If you’re the type who cranks up YouTube playback speed to zip through tutorials, vlogs, or even just podcasts on your commute, you’re probably feeling more than a little frustrated this week. The YouTube app for Android has picked up a bug that’s rendered its playback speed controls completely useless.
Multiple users have confirmed they can access the playback speed controls through the settings gear just like always. They can tap different presets or even drag the speed slider around, but none of it actually sticks. Close the menu and return to check, and you’ll find everything reset to 1x again.
The problem affects both the stable version (20.28.39) and beta version (20.29.39) of the YouTube Android app, suggesting this isn’t just a fluke with one particular release. Interestingly, YouTube’s web version continues working normally, and YouTube Music’s playback controls for podcasts remain unaffected.
At the time of this writing, I could not reproduce the bug with the stable YouTube app on version 20.28.39. So it’s possible that Google might have fixed the problem in the past hour or so, but I haven’t found anyone confirming the same.
This isn’t the first time YouTube’s speed controls have gone haywire. A similar glitch popped up late last year, leaving users equally frustrated when they couldn’t speed through content or slow down complex tutorials. Then, just a few months ago, some users reported being stuck at a bizarre 0.03x playback speed.
YouTube has acknowledged the bug through their Help community, with a company representative stating they’re “aware some of you are experiencing issues adjusting playback speed while watching videos on Android devices” and that their teams are “actively investigating this issue.”
Some Reddit users have discovered temporary workarounds, though none are particularly satisfying. Restarting the app seems to restore speed controls for the first few videos you watch, but the fix becomes less reliable as time goes on. Another option involves pressing and holding on the video player to double the speed, but it immediately reverts to normal when you lift your finger.
This latest glitch adds to YouTube’s growing list of recent technical disasters across multiple platforms. Just a couple of months ago, users faced a bug that made the entire bottom navigation bar disappear on Android, cutting off access to subscriptions, library, and even profile settings. The only way around it was switching to YouTube’s mobile website.
YouTube also struggled with a widespread video quality crisis that trapped users at unwatchably low 144p or 360p resolution regardless of their internet connection or device capabilities. iPhone users were hit particularly hard, with videos refusing to play above potato quality even when manually adjusted to higher settings.
The platform also dealt with a homepage bug recently that left users staring at completely barren recommendation feeds. Some users opened YouTube to find virtually no videos suggested at all, while others got random content that seemed pulled from someone else’s account.
For now, Android users who rely on speed controls will need to either switch to YouTube’s web version in their browser or wait for the company to push out a fix. It’s likely that the fix will go out anytime now, if it hasn’t rolled out already.
Feel free to drop a comment below to let us know if you’re still facing the problem or not.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1252 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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