YouTube Android redesign rejected by readers in Android Authority poll

What the survey found

YouTube's November redesign of its Android app is deeply unpopular with readers of Android Authority, according to a poll the site ran after the changes rolled out. Of the 1,274 people who voted, 1,176, or 92.3%, said they hate the new design and want the old Subscriptions tab back.

The remaining votes were spread thinly. Only 27 respondents, about 2.1%, said they like the new layout and its Custom Feeds feature. A further 35 voters, or 2.8%, said they had not yet received the redesign at all.

What has changed in the app

The redesign, which YouTube began rolling out in November, makes several visible changes. It puts a new emphasis on Custom Feeds, removes the Subscriptions tab from the bottom bar, and gives Shorts, the platform's short-form video format, a more prominent place.

According to Android Authority, the new Subscriptions view also drops Filters, a feature that helped viewers narrow down which videos to watch. The Posts button has disappeared as well, which several readers flagged in the comments.

What readers said

Commenters on the poll raised practical complaints. One reader said the removal of the Posts button means they can no longer see all posts from their subscriptions in one place, and that checking every channel profile individually takes too much time.

Another reader, who pays for YouTube Premium, said the app shows no option for Custom Feeds, suggesting the feature may not be available to everyone who has received the new design. That detail is unconfirmed, as YouTube has not commented on the rollout.

Some respondents were indifferent, saying they rarely watch YouTube on a phone. Others criticised the platform's ongoing push of short-form content regardless of the redesign.

Why it matters

The poll is not a scientific sample, since it reflects the views of Android Authority readers who chose to vote, and sites like this tend to attract enthusiasts attached to familiar features. Still, a rejection rate above 92% is a clear signal about how the changes are landing with engaged users.

The results suggest YouTube may face pressure to reconsider at least some elements, particularly the loss of the Subscriptions tab and its Filters. Android Authority has asked whether YouTube should revert the design, and readers have answered emphatically.