YouTube Mobile App Update: New Gestures & Video Chapters

YouTube is currently implementing a range of improvements to its mobile player interface. These modifications involve relocating certain elements, introducing new functionalities – such as a broader selection of gesture-controlled navigation options – and refining existing features, including video chapters, among other enhancements.

Video chapters were initially released in May as a more convenient method for reaching the most interesting segments of a video without manually fast-forwarding. This allows content creators to incorporate timestamps into their videos, enabling viewers to quickly navigate to specific sections or revisit important moments.

These chapters are automatically displayed as a series of timestamps and titles, utilizing chapter information that the creator includes in the video’s description, starting from the 0:00 mark.

Today, YouTube is expanding this functionality with a new list view that presents a comprehensive list of all chapters within a video, each accompanied by a preview thumbnail. Users can access this list by selecting the chapter title within the player, and then jump to their desired section by tapping on the corresponding chapter in the list.

This enhancement simplifies chapter navigation, as the thumbnails provide a visual reference for the different parts of the video.

YouTube is also updating its player page to improve accessibility of captions, repositioning the button to a more noticeable location on mobile devices. The auto-play toggle has also been moved for easier activation or deactivation during video playback – a change that will soon be available to desktop users as well, according to YouTube.

Additional minor improvements to the player page include rearranged buttons and controls that offer a more responsive experience.

Alongside the user interface adjustments, the navigation system has been updated to include a wider range of gesture controls. Currently, a double tap on either side of the video allows for fast-forwarding or rewinding by 10 seconds. Now, users can also swipe upwards to enter full-screen mode and swipe downwards to exit it.

Furthermore, users can tap the timestamp to toggle between viewing the remaining time and the elapsed time of the video they are watching.

YouTube will also begin offering viewers “suggested actions” when opportunities exist to enhance their video experience. For instance, users may be prompted to rotate their device for a landscape video, or to view a video in VR. More suggestions will be implemented over time as needed.

In today’s announcement, YouTube also referenced a bedtime reminders feature, which was actually launched earlier this year. The inclusion of this feature in the current update is described by YouTube as a “recap,” as it is already available.

YouTube has confirmed to TechCrunch that some users may already have access to many of these changes, while others will receive them throughout this week.

These updates will be rolled out across both iOS and Android platforms, beginning today.