Hello everyone. I recently noticed that sometimes on youtube, I would be unable to change the playback speed from normal (x1) to anything else. It would just say "custom" or "normal", with no way of clicking out of normal, or adjusting it to e.g. 1.5 or 1.75 times the speed.

A quick search revealed that this is likely due to adblock. Youtube does not like when an adblock browser (chrome) extension is running, and interferes with normal usage of the platform. Previously, it used to display me a blank page asking me to turn off the adblock. But not anymore - now I just experience interruptions, and now this.

Anyway, I was surprised to stumble upon a solution to this. I opened a private window, without adblock installed, and played a video there. I thought, I'd rather save my valuable time by watching an ad or two and increasing the playback speed to 1.75, then watch anything (or listen to podcasts) at regular speed. Lo and behold, immediately in the private window, the speed control was available, and I could listen to things faster than normal.

Surprisingly, once I closed that browser and went to my regular one, the issue did not re-appear. So my recommended solution to this is, open a private window and go to youtube; and alternate between private browser and the regular browser until the issue disappears.

I may also add, that you can create a browser profile specifically for watching youtube, where adblock is not installed, or is disabled. But again, I think just tapping a video once with adblock disabled, allows you to control the playback speed again.

You're welcome.