For nearly a decade, the subscriptions tab has been a familiar sight at the bottom of the screen for mobile video viewers. Now, YouTube is shaking things up by removing this popular button from the bottom navigation bar. The company is introducing a fresh layout that places the shortcut at the top of the home page, completely changing how users browse their daily content.
The subscriptions button moves to the top of the screen
Starting in 2017, the subscriptions button rested safely in the fourth slot of the bottom bar. It is now moving to the top of the home screen and will simply read as “Subs” with a red underline. This new button sits in the second position, right next to the main home option.
This change applies to both the Android and iOS versions of the application. Because muscle memory is hard to break, reaching for the top instead of the bottom will take a bit of time to learn.
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Along with the new location for subscriptions, the top bar now holds dedicated sections for live streams, music, and movies. This design shift clears out the older side menu that used to house these video categories.
Viewers can build custom feeds based on their own interests
Beyond simply moving buttons around, its parent company Google is adding a way to build custom feeds. If you tap the plus icon on the home screen, you can type in specific topics, moods, or favorite channels.
The platform will then generate a unique feed just for that request. Free users can keep up to three of these customized streams active at the same time, while paid subscribers have the ability to save up to eight.
The overall goal of this visual update is to put the most important content front and center. The rollout is starting with English-speaking users in the United States and will gradually reach more regions over time.
By trading the classic bottom bar layout for a top menu and personalized streams, the application is betting that viewers will find videos much faster. While long-time users might tap the wrong spot out of habit for a few days, the cleaner design and extra categories should make finding something to watch a simpler process in the long run.
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