Even with continuous threats from people like TikTok, YouTube remains the preferred choice among most users. Google has constantly improved the YouTube experience with thoughtful plugins and privacy features. Here are the top nine hidden features to up your YouTube game.
1. Set a reminder to take a break
Did you open YouTube to watch your favorite creator’s new upload and end up streaming the giraffe dance or a black hole explanation for an hour? It happens to the best of us. Before YouTube’s clever algorithms lure you into watching more videos and ruining your day (and possibly your night), set a reminder to take a break or when it’s time for bed.
- Open YouTube on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- turn on the remind me to take a break toggle and set a reminder frequency.
- turn on the Remember me when it’s time to sleep toggle and add bedtimes to display a reminder during the set time.
2. Pause YouTube search and playback history
YouTube uses your search and playback history to show video recommendations in the home feed. Suppose someone else (your child or a guest) uses your YouTube account on their smart TV or tablet. In that case, you can temporarily pause your search, view history, and avoid irrelevant video recommendations.
- Open YouTube Settings on your phone (see steps above).
- Select history and privacy.
- turn on the Pause watch history Y Pause search history toggles
The trick is useful when you want to hide the YouTube search and view the history of your better half. However, there is no way to automatically disable both options. You must open the same history and privacy menu to revert the change. You can also enable incognito mode on YouTube, which offers a completely different home feed and shows ads on videos (even for YouTube Premium subscribers).
3. Use restricted mode
You don’t want your little ones to accidentally stumble upon adult or offensive content on YouTube. You can enable YouTube restricted mode to hide potentially mature videos.
- Open the General menu in YouTube settings (see steps above).
- turn on the restricted mode lever.
YouTube does not guarantee that Restricted Mode is 100% accurate. Also, it will not enable restricted mode for your account on other devices. The filter applies only to your current phone or tablet.
4. Disable autoplay of the next YouTube video
YouTube enables autoplay by default and plays the next suggested video automatically. If you no longer want to autoplay suggested videos, follow the steps below to disable the behavior.
- Launch the YouTube settings menu on your phone (see steps above).
- Open the Self-reproduction menu.
- Turn off the Autoplay next video lever.
5. Create a GIF from a YouTube video
Found a trending video on YouTube and want to make a GIF out of it? This is how you can create a GIF from a YouTube video and start trending on Twitter and Instagram.
- Open a YouTube video on desktop.
- Select the address bar and add gifs to the web URL.
For example, change the address bar from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4I7c4GY-3I&ab a https://www.gifyoutube.com/watch?v=b4I7c4GY-3I&ab.
Once you modify the URL, hit the Enter key and open the same video on gifs.com.
- Crop the video and then add a title, fill and blur. You can also use other editing tools from the left sidebar.
- Select the start and edit time and press the button Create GIF button in the upper right corner.
- Add GIF information, tags, watermarks or sound and click next.
- Share your GIF on social media handles or download it to send via WhatsApp or Telegram.
6. Create a link to share from a specific time
You don’t need to ask the recipient to resend the YouTube video at a certain time. You can easily create a shareable YouTube link that starts at a specific time.
- Visit YouTube on the web and play any video.
- Select the Share and select the check box next to It starts at.
- Select the specific time from which the video should start.
- Click Copy and share the YouTube video.
You can’t create the same from the YouTube mobile apps.
7. Review video transcripts
YouTube automatically generates a written transcript for each video. Written transcripts are useful when you want to annotate a quote or a specific session of an educational video. You don’t need to play and pause the video all the time.
- Open any YouTube video on desktop.
- Select the three dot menu.
- Click show transcript.
- YouTube loads the automatically generated transcript in the top right corner.
YouTube does not support all the languages required to create a transcript. Sometimes you can make mistakes by generating transcripts with wrong words or sentences.
8. Learn YouTube keyboard shortcuts
If you primarily use YouTube on desktop, you should learn keyboard shortcuts to navigate like a pro.
- Open YouTube and select your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Select Keyboard shortcuts to check all the key combinations to navigate YouTube videos.
9. 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.
- Open a YouTube video on mobile.
- tap on the Discharge button.
- See all the videos downloaded from the Library > downloads menu.
You can customize the download preference from YouTube settings.
- Go to YouTube Settings (see steps above).
- Select Background and downloads.
- Select download quality and enable Download over Wi-Fi only to save mobile data.
Use YouTube to your advantage
If you use YouTube frequently, get YouTube Premium subscription to remove ads, enable offline downloading and unlock millions of tracks via YouTube. YouTube music streaming service.
