5 Tips for Watching YouTube Videos Like a Pro

YouTube, the second most used search engine after Google, is one of the most useful resources for both entertainment and educational purposes.
We all use YouTube to watch and learn something new—documentaries, movies, and, most importantly, educational content used by students for things like learning languages, completing school or college homework, etc.
If you’re a YouTube fan like me and use it in your daily life, then these 5 tips for watching YouTube videos like a pro will be a great resource for boosting your productivity.
Because I’ve seen improvements in my own learning and educational experience by using these tips.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the most useful YouTube watching tips!
Tip 1: Use Playback Speed Adjustments
Let’s get started with the first tip: playback speed adjustments. I watch different types of educational and productivity videos, such as those about learning English, time management, and more. One thing I consider is saving time by watching long content faster and then using the saved time for other productive tasks, like practicing English.
When we speed up or slow down the playback speed of a YouTube video, it affects our learning and listening experience. I recommend you check out the Playback Speed Calculator to find the best playback speed for your content. This tool allows you to enter the length of your content in hours, minutes, and seconds, then enter the playback speed. After clicking, it will show you the saved time and the new time after speeding up or slowing down according to your inputs.
Adjusting the speed can help us save time or invest it in more productive work.
It’s important to choose the playback speed based on your needs, the type of content, and the narrator’s speed.
For example, if you’re watching a YouTube video about mathematical equations and the topic is difficult for you, I wouldn’t recommend increasing the playback speed too much. A normal speed or 1.25x would be best. However, if you’re watching an entertainment video, faster speeds like 1.5x or 1.75x could be a great fit. If you’re revising an educational lecture quickly, a slightly faster speed can be useful.
If you want to adjust playback speed on youtube, then simply click on gear/settings icon and then choose playback speed it can be 1.25x and 1.5x etc according to your needs.

Tip 2: Enable Subtitles for Better Comprehension
If you watch content, videos, and educational materials in foreign languages, subtitles can help you understand tutorials or content more efficiently. When you enable subtitles, you can learn better by reading the text while listening, which helps you understand and retain key information. This is especially useful when learning new concepts or complex topics.
Some of you may be learning another language, and this simple yet pro-level feature of subtitles can help you understand content more clearly and effectively.
This feature is particularly valuable for students, professionals, and casual viewers who want to improve their viewing experience and make the most of their time on YouTube.
Sometimes, background noise, unclear speech, or accents can make it hard to catch everything a speaker is saying. In those cases, it’s recommended to enable subtitles, as reading along while listening helps you understand the content more easily.
Here are 3 simple steps to turn on subtitles on YouTube videos:
- Open and watch the video you want to see.
- Look in the lower-right corner for the CC option and click on it. This will turn on subtitles in the original language of the speaker. (CC stands for Closed Captioning).
- If you want to change the language of the subtitles, for example, if the video is in Spanish and you want English subtitles, simply click on the gear icon near the CC option, select Subtitles/CC, and choose the language you prefer.
It’s as simple as that! You can see the steps in the image below.

Tip 3: Use the ‘Watch Later’ Playlist to
The Watch Later feature is really helpful for me because it allows me to save content for later. I use it while searching for English and other productive content. I try to prioritize videos according to their importance and length. For example, if I’m searching for a short 5 to 6-minute video about English vocabulary and find both lengthy lectures and short ones, I will choose to watch the short video and save the lengthy ones for later.
Then, when I get some free time, I can go back and watch those saved videos. It’s a great feature because it allows students and all types of YouTube users to save videos so they don’t lose them in the sea of content on YouTube.
To use this feature, all you need to do is click on the Save button (the clock icon) below any video you find interesting but can’t watch at the moment. Once saved, it goes straight to your Watch Later playlist, which you can access anytime from your YouTube Library. You can then watch these videos whenever you have time, whether on mobile or desktop.
This feature is especially handy for those who watch a lot of educational content or need to organize their videos efficiently. It helps you stay focused on what you need to watch now, while saving others for later without any hassle. Plus, it’s great for people who get distracted easily just save the video and come back to it later when you’re ready.
Tip 4: Video Chapters:
If you’re watching lengthy content like tutorials, then the Video Chapters feature is a great option for you. It allows you to skip to specific parts of the video so you don’t have to watch the whole thing from start to finish.
For example, if you’re watching an English learning video, you might have chapters like:
- 00:00 – Introduction
- 02:00 – Vocabulary Building
- 05:00 – Grammar Tips
- 08:00 – Practice Exercise
This is a lifesaver when you want to focus on a particular topic without wasting time. Creators add these chapters in the video description, and they also show up on the video timeline. It makes your viewing experience a lot smoother, whether you’re revisiting something or just trying to get straight to the point. It’s a simple way to stay organized and make the most out of your time on YouTube.
Tip 5: Keyboard Shortcuts:
Keyboard Shortcuts on YouTube are a super useful way to control your videos without having to click around. You can easily pause, rewind, skip ahead, or even adjust the volume just by using the keyboard. For example:
- Spacebar to play or pause the video.
- J to rewind by 10 seconds.
- L to fast forward by 10 seconds.
- Arrow keys to adjust volume or move through the video.
These shortcuts save time, especially if you’re watching educational videos or tutorials. Instead of clicking to find your spot, you can jump around quickly using just your keys. Plus, they make multitasking easier, so you can keep working or taking notes without constantly using the mouse.
Once you get the hang of it, YouTube becomes way smoother and quicker to navigate, making your overall viewing experience much more efficient.
Conclusion: Tips for Watching YouTube Videos
That’s a wrap! These YouTube tips like adjusting playback speed, using video chapters, and mastering keyboard shortcuts will make your viewing experience way smoother and more efficient.
And if you really want to save time, try the Playback Speed Calculator to find the perfect speed for any video. It’ll help you get through content faster and smarter.
Give these tips a go next time you’re on YouTube, and make your time there count!