YouTube has changed its design again — viewers are furious: comments have moved, and recommendations now get in the way of watching videos

What Changed on YouTube

The main change is noticeable immediately after opening a video.

Comments, the description, and additional elements are now located to the right of the video player. Previously, users were used to seeing recommendations in this area, while comments were located below the video itself.

Now recommendations have moved below the video and are displayed as large previews.

Because of this, the familiar page structure is completely changing: video on the left, comments on the right, recommendations at the bottom.

YouTube is still testing this interface variant, so the new design hasn't appeared for all users. The company hasn't officially announced yet whether this layout will become permanent.

Why Viewers Didn't Like the New Interface

At first glance, the change may seem minor. But for regular YouTube users, it completely changes the usual viewing experience.

Those who watch videos and read comments at the same time are especially unhappy.

The right panel turned out to be quite narrow, and the large recommendation blocks below the video visually take up more space. Users complain that the interface has become less cohesive and more cluttered.

Some also note another problem — spoilers in comments.

When comments are directly next to the video player, it becomes harder to avoid glancing at them. For reviews of movies, TV series, game walkthroughs, and other story-driven videos, this can be especially unpleasant.

"Why change something that already works?"

That's exactly the question many users are asking now.

In discussions about the new interface, people compare the old and new versions of YouTube and note that the previous layout was clearer.

The large number of separate buttons and panels is especially criticized. Users believe that instead of simplifying, the interface gained additional visual elements.

Some specifically complain about the ever-present Ask/AI button, which takes up space next to other control elements.

YouTube Already Tried This Before

The most interesting part is that this is far from YouTube's first attempt to change the placement of comments.

The service already tested a similar interface variant earlier. Back then, the experiment also caused a negative reaction from users, after which it was abandoned.

Now the company has returned to a similar concept again, but in a somewhat modified form. This time, according to media reports, the test covers a broader group of users.

Is This YouTube's Final Redesign?

Not yet.

And this is an important point.

A user may get the new interface today, and after some time see the familiar page again. YouTube regularly conducts A/B testing of various design variants to evaluate audience behavior.

Therefore, saying that "YouTube has permanently changed the design for everyone" is premature for now.

The company also hasn't officially announced that the new layout will become permanent.

How to Bring Back the Old YouTube Design

There is no official "Revert to old design" button in the settings for this experiment.

At the same time, some advanced users are already trying to restore the familiar layout using browser extensions and custom filters. However, such methods may stop working after the next YouTube update.

Why Does YouTube Constantly Change Its Interface?

For the service itself, design is not just about appearance.

Every element of the page influences where the user clicks, how much time they spend on the platform, and which videos they watch next.

Moving recommendations, comments, the description, and other elements allows YouTube to experiment with audience behavior.

But there's a fine line here: if the interface becomes too unfamiliar, the user may spend more time not watching videos, but searching for the right button.

That's why even a small change in the placement of blocks can trigger a serious reaction from the audience.

Users Are Left Waiting

For now, the new YouTube interface is in the testing stage, so it's unknown whether it will become standard for all users.

But the reaction already shows the main thing: the YouTube audience is not always ready to accept changes just because the platform itself introduces them.

For some, the new design may turn out to be more convenient. For others — on the contrary, it may turn the familiar viewing page into a real quest.

So how do you like the new YouTube — is it more convenient, or would it be better to bring back the old design?