41

Is there a way to move frame by frame in a YouTube video?

I don't want to download the video.

I know that Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, etc. can jump to sections in a video. That's cool, but I would like more navigation options.

3
  • Do you need to do this for many videos or just a single video? If one, just download the file and use VLC/QuickTime to play the .flv or .m4v. Sep 7, 2010 at 16:39
  • That looks like my only option so far. It would be nice if worked in the browser, though.
    – snitzr
    Sep 7, 2010 at 19:11
  • I recall the earliest video players offered this feature. Why every video player doesn't natively offer this feature is beyond me, but this definitely is a peeve of mine.
    – Michael
    Feb 6, 2015 at 18:11

6 Answers 6

36

Pause the video. Press . to go one frame forward. , to go one frame back. I use these whenever I use others’ animated videos as references.

4
  • Using Chrome with the Youtube HTML5 player, these actually change the "speed" of the video : - "dot" increases the video speed (x2, x4) - "comma" decreases it (/2, /4, etc.)
    – John
    Jul 24, 2016 at 15:11
  • In safari, using the html5 player this behaves exactly as described.
    – Mystic
    Oct 12, 2016 at 23:36
  • @John Not for me , I use HTML5 also, in Chrome also as you, and they do what this answer says. Jan 6, 2018 at 0:54
  • Youtube shortcuts: sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility/…
    – Vadzim
    Jan 11, 2018 at 16:54
9

There's a Web App and a Google Chrome Extension which allow you to move frame by frame through a YouTube video:

5

You can do this using the YouTube enhance userscript;

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/33042

Media Controller :

☯ Step back: Go backward to the nearest video keyframe and pause.

☯ Step forward: Go to the next frame and pause.

Hope this helps.

2
  • I'm getting a Server Error at the moment for that link.
    – snitzr
    Sep 16, 2010 at 19:40
  • It was down but seems to be working again now.
    – Whitingx
    Sep 20, 2010 at 9:02
2

Period (.) goes one frame forward

Comma (,) goes on frame backward

Right Arrow goes forward 5 seconds

Left Arrow goes backward 5 seconds

L goes forward 10 seconds

J goes backward 10 seconds

1
  • Forgot to add, when going frame by frame the YouTube video has to be paused.
    – Monk
    Jul 9, 2020 at 20:56
1

Your right and left arrow keys will step forwards and backwards.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GRsRiu2zSA

1
  • 1
    not one frame. in my browser, right arrow steps forward 5 seconds.
    – Michael
    Feb 6, 2015 at 18:11
-1

Scroll Frame does this. Simple UI buttons, or mouse scroll.

1
  • This is considered a oneliner. Add more info to your post as the link may get broken in time. Apr 27, 2014 at 7:04

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