YouTube has launched an experimental redesign of its desktop watch page, exclusively available to Premium subscribers. The revamped layout, which initially rolled out to some users in April before being retracted, is now back for Premium members to test.
According to The Economic Times, the new design shifts the video description and comments section to a pane on the right side of the video, while also introducing larger thumbnail images for suggested videos at the bottom of the page. YouTube claims these changes aim to enhance the viewing experience, making it easier for users to find related content and engage with comments.
Despite these intentions, the redesign has sparked controversy. When first introduced in April, the changes received widespread negative feedback, leading YouTube to reverse the rollout.
Now, Premium subscribers have the option to try out the new layout by accessing the “Your Premium benefits” section in their account menu. They can switch back to the old layout by disabling the experiment in the same menu.