YouTube is no stranger to redesigns, but the next one might mess with your muscle memory. The mobile app may have a completely new design that removes the Subscriptions tab from the navigation bar, and I can’t say I’m a fan.
This afternoon, I launched YouTube and discovered an updated UI that relocated the Subscriptions bar from its usual spot in the bottom navigation bar to a new secondary menu below the app logo. In addition to the typical list of home page filters like “Music” and “New to You,” you’ll also find another “Home” tab in addition to the one in the bottom navigation bar, next to the missing Subscriptions button. Tapping Subscriptions loaded the typical list of your followed content, although now without its own dedicated space.
YouTube confirms that this is one of its last experiments.
If you’re part of this experiment, you may notice some changes to the location of your Home and Subscriptions feeds. Specifically, we’re testing a change to the location of the Subscriptions feed, moving it from the bottom navigation bar to the top of the screen as part of a new slide-out experience in the Subscriptions tab and Home feed…
At first glance, I think this is a pretty terrible change, relocating the tab I know I use the most within YouTube to a space that’s harder to reach on today’s modern ultra-tall smartphones. What makes matters worse, however, is how little it would actually add to the experience. The More icon you normally avoid would gain its own place with a “Create” label, which looks like suggest some kind of AI based authoring toolsinstead of the simple TikTok-style camera shortcut that exists today, and that’s it. There is no real benefit to the end user in exchange for what I would say is a pretty big change in application priorities.
Here’s the good news: I don’t think this will be implemented in the immediate future, at least according to official YouTube comments. Although I checked several accounts (both Premium and non-Premium) to see if the UI was working, it was only when I returned to my main profile that the app started to malfunction. Initially, the new Home Hybrid Subscriptions selector disappeared, leaving me with no option to access my Subscriptions. Closing and reopening the app restored the current widely available UI and I haven’t been able to restore the new look since.
That said, It’s the eve of Google I/Oso my intuition that this won’t be launching anytime soon could be embarrassingly proven wrong with a single mention on stage tomorrow, even with its early test announcement, although that seems unlikely given the way I/O centric is lately on Gemini and AI.
If, like me, you’re a subscription-first user, cross your fingers that this doesn’t become the default any time soon. If you are part of this test group, please send your comments loud and clear; Also leave a comment below and let us know if you’re seeing this.
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