YouTube is gearing up to give its video player a fresh new makeover soon. Here’s all you need to know

YouTube is turning 20 this year, and with that milestone comes a major refresh. After nearly a decade of sticking to the same design, the platform is now testing a revamped video player aimed at delivering a smoother, more intuitive user experience. Early glimpses of the redesign, shared by Reddit users, reveal a cleaner layout with controls neatly separated into distinct keys. This update not only modernizes YouTube’s look but also reinforces its commitment to staying relevant in a world where every social media platform is chasing video dominance. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new.

New Video Player

YouTube’s website is starting to show off a refreshed interface on select videos, as noticed by several users. Images shared on Reddit reveal that the new design breaks out key controls into individual capsules, making actions like Play/Pause, skipping to the next video, checking the timestamp, and navigating chapters more prominent and easier to use.

One of the most noticeable changes is the repositioning of the volume controls. Previously tucked in the lower-left corner, the volume button has now moved to the lower right. When selected, it brings up a vertical slider instead of the old horizontal bar — a tweak aimed at making volume adjustments feel more comfortable and intuitive.

As usual, opinions are divided. Some users feel the new look is a refreshing upgrade, while others are loyal to the classic design. From our perspective, the revamped layout comes across as cleaner, more straightforward, and easier to navigate. That said, the real test will be how it feels after extended use.

Moreover, in an official blog post about the update, YouTube stated, “In the next few weeks, YouTube TV members can experiment with building their own multiview with select non-sports content, starting with a small group of popular channels and expanding in the coming months.”

The update will let users customize their viewing experience by building personalized split-screen grids, allowing up to four non-sports streams at once. YouTube TV is also rolling out a refreshed video player interface: channel information, descriptions, and the subscribe button are now neatly arranged on the left, playback controls are centered, and other options are placed on the right, just beneath a more streamlined seek bar.”YouTube TV members can enjoy the zen while also being the life of the party with a 48-hour birthday-themed zen channel,” the company adds.In addition, YouTube will soon introduce the ability to reply to comments via voice, with the feature expected to launch later this year.