Shortcuts exist to make certain activities easier and faster, particularly on PC. There are certain actions that would normally require you to move, drag and click your cursor that you can execute with less than 2-3 keystrokes on your keyboard. This is basically why keyboard shortcuts are vital in our everyday lives; they save time and increase productivity.

For Windows PC users, you might already be familiar with some useful Windows keyboard shortcuts for improved productivity. Same applies to Mac users. Otherwise, check out this article. That said, just like computer operating systems and apps have their built-in apps, certain websites also have built-in shortcuts that help you save time and get the most of the platform.

YouTube is one of such platforms and listed below are over 20 YouTube shortcuts that can help you get the most out of watching videos on the platform. Some of these shortcuts, you already know. Some, you don’t. Irrespective, they are easy to grasp and once you get used to them, you’ll saves so much time and have little or next to no use for your mouse.

If you spend most of your time on YouTube watching videos, here are some fun YouTube shortcuts you should know.

  • Spacebar — Pause/Play video (player focus required)K key — Pause/Play video (doesn’t require focus)M key — Mute or Unmute video↑ (Up Arrow key) — Turn up volume 5%↓ (Down Arrow key) — Turn down volume 5%← (Left Arrow key) — Move backward 5 sec→ (Right Arrow key) — Move forward 5 sec, (Comma) — Move backward per frame when a video is paused. (Period) — Move forward per frame when a video is pausedL key — Move video forward by 10 secondsJ key — Move video backward by 10 seconds0 / Home key — Restart the videoNum keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 — Move video playhead to the respective percentage, 10% – 90%End key — Skip to the endEnter key — Execute select player control buttonF key — Enter or exit full screenEsc key — Exit full screenCtrl + → — Move to next video (only in playlist)Ctrl + ← — Move to previous video (only in playlist)> key — Increase play speed< key — Decrease play speedTab key — Move forward in player control buttonsShift+ Tab — Move backward in player control buttonsC key — Turn on/off CC (closed captions)B key — Change CC background color+ key — Increase CC font size when it’s turned on– key — Decrease CC font size when it’s turned onShift + P — Play previously played videoShift + N — Play next video in recommendation/playlist

Learning and getting acquainted to these shortcuts might take a little bit of time and practice. If you, however, get used to them, they can really bump up your productivity level and save you time while watching tutorials, movies, TV series, comedy skits, make-up tutorials, smartphone, and gadget reviews or whatever it is you watch on YouTube.

Are there any YouTube shortcuts we left out from the list? Please do let us know in the comments.