YouTube's redesigned video player for TVs is rolling out now

YouTube might feel at home on your smartphone or within your browser, but if you’re primarily digging into your subscriptions feed on the biggest, best display in your house, things might look a little different.
YouTube is rolling out a redesigned video player for its TV apps, and while it’s not a complete overhaul of the experience, it does add a handful of helpful features to try and streamline the overall UI. Google originally showcased this redesign back in April as part of YouTube’s 20th birthday, and largely speaking, the version that’s coming to your streaming stick appears to be practically unchanged from that early look.
In terms of what’s new, Google has an entire list’s worth of changes. Some of these tweaks are minor — the video title is now located in the top-left corner, rather than making it part of the overall video player UI, and the new “Description” button serves in its place as a selectable option for viewing video details — but others go a long way. Actual playback controls, with options for play, pause, and skipping forward and backward, are a welcome addition, making YouTube feel a little more like a proper streaming app.
The “Subscribe” button is now permanently visible and adaptable; Google says it will change for “pay-gated content and “Notify Me” for upcoming live streams.” Live sports — a rarity on YouTube, but not unheard of — will also show options for multiview, while paid subscribers to YouTube Music or YouTube Premium will see a “Display Mode” option. That said, not everything feels like an improvement. While those playback buttons are a welcome change, tapping left or right on your remote now launches the UI rather than simply skipping forward or ahead. It’s not the end of the world, but it definitely feels like a muscle memory I’ll have to unlearn.
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I’m seeing this player on both Google’s TV Streamer and an Apple TV unit, so it’s safe to say this new UI should be rolling out to users fairly broadly.