PlaybackKeys: Global Video Shortcuts

Tracking since May 5, 2026.

Changelog

• Jun 4, 2026
  name

  PlaybackKeys

  PlaybackKeys: Global Video Shortcuts

• May 28, 2026
  description

  PlaybackKeys adds global keyboard shortcuts for browser video, so you can pause, skip, rewind, or change playback speed without switching back to the video tab.
  
  It is built for moments when a tutorial, lecture, podcast, or course is playing in the background and you need quick keyboard control while coding, taking notes, studying, or working with a video open on another monitor.
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  PlaybackKeys works out of the box on YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera.
  
  For other sites with standard HTML5 video, open the page, click the PlaybackKeys icon, and choose "Enable on this site".
  
  You can also turn on "Run on all sites" in Settings. Both optional access modes are off by default.
  
  HOW TO USE
  
  1. Open a supported video site.
  2. Use the default shortcuts, or customize every command at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  3. To use shortcuts while another app is focused, set the shortcut scope to Global in Chrome's shortcut settings.
  
  DEFAULT SHORTCUTS
  
  Windows/Linux:
  - Ctrl+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Ctrl+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Ctrl+Shift+3: Rewind
  - Ctrl+Shift+4: Skip forward
  
  Mac:
  - Command+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Command+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Command+Shift+8: Rewind
  - Command+Shift+9: Skip forward
  
  LIMITATIONS
  
  PlaybackKeys is made for normal browser video playback. It does not skip ads, download videos, bypass DRM, or bypass paid streaming restrictions.
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing.
  
  Your settings stay on your device in chrome.storage. There is no tracking, no telemetry, no analytics, and no network requests.
  
  PlaybackKeys is open source and MIT licensed.
  
  Source code:
  https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  
  Privacy policy:
  https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY/

  Control browser videos with global keyboard shortcuts. Pause, rewind, skip forward, and change playback speed without switching back to the video tab.
  
  PlaybackKeys is a lightweight browser video controller for YouTube, Udemy, Vimeo, Coursera, and other HTML5 video sites.
  
  It is useful when you are watching a tutorial, lecture, online course, podcast, or long video while coding, studying, taking notes, working, or using another app.
  
  With PlaybackKeys, you can keep your hands on the keyboard and control video playback even when the video is playing in another tab or on another monitor.
  
  WHAT YOU CAN DO
  
  - Play or pause browser videos
  - Rewind videos
  - Skip forward
  - Increase playback speed
  - Control videos without switching tabs
  - Customize shortcuts from Chrome shortcut settings
  - Use global shortcuts when another app is focused
  - Enable support for extra HTML5 video sites when needed
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  PlaybackKeys works out of the box on:
  
  - YouTube
  - Udemy
  - Vimeo
  - Coursera
  
  For other websites with standard HTML5 video, open the page, click the PlaybackKeys icon, and choose “Enable on this site”.
  
  You can also turn on “Run on all sites” in Settings. Optional access modes are off by default.
  
  HOW TO USE
  
  1. Open a supported video site.
  2. Use the default shortcuts, or customize every command at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  3. To use shortcuts while another app is focused, set the shortcut scope to Global in Chrome’s shortcut settings.
  
  DEFAULT SHORTCUTS
  
  Windows/Linux:
  - Ctrl+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Ctrl+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Ctrl+Shift+3: Rewind
  - Ctrl+Shift+4: Skip forward
  
  Mac:
  - Command+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Command+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Command+Shift+8: Rewind
  - Command+Shift+9: Skip forward
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing.
  
  Your settings stay on your device using chrome.storage. There is no tracking, no telemetry, no analytics, and no network requests.
  
  LIMITATIONS
  
  PlaybackKeys is made for normal browser video playback. It does not skip ads, download videos, bypass DRM, or bypass paid streaming restrictions.
  
  OPEN SOURCE
  
  PlaybackKeys is open source and MIT licensed.
  
  Source code:
  https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  
  Privacy policy:
  https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY/

• May 28, 2026
  short_description

  Control browser videos with global keyboard shortcuts. Pause, skip, rewind, and change speed without switching tabs.

  Global keyboard shortcuts for YouTube, Udemy, Vimeo, Coursera, and browser videos.

• May 22, 2026
  description

  PlaybackKeys adds global keyboard shortcuts for browser video, so you can pause, skip, rewind, or change speed without clicking back to the video tab.
  
  It is built for those moments when a tutorial, lecture, podcast, or course is playing in the background and you just need quick control from your keyboard. Useful while coding, taking notes, studying, or working with a video open on another monitor.
  
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  Built-in support for YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera.
  
  For any other site with standard HTML5 video, open the page, click the PlaybackKeys icon, and choose "Enable on this site".
  
  You can also turn on "Run on all sites" in Settings. Both options are off by default.
  
  
  HOW TO USE
  
  1. Open a supported video site.
  2. Use the default shortcuts, or customize them in chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  3. To control video even when another app is focused, set the shortcut scope to Global in Chrome's shortcut settings.
  
  
  LIMITATIONS
  
  PlaybackKeys is made for normal browser video playback.
  It does not skip ads, download videos, bypass DRM, or bypass paid streaming restrictions.
  
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing.
  Your settings stay on your device in chrome.storage. There is no tracking, no telemetry, no analytics, and no network requests.
  Open source, MIT licensed.
  
  Source code:
  https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  
  Privacy policy:
  https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY

  PlaybackKeys adds global keyboard shortcuts for browser video, so you can pause, skip, rewind, or change playback speed without switching back to the video tab.
  
  It is built for moments when a tutorial, lecture, podcast, or course is playing in the background and you need quick keyboard control while coding, taking notes, studying, or working with a video open on another monitor.
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  PlaybackKeys works out of the box on YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera.
  
  For other sites with standard HTML5 video, open the page, click the PlaybackKeys icon, and choose "Enable on this site".
  
  You can also turn on "Run on all sites" in Settings. Both optional access modes are off by default.
  
  HOW TO USE
  
  1. Open a supported video site.
  2. Use the default shortcuts, or customize every command at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  3. To use shortcuts while another app is focused, set the shortcut scope to Global in Chrome's shortcut settings.
  
  DEFAULT SHORTCUTS
  
  Windows/Linux:
  - Ctrl+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Ctrl+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Ctrl+Shift+3: Rewind
  - Ctrl+Shift+4: Skip forward
  
  Mac:
  - Command+Shift+1: Play / pause
  - Command+Shift+2: Speed up
  - Command+Shift+8: Rewind
  - Command+Shift+9: Skip forward
  
  LIMITATIONS
  
  PlaybackKeys is made for normal browser video playback. It does not skip ads, download videos, bypass DRM, or bypass paid streaming restrictions.
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing.
  
  Your settings stay on your device in chrome.storage. There is no tracking, no telemetry, no analytics, and no network requests.
  
  PlaybackKeys is open source and MIT licensed.
  
  Source code:
  https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  
  Privacy policy:
  https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY/

• May 10, 2026
  description

  PlaybackKeys gives you four global keyboard shortcuts for browser video. Pause, skip, and change speed without switching tabs or leaving your editor — even while Chrome is minimized or another app has focus.
  
  WHAT IT DOES
  
  • Play / Pause                  Ctrl+Shift+1   (⌘⇧1 on Mac)
  • Speed +0.25x                  Ctrl+Shift+2   (⌘⇧2 on Mac)
  • Skip back 5s                  Ctrl+Shift+3   (⌘⇧8 on Mac)
  • Skip forward 5s               Ctrl+Shift+4   (⌘⇧9 on Mac)
  
  Three more commands ship without preset chords (Speed −0.25x, Reset speed, Switch target tab). Assign them in chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  
  WHO IT'S FOR
  
  Developers watching tutorials while coding. Students taking notes during lectures. Anyone who keeps a video tab open on a second monitor and is tired of clicking back to it every time something needs pausing.
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  Built-in support for YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera. To enable on any other site with HTML5 video: open the site, click the toolbar icon, hit "Enable on this site." Power users can opt in to a single bulk "Run on all sites" toggle in Settings — both off by default, both gated behind Chrome's native permission prompt.
  
  WHAT IT DOESN'T DO
  
  • No ad skipping
  • No DRM bypass (no Netflix, Disney+, Prime, HBO support)
  • No modification of YouTube's player UI, recommendations, or end screens
  • No video downloading
  • No data collection, no telemetry, no network requests, no analytics
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing. All settings stay on your device in chrome.storage. Open source, MIT licensed.
  
  Source code: https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  Privacy policy: https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY

  PlaybackKeys adds global keyboard shortcuts for browser video, so you can pause, skip, rewind, or change speed without clicking back to the video tab.
  
  It is built for those moments when a tutorial, lecture, podcast, or course is playing in the background and you just need quick control from your keyboard. Useful while coding, taking notes, studying, or working with a video open on another monitor.
  
  
  WHERE IT WORKS
  
  Built-in support for YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera.
  
  For any other site with standard HTML5 video, open the page, click the PlaybackKeys icon, and choose "Enable on this site".
  
  You can also turn on "Run on all sites" in Settings. Both options are off by default.
  
  
  HOW TO USE
  
  1. Open a supported video site.
  2. Use the default shortcuts, or customize them in chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
  3. To control video even when another app is focused, set the shortcut scope to Global in Chrome's shortcut settings.
  
  
  LIMITATIONS
  
  PlaybackKeys is made for normal browser video playback.
  It does not skip ads, download videos, bypass DRM, or bypass paid streaming restrictions.
  
  
  PRIVACY
  
  PlaybackKeys collects nothing.
  Your settings stay on your device in chrome.storage. There is no tracking, no telemetry, no analytics, and no network requests.
  Open source, MIT licensed.
  
  Source code:
  https://github.com/mehmetdemircs/PlaybackKeys
  
  Privacy policy:
  https://mehmetdemircs.github.io/PlaybackKeys/PRIVACY

• May 10, 2026
  short_description

  Global keyboard shortcuts for HTML5 video playback (play/pause, skip, speed) on YouTube, Vimeo, Udemy, and Coursera.

  Control browser videos with global keyboard shortcuts. Pause, skip, rewind, and change speed without switching tabs.

Permissions & access

Permissions

storagetabsscriptingcontextMenus

Host access

*://*.youtube.com/*, *://*.youtube-nocookie.com/*, *://*.vimeo.com/*, *://*.udemy.com/*, *://*.coursera.org/*

Screenshots