YouTube Music Redesign: Now Playing Changes
- YouTube Music is currently testing a redesign of its Now playing screen, an effort underway since November 2024.
- The revised layout places the play/pause, next/last, shuffle, and repeat controls below the song title and artist.
- In this latest iteration, YouTube Music moves the thumbs up/down buttons from the carousel.
YouTube music’s “Now Playing” screen is getting a makeover! The latest redesign shifts the thumbs up/down buttons and streamlines the interface, aiming for a less cluttered, more symmetrical look. This update, currently in testing as November 2024, repositions controls like play/pause and shuffle while integrating a carousel of actions. This is a significant change too the user experiance. The thumbs up/down buttons are now separate circular buttons positioned to the right of song details—part of YouTube Music’s initiative to refine its platform. News Directory 3 has the details. This follows recent additions like swipe gestures for playlist management.Discover what’s next for YouTube Music’s evolution.
YouTube Music Tests New Now Playing Design with Thumbs Up/Down Placement
YouTube Music is currently testing a redesign of its Now playing screen, an effort underway since November 2024. This update involves relocating the thumbs up and down buttons, a change still in growth.
The revised layout places the play/pause, next/last, shuffle, and repeat controls below the song title and artist. The timeline maintains its central position but adopts a blockier appearance, mirroring the main YouTube request. A carousel featuring various actions, including the Song/Video switcher introduced in febuary, now occupies the bottom line.
In this latest iteration, YouTube Music moves the thumbs up/down buttons from the carousel. Instead of a combined pill-shaped button, they are now separate circular buttons positioned to the right of the song and artist information. This YouTube Music update aims to streamline the user experience and enhance music discovery.

While the new design may appear somewhat cluttered, it allows for more actions—such as Comments, Save, Video, Share, and Download—to be visible without requiring users to swipe. This Now Playing redesign has undergone extensive A/B testing in recent months, with some users periodically losing access to it during the testing phase.
In related news, YouTube Music recently introduced a shortcut on album and playlist pages that enables users to swipe right on a song to “Play next” and swipe left to “Add to playlist.” These changes reflect YouTube music’s ongoing efforts to refine its interface and improve user engagement with its music streaming platform.
What’s next
YouTube Music is expected to continue refining the now Playing screen based on user feedback from these A/B tests. A wider rollout of the updated design is anticipated in the coming months, pending further adjustments and refinements.
