11 Cool YouTube Tricks for Using YouTube Better

YouTube is the world’s second-largest social media platform with 1.9 billion users. So many people use YouTube because it is a great place to go if you’re looking to learn something new or just want to be entertained.

If you’re one of their billions of users, then you might be wondering how you can use YouTube more efficiently. 

It may be surprising for you to know that there are quite a few features YouTube has to offer that you might not know about. 

Keep reading for our guide to eleven cool YouTube tricks so you can start using YouTube better. 

1. Use Shortcuts for Better Viewing

If you generally watch YouTube from your computer, then these keyboard shortcuts are going to change your life forever! You can actually use the arrow keys on your keyboard to either go backward or forward in a video. The J and L keys also do the same.

On the other hand, if you’re watching YouTube from a phone or tablet there are shortcuts you can use as well. Double-tap on the left or right side of your screen to move backward or forward in a video. Each time you double-tap you can move the video by 10 seconds. 

You can also swipe left or right when on your phone to move on to the next video or even the previous. 

2. Used Closed Caption

One thing you may not have known about YouTube is that they actually have a closed caption feature. If you need closed captions because you’re in a quiet place, don’t have headphones, or just want to understand what the people are saying better, then you could use YouTube’s auto-generated closed caption.

All you need to do is click the ‘CC icon’ at the bottom of the video you’re watching. Some creators actually take the time to type out their own closed captions so you will know that they’re accurate! 

If you don’t understand the language that the video is in, then you could even use the auto-translate option which will translate the video for you. 

3. Download YouTube Videos

Have you ever wanted to watch a YouTube video when you didn’t have reliable WiFi or data? If you’re going on a trip or just have limited data on your phone, watching YouTube videos used to be impossible, but now you can actually download them right to your phone. 

All you’re going to need is a YouTube downloader app which you can find those right in the app store on your phone. Read reviews and make sure the app is safe before downloading. If you have an Android and still need more help, then check out how to download YouTube videos on Android for any extra advice you may need. 

4. Switch to Dark Theme

You may be familiar with dark themes on other social media platforms, but did you know that YouTube offers one as well? Using a dark theme is awesome for when you’re watching videos late at night as the bright harsh white light from the screen can hurt your eyes. 

On your smartphone, go to the settings on the YouTube app where you will see ‘dark theme.’ All you need to do is slide the toggle over and you’re all set. 

If you’re on your computer, then you should also go to the settings, which are the three dots in the top right corner, and select ‘dark theme’ from there. 

Using dark mode at night can help the strain on your eyes and even help you to fall asleep quicker compared to when you use the bright white theme. 

5. Change the Playback Speed

Another interesting feature that you can use on YouTube is changing the playback speed on the video that you’re watching. This is a great feature if you’re trying to watch the video in half the time you. Although it is a bit difficult to understand if you’re already watching a video with a fast talker. 

You can also slow the YouTube video that you’re watching way down. This could be a fun feature if you’re trying to understand what people are saying better or just want to see what’s going on in slow motion. 

This feature can be used on either your computer or smartphone by clicking the settings on the video you’re watching. You will then find ‘playback speed’ and will be able to adjust the speed from there. 

6. Watch Your Favorite YouTuber’s Live Stream

A feature that many creators take advantage of is the live stream option on YouTube. This is a great way for creators to get to connect with their audience on a different level. If you aren’t already watching your favorite YouTuber’s live stream, then you should start right away!

One way to see when your favorite creator is live streaming is by constantly being on YouTube. If that isn’t your speed, then you can actually turn on specific creators’ notifications. Go to their YouTube profile and click on the bell so you can get notified when they post to YouTube!

7. Check Out a Music Playlist

Did you know that other people have actually created music playlists with your favorite songs? If you like listening to music on YouTube, then this is the perfect tip for you! These playlists are usually called ‘mix’ and then followed by the person’s username who created them. 

Mixes on YouTube are a great feature because they are put on autoplay so you won’t have to worry about finding the next song. A great way to find these mixes is by going to the music video of your favorite song and then looking in the box on the right. You will see tons of different music videos and mixes that all relate to the current song you’re listening to. 

8. Delete Your Watch History

At some point in time, you may find yourself wanting to delete your YouTube watch history. YouTube has done a great job of letting you customize exactly what goes into your YouTube history if you want to. You can find your watch history in your YouTube settings on your computer, phone, or tablet. 

YouTube has awesome features where you can delete your entire history or even just a few videos at a time. You can also pause your watch history which means any videos you watch while it is paused will not show up in the history section. It will also make it so that anything you search for isn’t recorded either. 

This is a nifty feature if the videos that YouTube recommends is important to you. The recommendation feature will be based on what you watch so make sure you only keep relevant videos in your watch history. 

9. Save Videos to Watch Later

If you’re the type of person who likes to browse YouTube in their spare time but doesn’t want to watch the videos right away, then the ‘watch later’ feature will be perfect for you. This feature lets you save all the videos you want to watch later in a playlist. That means that when you’re ready to sit down and watch YouTube, then all those videos you saved will be right in the same place. 

All you need to do is click the ‘add to’ icon right on the video and add it to the correct playlist. This playlist makes it easy to watch these videos as well as remove them once you’ve already watched them. 

10. Create a Link With a Specific Start Time

Another great thing about YouTube is that they make it easy to share awesome videos with your friends. You can create a link to a video with a specific start time so your friend will know exactly when to watch the video. This could be important if you’re trying to reference a specific spot in a video that you want to share. 

Creating this link is super easy! All you need to do is click ‘share’ underneath the video you’re watching and then it will have a spot for you to enter the time you want the video to start. Just make sure that the box is checked and then you’re good to go to share the video with anyone and everyone!

11. Use YouTube Premium for $12 per Month

If you’re a lover of YouTube, then you may want to consider downloading YouTube Premium for only $12 a month. YouTube Premium will unlock a ton of additional features that you can’t get without paying the subscription fee every month. This subscription service will let you download videos to your phone, play videos when you leave the YouTube app, and so much more!

Another awesome feature that comes with YouTube Premium is the fact that you won’t have to watch ads anymore. Watching ads before your YouTube video is the reason why this streaming service is free. So when you pay the premium rate of $12 per month, then you don’t have to sit through another ad again. 

Cool YouTube Tricks You Can Use

When it comes to using YouTube in the most efficient way possible you need to try some of these cool YouTube tricks that we’ve found for you. Hopefully, you will have an even better time watching YouTube videos now that you know all of these secret tips and tricks. 

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