YouTube app could be getting a major design overhaul

Lately, Google has been in the news for introducing all kinds of changes to its apps and services, including YouTube. Over the last few months, the streaming giant has incorporated plenty of AI-driven features and tools to make the user experience a personalised one.

In more recent news, YouTube also introduced ‘Taller’ Shorts that can now house longer videos. But if you think that’s all the platform has on offer, you’re wrong. A report by 9to5Google highlighted that YouTube might be looking at a complete design overhaul, bringing it closer to its Smart TV app. Here’s what we know so far:

YouTube app may get an improved design soon

According to the report, Google is currently A/B testing a new UI version for YouTube’s Android smartphone app. Among the changes that are coming up on the platform, one will move the video’s title above the playback bar. Apart from this, the channel icon and subscriber count will also be moved next to the channel name, and the views as well as the publish date will rest below it.

Currently, a lot of these elements, including the subscriber count and channel info, remain hidden with the top navigation bar on the video. Much to the dismay of its viewers, YouTube has also seemed to have moved the full-screen, or ‘expand’ button to the top left corner of the screen. If that’s not all, a new rotate button has also been observed in a screenshot uploaded by select testers on Reddit.

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Other notable changes are also the missing forward and backward buttons on the playback screen, and users will now be able to look at the likes, dislikes and comments on the bottom right corner of the window. Unlike the current version, users will not be able to see the bookmark button, and it will be hidden under a ‘more’ option.

But apart from significant design updates, several other rumours also suggest that YouTube could be looking at including a swipe-up and down gesture to move videos in its playlist.

How to get the new YouTube app update

The update is currently being tested and is only made available globally to select YouTube users. It is unsure if the streaming platform plans to incorporate them large scale. That said, testers enrolled on the update aren’t exactly happy with the changes. Many have taken to social media platforms to voice their opinions and have reportedly called the additions ‘awful’.

While we can’t be sure if the updates will ever roll out to a larger audience, YouTube might just be waiting to iron out the creases or consider user feedback before it can go ahead.