YouTube’s new video player is intensely controversial, and here’s the proof

Our poll result shows that YouTube has a lot of people to win over regarding the tested changes to its web player.

Apr 28, 2025 - 18:18

YouTube’s new video player is intensely controversial, and here’s the proof

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

YouTube is often tinkering with its interface, usually to the dismay of those who are subject to the experiment. Some Reddit users expressed ire over tested changes to the YouTube UI last week, but you can always find angry people on the internet. We were more interested in finding out the general feelings about the significant changes, so we polled our readers to find out.

If you missed the apparent outcry, YouTube has begun rolling out a redesigned video player interface for its web platform, replacing the decade-old design with one featuring pill-shaped controls and a cleaner video view. However, users who are unhappy with the changes point out the apparent removal of the ability to scroll on the volume bar or use keyboard shortcuts to adjust audio. The update coincides with the 20th anniversary of the platform’s first uploaded video, but how many people are unhappy with this disruption to long-established user habits?