YouTube is the largest video streaming service in the world offered by Google. However, the iPhone iOS app is somewhat traditional that Google downplay the features. For example, many video apps allow you to swipe left or right to backward / forward the play. Unfortunately, you can’t do that in YouTube app. If you are using the app on your iPhone every day, here are some YouTube tricks to watch videos without hassle.
Related: How to increase YouTube video views?
YouTube App Settings in iOS
There are two types of tricks you can do with YouTube iOS app. One is at the app level settings and other is at video level setting.
App Level Setting
When you are in YouTube app, tap on the profile icon that is available on the top right corner.
Tap on “Settings” option.
Here you will have many options that you can configure as per your need.
Video Level Settings
When you are playing a video, tap on the video and then tap on the three vertical dots icon.
1. Setup Custom Break
iPhone has Screen Time option to monitor and control your time on phone. Watching videos for long time will strain your eyes and create health problems. In order to avoid sitting in front of YouTube app endless, you can setup custom breaks. This will help you to change the focus of your eyes and take sufficient break from watching videos. Go to app settings and enable the option “Remind me to take a break”.
On the pop-up, setup your break time frequency. YouTube will allow you to setup from 5 minutes to many hours frequency gap for taking a break.
After the set time, YouTube app will prompt with you a pop-up to take a break.
Similar to break, you can also setup bedtime to avoid watching videos during sleeping time.
2. Change Theme
Unfortunately, YouTube app does not follow the theme settings on your iPhone. By default, it will open in light mode. However, you can change the theme to dark by going to settings and enable “Dark theme” option. This will help you to reduce the strain on eyes especially during nighttime or when you are in the bright environment.
3. Disable Recommendations and History
YouTube will show recommended video feed based on the history of the videos you watch. If you do not want to record the history, go to app settings and tap on “Clear watch history” and “Clear search history” options. In addition, you can also disable watch/search history by enabling “Pause watch history” and “Pause search history” options.
4. Setup Siri Shortcuts
Go to app settings and tap on “Siri Shortcuts” option. Here you can add search and search with voice shortcuts in Siri. Tap on the + icon against the option and tap on “Add to Siri” button. For example, you can add the Siri shortcut as “YouTube Voice” to open YouTube and start a voice search.
5. Restricted Mode
Sometimes it will be annoying to see adult content in the video feed without your knowledge and permission. Similar to Google search results, you can also restrict YouTube feed and search results from showing adult and mature content. Go to app settings and enable “Restricted Mode” option. This will be useful if you are sharing the iPhone with your family members who also watch videos in YouTube app.
6. Disable Inappropriate Ads
If you frequently see a particular ad below the video that is inappropriate, YouTube allows you to report and block that ad.
- Tap on the three dots button that shows just below the image of the ad.
- Choose “Stop seeing this ad” option.
- Tap on “Repetitive” or “Irrelevant” or “Inappropriate” to block the ad.
Remember, this will only disable the specific ad from showing. YouTube will continue to show other advertisements below the video. If you want to have ads free experience, then go for YouTube Premium.
7. Forward and Rewind
As mentioned, YouTube does not offer swipe feature to drag the time bar. It is embarrassing to move the time bar to forward or rewind the video you are watching. However, you can double tap on the right side of the video to move 10 seconds forward and double tap on the left side of the video to rewind 10 seconds.
By default, the app will move 10 seconds forward or back. If you want to change the time, go to settings and tap on “Skip forward and back” option. You can choose 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 60 seconds. However, it is not possible to setup different time for forward and rewind.
Related: How to disable in-app purchase in iPhone?
8. Change Video Quality
By default, YouTube will play the videos in 360p quality to save network bandwidth. Tap on the video setting and tap again on “Quality” option. Here you can change the video quality to higher or lower level as per your need.
9. Watch Video in Slow Motion
Sometimes the video may play very fast that you can’t follow the step by step instructions. Instead of moving the time bar or rewinding by double tapping left of the video, you can play the video in slow motion mode. Tap on the three dots button on the video and choose “Playback speed” option. Select 0.25x, 0.5x or 0.75x for slow motion and 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x or 2x for fast playing.
10. Ads Free Videos
If you need to use YouTube for many hours a day, the best option is to upgrade to premium version for $15.99 per month. It will allow you to remove the ads, download videos and play the videos in playback mode even when you minimize the app. In addition, you can also download YouTube Music app and listen without disturbances.
Final Words
We hope you learn at least one new setting in your YouTube iOS app. We recommend you to setup break time and use dark theme if you are using YouTube app for many hours in iPhone. Also, next time when want to move forward or rewind use double tap or slow/fast motion.
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