YouTube Basics for Beginners

Quick Start: Make Any YouTube Video Easier

Pause whenever you need to (you won’t break anything).
Replay 10 seconds to catch what you missed.
Slow down to 0.75x or 0.5x if it’s too fast.
Turn on Captions (subtitles) for clarity.
Use Full screen to see buttons and menus.
If you get stuck, ask AI:

“Can you explain this YouTube step more slowly and tell me what I should see on the screen?”

Looking for prompts and tools? Visit the Toolbox

YouTube can be one of the easiest ways to learn something new — because you can watch someone do it step by step.

But it can also feel frustrating if the video moves too fast, the person mumbles, or you miss an important step.

This guide shows you the few simple tools that make YouTube feel calm and manageable:

Pause
Replay
Slow down
Captions (subtitles)
Full screen
Plus a simple way to find good videos (not the confusing ones)

You don’t need to be “techy.” You just need a few tricks.

Step 1: Find a good video (this matters more than you think)

A great tutorial feels calm and clear. A poor one feels rushed and confusing.

The best way to search YouTube

Use your device’s brand + model number (if you have it) and the task:

[Brand] + [Model] + [Task]
Examples:

“Samsung UA55TU8000 turn on captions”
“Brother HL-L2350DW Wi-Fi setup”
“Netgear R7000 reset”
“IKEA HEMNES assembly”

How to spot a good video quickly

Look for:

A clear title that matches your exact problem
A steady camera and clear view of the device
A calm speaker (you can usually tell in the first 15 seconds)
Helpful comments like “this worked” or “clear explanation”
Chapters/timestamps (often a sign the creator is organised)

The 5 YouTube tools that change everything

1) Pause

If you need a moment — pause.
This is what makes YouTube helpful: you can go at your pace.

2) Replay (go back a little)

If you missed something:

Look for the “back” arrow/rewind control
Or tap/click the timeline and move it slightly backward
On many devices there’s a “10 seconds back” button

3) Slow down the speed (life-changing)

If the video feels too fast:

Look for the Settings icon (often a small ⚙️ gear)
Choose Playback speed
Pick 0.75 (a little slower) or 0.5 (very slow)

You can always change it back later.

4) Turn on Captions (subtitles)

Captions help when:

the speaker talks quickly
the audio isn’t clear
you want to read while you listen

Look for CC (Captions) or go into Settings and choose Captions.

Note: Some captions are automatic, so they won’t be perfect — but they’re still very helpful.

5) Full screen (so you can actually see)

If you’re trying to follow steps on a phone menu or a small button:

Tap the full screen icon (often a little square shape)
Rotate your phone sideways for an even bigger view

How to do these on different devices

On a phone or tablet

Tap the video once to show the controls
Pause/play is in the middle
CC (captions) and Settings (⚙️) are usually top right
Full screen icon is often bottom right

Tip: If you can’t see controls, tap the video again.

On a laptop or desktop computer

Controls are along the bottom of the video
Hover your mouse over the video to reveal them
Settings (⚙️) → Playback speed → choose slower
CC to turn captions on/off

On a smart TV

This varies by brand, but usually:

Use the remote to bring up video controls
Look for CC (captions) or Settings
If you can’t find captions on the TV app, you can also use captions on a phone/laptop instead

If you get stuck (this is normal)

Sometimes a video doesn’t match your exact screen, because:

your device is a different model
menus changed after an update
the video is old

What to do

Try a second video (often that’s all it takes)
Add the word 2025 or 2026 to your search if it looks outdated
Use your model number (it makes a big difference)

Gentle AI prompts to help you follow a YouTube tutorial

NOTE: AI can’t actually see the YouTube video you’re watching — so it may ask you a couple of questions first (like what your device is, what the video says at that moment, and what you see on your screen). That’s normal, and it’s exactly how you’ll get a helpful answer.

For the quickest help, give AI a tiny bit of detail (even one sentence is enough).

AI Prompt (simple starter):
“I’m watching a YouTube tutorial for [device] and I’m stuck at [step]. Please explain that step more slowly and tell me what I should see on the screen.”

AI Prompt (best results):
“I’m following this YouTube video: [paste link]. I’m stuck at [timestamp, e.g., 3:10].
The video shows/says: [one sentence].
On my device I see: [one sentence].
Please guide me step-by-step, slowly, and tell me what I should see if I’m doing it right.

Prompt 2 (my menu looks different):
“The video shows a menu called [menu name], but I don’t see that. I’m using [brand + model] and my screen shows [list the closest options you can see]. Which option should I try next, and what should I look for?”

A gentle reminder

You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to rewind. You’re allowed to watch the same step three times.

That’s not “failing” — it’s how learning works.

Next step

If you’re looking for help with a device, the best results come when you search using the model number.

YouTube for Beginners: How to Pause, Replay, Slow Down, and Turn On Captions

Quick Start: Make Any YouTube Video Easier