 0.03x speed

Something strange is happening with the YouTube mobile app for a number of users. They are finding their videos playing at an incredibly slow 0.03x speed. This is not just a one-off thing. Multiple reports have popped up across online forums. People are wondering why their content is suddenly moving like a snail.

One user said they thought it was buffering. Then they realized the video was playing. It was just so slow. The sound became a bizarre, almost unrecognizable buzz. Another user mentioned it happening after finishing one video and then picking another. The new one just started at this super low speed.

The typical lowest playback speed option on YouTube is 0.25x. This makes the 0.03x speed even more puzzling. It appears to be an unintended glitch. It is not a selectable option for users. This has led to frustration. Viewers are forced to manually adjust the speed every time this happens. It disrupts their viewing experience.

Interestingly, this issue seems to pop up randomly. Some users have reported it happening when they are trying to use the 2x speed feature. This is normally activated by holding down on the screen. Instead of speeding up, the video slows way down to that near-standstill 0.03x. It is quite annoying, especially during short videos.

I tried to replicate this issue myself by testing it on both Android and iOS devices. However, I could not trigger the 0.03x playback speed bug. All the videos I tapped on played at the normal speed, as expected.

This suggests the problem might not be widespread for everyone. It could be affecting specific devices or app versions. YouTube has not yet released any official statement regarding this peculiar bug, so it’s unclear how long it’ll take for a fix to arrive. That said, such glitches are usually fixed within a few days or so.

We’ll keep tabs on the situation and will post an update if and when there are any further developments.