13 secret YouTube features you’ll want to try tonight
Even with continuous threats from the likes of TikTok, YouTube remains the preferred choice among most users. The streaming service has feature-rich clients on mobile, desktop, and thetop Chromebooks. Google has steadily improved the YouTube experience with privacy functions and thoughtful add-ons. Here are the best 13 hidden features to up your YouTube game.
Set a reminder to take a break
Did you open YouTube to watch your favorite creator’s new upload and end up streaming Giraffe dance or an explainer on the black hole for an hour? It happens to the best of us. Before YouTube’s intelligent algorithms lure you into watching more videos and spoiling your day (and potentially night), set a reminder to take a break or go to bed.
you may alsoset up Digital Wellbeing on your Android phoneto limit your YouTube screen time.
Pause your YouTube search and watch history
YouTube uses your search and watch history to show video recommendations on the home feed. Suppose someone (your kid or a guest) uses your YouTube account on your smart TV or tablet. In that case, you could temporarily pause your search and watch history and save yourself from irrelevant video recommendations.
The trick is helpful when you want to hide your YouTube search and watch history. However, you’re able to’t auto-disable both options. You must open theHistory & privacymenu to revert the change. You can also enableIncognito modeon YouTube, which delivers a different home feed and shows ads in videos (even for YouTube Premium subscribers).
Use restricted mode
You won’t want your little ones to stumble upon offensive or adult content on YouTube accidentally. you could enable YouTube’s restricted mode to hide potentially mature videos.
YouTube doesn’t guarantee the restricted mode to be 100% accurate. Also, it won’t enable restricted mode for your account on other devices. The filter applies to your current phone or tablet only.
Disable YouTube’s autoplay next video
YouTube enables autoplay by default and plays the next suggested video automatically. If you don’t want to autoplay suggested videos, use the steps below to disable the behavior.
Create a GIF from a YouTube Video
Did you find a trendy YouTube video and want to make a GIF out of it? Here’s how to create a GIF from a YouTube video and start trending on Twitter and Instagram.
For example, change the address bar fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4I7c4GY-3I&abtohttps://www.gifyoutube.com/watch?v=b4I7c4GY-3I&ab.
Once you tweak the URL, press theEnterkey, and open the same video on gifs.com.
Spruce up clips on the go with YouTube’s video editing app
Create a shareable link starting at a specific time
You don’t need to ask the recipient to forward the YouTube video to a specific time. You can create a shareable YouTube link that starts at a specific time.
it’s possible to’t create a shareable link starting at a specific time from the YouTube mobile apps.
Check video transcripts
YouTube auto-generates a written transcript for every video. Written transcripts are handy when you want to make a note of a quote or a specific session from an educational video. You don’t need to play and pause the video all the time.
YouTube doesn’t support all the language needed to create a transcript. Sometimes, it may make mistakes in generating transcripts with incorrect words or sentences.
Learn YouTube keyboard shortcuts
If you primarily use YouTube on the desktop, learn a few keyboard shortcuts to navigate it like a pro.
Save YouTube videos for offline use
YouTube Premium subscribers can download videos for offline viewing. Your YouTube video downloads remain available for 30 days without an internet connection.
you could customize the download preference from YouTube settings.
If you don’t have YouTube Premium, you can try alternative ways todownload YouTube videos on mobile and desktop.
Enable YouTube Incognito mode
YouTube shows video recommendations based on your search and watch history. You can always pause both before giving your phone to the little one (check the second trick above), but digging through YouTube settings can sometimes be time-consuming. Instead, enable Incognito mode on YouTube and browse the service privately.
If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, the benefits won’t apply in the Incognito mode. You will see ads on YouTube. Tap theIncognitoicon in the upper-right corner and selectTurn off Incognitoto go back to the main YouTube account.
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