Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform trickplay processing by a client computing system during the playback of a downloaded media file, regardless of how far along the download has progressed. The client computing system determines whether it is configured to play the media file in trickplay mode and identifies, by a keyframe identifier module, a first keyframe in the media file. The keyframe is retrieved using index information contained within the media file and displayed on a display as part of the trickplay processing. If the client computing system is still in trickplay mode, the next keyframe is identified and the process repeats. Once the client computing system has exited trickplay mode, the keyframe identifier module identifies the closest keyframe to the current position in the media file and begins normal playback of the media file at the location of the closest keyframe.