YouTube Music is testing a redesigned Now Playing screen with several key changes to the user interface. The play/pause, next/previous track, shuffle, and rewind buttons are now located directly below the song title and artist. The timeline has been redesigned to a rectangular shape, similar to the main YouTube app. Lastly, the action carousel for liking, disliking, commenting, saving, and sharing has been moved to the bottom of the screen.
These changes prioritize larger play/pause buttons, potentially improving accessibility. However, the new placement may disrupt existing user habits. The redesigned timeline also adopts a more modern look consistent with other YouTube platforms. While these changes are currently in testing, they suggest a deliberate redesign effort rather than a bug. For more on YouTube Music, check out the updated \"Listen again\" feature.
This update follows other recent YouTube Music enhancements, including the 2024 Recap and updates to the Android and iOS menus. The changes aim to improve user experience and streamline the interface. You can also learn more about other platform updates, such as Android's new cross-device login feature and streamlined Android setup coming in 2025.