YouTube music Overhauls Now Playing Screen with Dual-Pane Design
youtube Music is rolling out a redesigned “Now Playing” screen featuring a dual-pane layout, offering users enhanced control and details visibility. The update, first spotted in beta testing and now widely available, separates song controls and queue management into distinct sections.
The revamped interface addresses longstanding user feedback regarding screen clutter and ease of navigation. By dividing the screen, listeners gain quicker access to upcoming songs, lyrics, and the song queue without interrupting playback controls.This update impacts all YouTube Music users across Android and iOS, streamlining the core listening experience as the platform continues to compete with services like Spotify and Apple Music.
The core change introduces a split-screen view. The left side maintains familiar playback controls – play/pause, skip forward/backward, volume – alongside song information like title and artist. The right side displays the upcoming queue, lyrics (when available), and options for liking or adding songs to playlists.
Previously, these elements were often layered or required swiping, creating a less intuitive experience.The new design aims for a more efficient workflow,notably for users who frequently manage their listening queue or follow along with lyrics.The update also includes a redesigned progress bar and album art display.
YouTube began testing this dual-pane design in September 2024, gathering feedback from beta users before the wider rollout. The company has not announced any further planned changes to the Now Playing screen, but continues to iterate on the overall YouTube Music experience based on user data and feedback.
