How to Change Video Playback Speed on Any Website

Learn how to use Helperbird to speed up or slow down videos on any website. Control video playback speed from 0.1x to 2x on YouTube, Vimeo, and any site with HTML5 video.

What is Video Playback Speed?

The Video Playback Speed feature lets you control how fast or slow videos play on any website. You can slow videos down to 0.1x speed for detailed viewing, or speed them up to 2x to get through content faster. It works on any website that uses HTML5 video, including YouTube, Vimeo, and most modern video players.


Who is This For?

This feature is helpful for:

  • Students watching lectures or tutorials who want to speed up or slow down content
  • Anyone who finds videos too fast and needs to slow them down for comprehension
  • People learning a new language who want to slow down spoken dialogue
  • Anyone who wants to get through video content faster
  • People with auditory processing difficulties who benefit from slower playback

Step 1: Open Helperbird

Click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar. It looks like a small owl and is usually in the top-right corner of your browser.

This will open the Helperbird menu.


Step 2: Go to the All Features Section

Scroll down to the bottom of the Helperbird menu. You will see a section called All Features.

Click the arrow next to All Features to expand it and show all available features.


Step 3: Find Video Playback Speed

Look through the list of features until you see Video Playback Speed or Video Speed.


Step 4: Turn It On

Click the toggle switch next to the feature to turn it on. The toggle will turn green when it is enabled.


Step 5: Adjust the Speed

Use the slider to set your preferred playback speed. You can also use the minus (-) and plus (+) buttons to adjust the speed in small increments of 0.1x.

  • Below 1x – Slows the video down (for example, 0.5x plays at half speed)
  • 1x – Normal speed
  • Above 1x – Speeds the video up (for example, 1.5x plays at one and a half times normal speed)
  • 2x – Maximum speed, plays at double speed

The speed change applies to all HTML5 videos on the current page immediately.

Tip: Pair this with the Volume Booster feature if you find that speeding up videos makes the audio harder to hear. You can also combine it with text-to-speech subtitles for the best learning experience.


Video Tutorial

Coming soon


Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions or run into any issues, please contact the Helperbird support team. You can reach us at Helperbird support. We are happy to help you get the most out of Helperbird.

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

The free version of this is so great and helpful to a LOT of people...but the upgraded version is next level:)

Mia Laudato

Mia Laudato

Helperbird user

I really liked the ease of setting up and also accessing the tool while you are on chrome. I had no trouble, and within a week found myself using it without even noticing.

Daniel C.

Daniel C.

Account Executive

It was helpful at all times for me! I love this tool!

Heather Shepard

Heather Shepard

Helperbird user

Amazing tool, love the new overlay feature!!

James Connel

James Connel

Helperbird user

Amazing Extensions in chrome. I Installed in my parents computer, because my dad have a poor vision, due to bad eye surgery. this extension really helps to have able to manipulate the font and font size for more comfortable use instead of chrome zoom feature. Because the chrome zoom feature is its overly zoom will cause the page looking super weird.

Kai Tam

Kai Tam

Helperbird user

Helperbird offers a wide range of customization in one easy to navigate spot. Computers and dyslexia don't always mesh, the features like ruler makes reading text heavy web pages easier. Tech support is amazingly responsive should you need any help.

Fiona Wren

Fiona Wren

Helperbird user

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

Download Helperbird

Make browsing easier and more accessible with tools like Text to Speech, Immersive Reader, and more.