YouTube’s New Look Introduces a Frustrating Change—Here’s How I Overcame It

YouTube has introduced a significant redesign focused on Custom Feeds, which has left many users feeling puzzled and frustrated. The traditional Subscriptions tab has been replaced, and now users can find “Subscriptions” at the top of the Home page, leading to a shift in how content is accessed.

As someone who enjoys diving deep into curated content from my favorite creators, this change is less than welcome. Many users are voicing their concerns, hoping for a reversal of these changes. In the meantime, I’ve discovered a workaround that allows me to access the classic Subscriptions tab.

I regularly alternate between the main YouTube screen and my subscriptions list. My feed consists of select creators that I enjoy watching. Opening YouTube, my immediate goal is to navigate away from the Shorts section, which I have already minimized.

“Years of habit, broken.”

My thumb would instinctively reach for the Subscriptions tab, which has now been replaced with the new Plus button.

Accessing my subscriptions now requires me to visit the top of the Home tab where several new features reside, the first of which is perplexingly labeled “Home.” Next to it, the Subscriptions section shows videos and shorts from creators I follow. There’s also a new swipe feature that, unfortunately, leads to many accidental transitions between feeds.

It’s not just a matter of relocating the Subscriptions tab; the new “Subscriptions” screen also comes with significant drawbacks. The once-utilized Filters section is now absent, a feature many users relied on to easily navigate the latest uploads from their preferred channels.

The “Today” filter was my main means of viewing new content in one consolidated place, but the new design lacks this functionality. Instead, the feed is filled with suggestions and Shorts, moving valuable uploads to the background.

For now, there’s a method to quickly revert to the classic Subscriptions tab. It utilizes Android’s app actions.

By pressing and holding the YouTube app icon on my home screen, I can access the Actions menu and select Subscriptions. Additionally, I can pin this shortcut for permanent access. This option leads me back to the old Subscriptions page with its useful filters. I hope this feature remains available.

Another option available to me is NewPipe, where I have a private subscriptions list focused only on talks and lectures. If YouTube becomes less accommodating, I can migrate my list to NewPipe. The downside is that this list syncs only on my Android device and won’t appear on my TV or Mac.

It appears that YouTube’s Home screen is increasingly neglecting video content. While I value my subscriptions, I also depend on YouTube’s recommendations for discovering new creators and content.

Recently, however, the Home screen has shifted its focus from long-form videos to a mix of posts, polls, Shorts, and promoting live broadcasts, creating a cluttered experience — especially for Premium users.

“I haven’t encountered the new YouTube Custom Feeds, and there’s no rush to do so.”

Custom Feeds, which are presently being rolled out in the U.S., seem to be YouTube’s attempt to refresh content delivery, but there’s no timeline for users in other regions like India. However, I’m not particularly eager for these updates.

These Custom Feeds effectively replace previous topic tabs at the top. Free users can create up to three feeds at a time, while Premium users enjoy eight slots. The feeds are determined by user prompts and the platform’s AI, suggesting videos based on the entered topics.

While the concept is appealing—allowing for focused feeds on subjects like car reviews and spirituality—it still lacks the autonomy I desire, as it doesn’t serve as a true subscription feed.

Currently, I’m contending with an increasingly confusing interface while clinging to a shortcut for the old Subscriptions tab. I plan to hold onto it for as long as possible.