There are many ways one can watch a YouTube video, whether on your phone, tablet, or computer, including various levels of zoom, or magnification, which you can apply to a video.
To learn how to zoom in and out on a YouTube video, simply follow our step-by-step guides below. And for any additional information, or any other queries you may have, please direct your attention to our FAQs at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to zoom in and out on a YouTube video (desktop – tools)
- Open up your preferred web browser and navigate to the YouTube website
- Search for and begin playing any video, just to test zooming in and out on
- YouTube will begin playing the video in the default view.
- To zoom out (thus viewing the video in its smallest form) simply click the ‘Miniplayer’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Settings’ gear/cog
- To zoom in (thus viewing the video in the next largest form) simply click the ‘Theater mode’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Miniplayer’ icon
- To zoom in further (thus viewing the video in its largest form) simply click the ‘Fullscreen’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Theater mode’ icon
- To zoom out (thus viewing the video in its smallest form) simply click the ‘Miniplayer’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Settings’ gear/cog
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Miniplayer’, simply click the ‘Expand’ icon to the top-left of the Mini player
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Theater mode’, simply click the ‘Default view’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Miniplayer’ icon
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Fullscreen’, simply click the ‘Exit Fullscreen’ icon in the bottom-right, and then click the ‘Default view’ icon to the immediate right of the ‘Miniplayer’ icon
How to zoom in and out on a YouTube video (desktop – keyboard shortcuts)
- Open up your preferred web browser and navigate to the YouTube website
- Search for and begin playing any video, just to test zooming in and out on
- YouTube will begin playing the video in the default view.
- To zoom out (thus viewing the video in its smallest form) simply press ‘i’ on your keyboard at any time
- To zoom in (thus viewing the video in the next largest form) simply press ‘t’ on your keyboard at any time
- To zoom in further (thus viewing the video in its largest form) simply press ‘f’ on your keyboard at any time
- To zoom out (thus viewing the video in its smallest form) simply press ‘i’ on your keyboard at any time
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Miniplayer’, simply press ‘i’ on your keyboard again at any time, and then press ‘t’
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Theater mode’, simply press ‘t’ on your keyboard at any time
- To return to watching your YouTube video in Default view when in ‘Fullscreen’, simply press ‘f’ on your keyboard again at any time, and then press ‘t’
How to zoom in and out on a YouTube video (mobile)
- Open up the YouTube app on your mobile device
- Begin playing any video, just to test zooming in and out on
- Now, to zoom out (thus viewing the video in ‘Miniplayer’) simply tap the video and flick it down toward the bottom of your screen
- To return to the default view from here, just tap on the video playing in the mini player at the bottom of the screen
- To return to the default view from here, just tap on the video playing in the mini player at the bottom of the screen
- To zoom in (thus viewing the video in ‘Fullscreen’) either tilt your mobile device landscape (ensuring first that Portrait Lock is OFF) or when in the Default view, tap the square ‘Fullscreen’ icon in the bottom-right of the video.
- To return to the default view from here, just rotate your mobile device back to portrait, or click that ‘Exit Fullscreen’ square-shaped icon in the bottom-right again
- To return to the default view from here, just rotate your mobile device back to portrait, or click that ‘Exit Fullscreen’ square-shaped icon in the bottom-right again
And there you have it! However you want to watch YouTube videos, and regardless of device, by simply following our straightforward instructions, anyone can master the art.
For any additional queries or information, see our FAQs below.
Frequently asked questions
Why would I want to zoom in and out on a YouTube video?
YouTube is the world’s leading video streaming platform and has been for well over a decade. Users can explore countless videos, uploaded by creators, companies, influencers, and more, which they can then share, like, save or comment on.
In recent years, the content on YouTube has shifted from small, generally, amateur-made videos and clips from shows, to now include full TV shows, animated series, direct-to-YouTube movies, and shorts, as well as a whole host of premium-quality content.
As such, knowing how to zoom in or out, magnifying or reducing the play-size of any chosen video is a crucial piece of knowledge. It will totally revolutionize your video streaming experience, and allow you to multitask when watching a video (in a small or mini-player, say), or sit back and relax whilst your video occupies the entirety of your screen (a bit like a home cinema).
Does zooming in and out on one video alter the zoom level on other YouTube videos?
Yes and no. If you change the player size on one video whilst on the YouTube website, say, then every video you watch next whilst still on the website and still during that same streaming session will be played at the same player size. (In other words, the zoom level will remain constant).
In fact, changing the player size will set this as the default player size for that particular device’s YouTube streaming, whether you close the website/app and reopen it or not.
However, if you were to switch to watching the same video (or any other, for that matter) on a different device, then the player size would revert to default. In other words, if you play a video in ‘Theater mode’ on your computer, and then go to watch the same video on your phone or tablet, the mode will revert to default. This is mostly because the player sizes/modes differ between devices.
How do I reset the zoom level on a YouTube video?
Pretty simple, provided you’re on YouTube on your computer. To reset the player size to default, you need only press ‘t’ on your keyboard. Alternatively, along the bottom of the video (in the toolbar), just search for and click on the regular rectangular box marked as ‘Default view’
If you’re on a phone or tablet device, the options are lessened, and there’s not really any such thing as a ‘default’ view. However, if you’re watching something in fullscreen and wish to view it in default again, you generally need only tip your device back to profile, or tap the video (when in ‘Miniplayer’), or tap the ‘Exit Fullscreen’ icon (when in ‘Fullscreen)
