YouTube Music Tests New Now Playing Redesign, Moves Thumbs Up/Down Buttons

YouTube Music has been testing a redesign of the Now Playing screen since November 2024. The new design moves the thumbs up and down buttons, with the control line and timeline blockier to match the main YouTube app. The thumbs up/down buttons are now circular and to the right of the song name and artist. The redesign has been heavily A/B tested and has been reported to cause confusion.

YouTube Music has been quietly testing a redesign of its Now Playing screen since November 2024. The new design aims to streamline the user experience by moving the thumbs up and down buttons, repositioning the control line and timeline, and introducing new features. The redesign has been under heavy A/B testing, with mixed feedback from users.

The current design from 2023 features the thumbs up and down buttons in a joint pill format on the carousel. The new design places these buttons to the right of the song name and artist, making them circular and more prominent. The control line, which includes play/pause, next/last, shuffle, and repeat buttons, now appears underneath the song name and artist, matching the layout of the main YouTube app. The timeline, which was previously smooth, has been made blockier to align with the main app's design language.

The redesign also moves the carousel, which previously contained various actions like Comments, Save, Video, Share, and Download, to the bottom of the screen. The Song/Video switcher has been moved to the carousel as well. This new layout aims to make these actions more accessible without the need for swiping.

The new design has been reported to cause confusion among users, with some reporting that they lost track of the buttons and actions. However, the redesign has also been praised for its potential to display more actions without the need for swiping, which could improve the user experience.

Apple's upcoming WWDC event on June 9th is expected to reveal a significant operating system redesign, which may include similar design changes. iOS 26 is expected to bring improvements to Messages with automatic translation, enhanced Lock Screen Now Playing in Apple Music, and Markdown export in Notes. CarPlay will also receive visual updates, aligning with Apple's refreshed design language.

The YouTube Music redesign is part of a broader trend in the tech industry towards more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. As companies continue to invest in design and user experience, we can expect to see more of these changes in the coming months and years.

References:
[1] https://9to5google.com/2025/06/05/youtube-music-now-playing-thumbs-up/
[2] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/wwdc-2025-apple-to-unveil-new-look-renamed-operating-systems-and-more/articleshow/121619922.cms