YouTube Shorts do not support direct playback speed adjustments in their feed view, but a reliable workaround exists using the app's liked videos feature. This method works on mobile devices as of late 2025.
Steps on Mobile App
Open the YouTube app and play the Short you want to slow down, then tap the thumbs-up (like) button to save it.
Next, tap your profile icon (bottom right), select "Liked videos" from the library or playlists, and play the Short again.
Tap the gear icon (top right) during playback, choose "Playback speed," and select a slower option like 0.75x, 0.5x, or 0.25x.
Desktop Alternative
On a web browser, navigate to the Short's full video page if available, click the gear icon in the player, and adjust playback speed to below 1x.
Keyboard shortcuts like Shift + , also incrementally slow down videos on desktop.
Note that third-party apps or mods may offer direct control but risk account issues or violations of YouTube's terms.