YouTube Playback Speed Memory

WHAT IT DOES

YouTube Playback Speed Memory is a browser extension that automatically scans the current YouTube page for video player elements, playback speed controls, and video player settings. It detects the video player and current playback speed, capturing the speed setting along with video ID and channel information. The extension adds a floating speed button that displays the current speed and provides quick access to speed settings. Clicking the button opens a panel where you can set playback speed, choose from presets (0.25x to 3.0x), enter custom speeds, add notes about speed preferences, and save speed settings per video or per channel. The extension maintains a playback speed database per video and channel with speed history, notes, and tags. The main panel displays speed controls, remembered speeds for the current video, settings for default speed and remember mode (per video or per channel), and speed history. The extension automatically applies remembered speeds when you navigate to a video you've watched before, and optionally auto-saves speed changes you make through YouTube's native controls. All data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue, ensuring your speed preferences persist across page reloads and browser sessions. This helps YouTube viewers, students, language learners, and anyone who watches YouTube videos to maintain consistent playback speeds across their favorite channels and content types.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension runs on any YouTube page that displays video player elements, playback speed controls, or video player settings – including YouTube watch pages, embedded YouTube players, and any page with YouTube video content. The extension intelligently adapts to different page structures and supports a wide range of common YouTube display patterns. No manual configuration is required per site; the extension automatically detects video player elements using a flexible pattern matching system. This makes it ideal for YouTube viewers who want to maintain consistent playback speeds across videos.

HOW TO USE

Simply install the extension and navigate to any YouTube video page. The extension automatically detects the video player and shows a speed button (⚡) next to the video player with the current speed displayed. Click the speed button to open the main panel. The panel shows the current speed and any remembered speed for the video or channel. Use the preset speed buttons (0.25x to 3.0x) or enter a custom speed to adjust playback speed instantly – the speed changes immediately and is saved automatically. Add notes about speed preferences, content type, or language in the notes section. A floating button (⚡) appears in the bottom-right corner of the page – click this to open the main panel from anywhere. Use the settings section to set your default speed, choose remember mode (per video or per channel), and enable auto-detection of speed changes. The "Clear All Speeds" button removes all tracking data when needed.

ONE TECHNICAL SECTION – WHY IT WORKS

The extension employs a multi-layered detection system that identifies YouTube playback speed information with high accuracy. First, it scans the DOM for the video player and uses the HTML5 Video API to get and set playbackRate. The video ID extraction uses regex pattern matching to identify YouTube's 11-character video ID from the URL. The channel ID extraction identifies channels from link elements and URL patterns. Speed settings are stored in a structured database keyed by video ID or channel ID. When a video loads, the extension checks the database for a remembered speed and applies it using the HTML5 video element's playbackRate property. The extension also listens for "ratechange" events on the video element to detect speed changes made through YouTube's native controls and auto-save them. The speed panel uses an event-driven architecture that updates the video speed immediately when a button is clicked. A MutationObserver detects dynamic content updates and re-scans only when the video player changes, balancing real-time accuracy with system performance.

THE PANEL – DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The playback speed panel includes a draggable title bar, allowing you to position it anywhere on screen for convenient access during video watching. The extension remembers your preferred position per website, so the panel opens in the same location each time you return to that domain. The panel supports snap-to-edge behavior – when dragged near screen edges, it gently snaps into place for a tidy workspace layout. You can collapse the panel down to just its title bar by clicking the collapse button, keeping it accessible without taking up screen space. The speed controls and settings are contained within a scrollable body, ensuring all content remains accessible even on smaller screens. Pressing the Escape key closes the panel instantly, returning you to your video viewing workflow.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on BotGentz's userscript injection and GM_* API shims for cross-browser compatibility. Websites frequently update their HTML structures and class names, which may cause video detection to break temporarily – we actively maintain the matching patterns and release updates regularly. The extension stores all speed data, preferences, and notes exclusively in your local browser storage (GM_setValue); no data is ever transmitted to any external server or third party. The extension does not read, modify, or interfere with any YouTube content, videos, or functionality beyond the player controls – it operates on the page content and stores only metadata (video IDs, channel IDs, speed preferences, and notes) that you explicitly create. You are responsible for backing up your speed data if you switch browsers or clear your storage. Use this tool responsibly and in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.