Many of us these days spend most of our time on YouTube, whether or not for learning purposes or for some cat videos. If you’re amongst those users WHO spends hours jumping from one YouTube recommendation to a different, then you must know its keyboard shortcuts which make your watching easier.
Check out this list of 30+ keyboard shortcuts to make your YouTube use a lot more productive.
| SHORTCUT | DESCRIPTION |
| Spacebar | Pause/Play video (player focus required) |
| K key | Pause/Play video (doesn’t require focus) |
| ↑ (Arrow key up) | Turn up volume 5% |
| ↓ (Arrow key down) | Turn down volume 5% |
| M key | Mute/unmute volume |
| ← (Arrow key left) | Move backward 5 sec |
| → (Arrow key right) | Move forward 5 sec |
| L key | Move forward 10 sec |
| J key | Move backward 10 sec |
| 0 / Home key | Restart the video |
| End key | Skip to the end |
| Num keys 1,2,3..9 | Move playhead to the respective percentage, 10%-90% |
| F key | Enter or Exit fullscreen |
| Esc key | Exit fullscreen |
| Ctrl + → | Move to next video (only in the playlist) |
| Ctrl + ← | Move to previous video (only in the playlist) |
| Tab key | Move forward in player control buttons |
| Shift + Tab | Move backward in player control buttons |
| Enter | Execute select player control button |
| C key | Turn on/off CC (closed captions) |
| + key | Increase CC font size when it’s turned on |
| – key | Decrease CC font size when it’s turned on |
| B key | Change CC background-color |
| > key | Increase play speed |
| < key | Decrease play speed |
| Shift + P | Play previously played video |
| Shift + N | Play next video in recommendation/playlist |
| / key | Place the text cursor in the search field to start typing |
| Esc key | Focus away from search field if text cursor is there |
| , (comma) | Move backward per frame when the video is paused |
| . (period) | Move forward per frame when a video is paused |
Using the tab key
Most of the YouTube player functions may be controlled with the above-named keyboard shortcuts. However, they still can’t control everything, resembling toggle theater mode or control choices within the player “Settings”.
You will need the help of “Tab key” to navigate to those options and so use “Enter” and “Arrow keys” to control the choices. as an example, you’ll be able to move to the “Settings” button by pressing the ‘Tab key” multiple times and so hit “Enter” to open the settings. Afterward, use “Arrow keys” to maneuver up and down within the settings and use “Enter” to alter any choices within.
If you don’t wish to use the mouse in the least or don’t have access to that, then the “Tab key” is your supporter.