How to speed up YouTube in your browser in a minute

If YouTube on your computer takes a minute to start a video, a browser extension is the quickest fix. Setup takes about a minute.

Step 1. Install the extension

Open the extension page in the Chrome Web Store and click "Add to Chrome" (works the same in Edge and Yandex Browser). Then pin "Accelerator for YouTube" via the puzzle icon next to the address bar.

Step 2. Tap the big button

Open the extension and tap the round button. The first time, the browser asks for access to YouTube and Surok sites — click "Allow". In a couple of seconds the card turns red and shows "YouTube is accelerated" and the exit country.

Step 3. Check "No ads"

"No ads" is on by default. If YouTube was open before installing, reload the tab.

How to check it's faster

Open a 1080p video, right-click the player and choose "Stats for nerds". Connection Speed should show several thousand Kbps. If it's under a thousand, tap the button again to reconnect.

FAQ

• Is it a VPN? Almost: only YouTube goes through our server, everything else goes direct.
• Price? 3 days free, no sign-up; then a Surok subscription from $2.99/month.
• I already have Surok VPN. Sign in via "Уже есть Сурок? Войти" — no need to pay twice.
• Phone? Desktop only. On a phone use the Surok app.
• Won't connect. Disable other VPN extensions — only one can control the browser proxy.

More on the slowdown itself: why YouTube is slow.