Forum Discussion

Cobranut's avatar
Cobranut
Binge Watcher
2 years ago
Solved

Youtube on Roku no longer allows playback speed adjustment like on a browser.

Anyone ever figure out how to fix the playback speed issue with Youtube?
It works fine on my laptop, but the option doesn't even appear on my Roku Ultra. 😞

  • RokuJechealR's avatar
    RokuJechealR
    2 years ago

    Hi Cobranut,

    Greetings from the Roku Community!

    We're sorry to hear about the issue you've experienced with the YouTube playback speed feature. Please be informed that channels on the Roku platform are designed and maintained by the channel providers. Contacting YouTube directly and inquiring further about the issue to be addressed is recommended. Roku has no control over how an individual channel functions within the channel's user interface.

    Kindly refer to this link for Youtube support's contact information: Youtube Help

    If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.

    All the best,

    Chel

  • atc98092's avatar
    atc98092
    9 months ago

    Thanks for the clarification. I didn't recognize MHZ as a channel, so I looked in the channelstore. So I'm assuming you are referring to MHz Choice. According to the listing, it's provided by MHz Networks, and the same basic response about the ability to adjust speed applies here as well. MHz Networks provides the app for Roku devices, and they are the only ones that can answer any questions about their app functionality. It's possible the ability to control playback speed simply isn't possible on the Roku OS, although from the sounds of it other channels have offered it in the past. If it's available, then it's up to the app developer to make it work on their app. Roku doesn't have control over how the player works within a specific app from a 3rd party. You can contact MHz Networks here: https://support.mhznetworks.com/support/home

  • tinlizzie131's avatar
    tinlizzie131
    Reel Rookie
    9 months ago

    I have the same issue with MHz on my computer vs on my Roku.  I watch French movies and depend on lowering the speed to 75% so I can understand what is being said.  I can do that with a movie on my MHZ account on my laptop, but when I switch to watch the movie on my Roku, I don't see any way to adjust the speed.  Same app, same movie - should therefore offer the same setting choices, no?  What's up with Roku?

    • atc98092's avatar
      atc98092
      Community Streaming Expert
      9 months ago
      tinlizzie131 wrote:

      I have the same issue with MHz on my computer vs on my Roku.  I watch French movies and depend on lowering the speed to 75% so I can understand what is being said.  I can do that with a movie on my MHZ account on my laptop, but when I switch to watch the movie on my Roku, I don't see any way to adjust the speed.  Same app, same movie - should therefore offer the same setting choices, no?  What's up with Roku?

      Because Google doesn't offer the same functionality of their YouTube app on different devices. Google owns YouTube, and they have sole control over the functionality of their app on Roku devices. To my knowledge there is no 3rd party app for YouTube on Roku devices, so you're stuck with whatever Google offers. 

      • tinlizzie131's avatar
        tinlizzie131
        Reel Rookie
        9 months ago

        Thank you, Dan.  I shouldn't have posted on the page having solely to do with Youtube and Roku.  My issue is similar but with an app (MHz), just like BritBox.  When I log into that app on my laptop and watch a movie, I have the usual options in the bottom left corner, including Speed.  I can slow down or speed up the playback. When I log into the same app using my Roku and watch the same movie, the app remembers where in the movie I was.  But the options within the movie playback are not there.  The only ones I see are the overall Roku settings like turning closed captioning on or off for everything.  I should try the same thing using Prime - I'll bet it will be the same.  I don't understand why, but the bottom line is either I'm missing something, or it's a flaw that Roku should address.  

  • RokuJechealR's avatar
    RokuJechealR
    Retired Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hi Cobranut,

    Greetings from the Roku Community!

    We're sorry to hear about the issue you've experienced with the YouTube playback speed feature. Please be informed that channels on the Roku platform are designed and maintained by the channel providers. Contacting YouTube directly and inquiring further about the issue to be addressed is recommended. Roku has no control over how an individual channel functions within the channel's user interface.

    Kindly refer to this link for Youtube support's contact information: Youtube Help

    If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.

    All the best,

    Chel

    • BlueGiant's avatar
      BlueGiant
      Channel Surfer
      2 years ago

      Bump.  This is basic functionality, get your act together google.

      • RokuJanadeeK's avatar
        RokuJanadeeK
        Retired Moderator
        2 years ago

        Hi BlueGiant,

        We understand that you are having issues with the playback speed feature on your YouTube app.

        With an app or channel's functionality, we recommend that you reach out to YouTube's support directly, as they may be able to assist you and provide sufficient information about their app on the Roku platform.

        Let us know what you find out.

        Regards,
        Janadee

    • Antarza's avatar
      Antarza
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      I feel your frustration.  When I first got my Roku TV, I was able to speed up and slow down Youtube videos.  I have tried everything, resetting, restarting, removing the Youtube app and downloading it again, etc.  Nothing works.  Now that I'm thinking of getting a new TV for my bedroom, I will NOT get a Roku.  I will go with Amazon Fire or something else.  I got so used to having the playback speed control feature that I'm going to want it in my new TV.

      • BlueGiant's avatar
        BlueGiant
        Channel Surfer
        2 years ago

        Absolutely, YouTube is the main app I use and losing this functionality means I won’t be using the Roku platform going forward.

        Even worse, the Roku moderators are telling us to contact Google ourselves.  Obviously there’s a person in the Roku organization who interfaces with Google and that’s the right channel to address this issue.

        Cmon Roku, work this out with Google, it’s a big deal.

    • YazK's avatar
      YazK
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      This has been an ongoing issue with ONLY my Roku Premiere.  I have 2 roku tvs and another roku device in my home, all of which I can change the playback speed on, EXCEPT for the Roku Premiere.  

      It is clearly running an older version ove YouTube,  but manually checking for updates shows it is up to date. I have tried removing the app, rebooting my roku and re installing the YouTube app and it still downloads the older version. 

      As I said, this is ONLY on the Roku Premiere and I have seen many other posts across the internet while trying to solve this problem and most seem to mention they are having the issue with the Premiere roku model.

      I have tried to contact YouTube but haven't been able to get any answers there either. 

       

      • ksbsnowowl's avatar
        ksbsnowowl
        Newbie
        11 months ago

        Wish this would get fixed. 

        For the longest time there was no hint of the playback speed function on Roku, after it was removed ~2022. Not even under the settings gear icon. Now playback speed shows up in the menu under the gear, but it states the function isn’t available. A step in the right direction?

        So now I’m watching stuff on my Amazon FireTV stick, which does allow playback speed functionality on the YouTube app.