YouTube updates its design with Pinch to Zoom, Precise Seeking, and more

YouTube has just announced an updated design to its user interface on both desktop and mobile devices.

The first update comes in a new Ambient mode that brings a subtle effect on the app’s background to match the color of the video you’re watching.

Ambient mode is available on the web and mobile while in YouTube’s dark theme.

More on its dark theme, it has also been updated to be even darker to have colors truly pop on your screen and will be seen on the web, mobile, and even Smart TVs.

Video playlists also see an update with the same dynamic color sampling of Ambient mode and will show more details of each playlist.

The watch page also sees an updated interface with YouTube links in video descriptions changing to buttons and frequent actions such as likes, shares, and downloads now formatted to minimize distraction.

Although no longer the color red, the subscribe button has a new shape and higher contrast to make it stand out.

Pinch to Zoom

Users will now also be able to pinch to zoom while watching their favorite videos on YouTube on their iOS or Android device.

There is also now precise seeking to help navigate precisely along your video’s timeline whether on your desktop or mobile device.

Just simply drag or swipe up to display a row of frame-by-frame thumbnails in the video player to precisely navigate to the exact time you want.

Precise Seeking