YouTube rolls out updated bottom bar on Android

YouTube continues to roll out the series of new features and design updates it announced last month, with the refreshed bottom bar icons widely available on Android. 

There’s no change to how YouTube navigation is laid out, but four of the five icons have been updated. Overall, they have thicker outlines than before and more rounded corners, though that aspect is harder to distinguish given the size. 

• The home icon used for Home has a new facade that’s somewhat more obvious
• Shorts has the thicker lines 
• The ‘plus’ sign for creating content is now housed in a gray circle that lacks an outline 
• Subscriptions has a simplified icon that’s not as deep and is a bit more rounded
• There’s no change to You

Old vs. new

This updated bottom bar is live as a server-side update with version 19.45 of YouTube for Android. The new icons are also live online, but we’re not seeing it on iOS yet.

(It remains to be seen whether the new iconography will also make its way to YouTube Music and TV.)

This joins the other changes that launched in recent weeks:

• YouTube rolling out playback speed redesign on Android, iOS
• YouTube for Android rolls out new miniplayer, settings redesign

Meanwhile, YouTube recently tweaked its app shortcuts. Explore has been removed, while all the icons have been refreshed to the outline-style.

More on YouTube:

• Some YouTube Premium users are seeing ads, but YouTube says they shouldn’t be
• YouTube Premium’s early adopter (grandfathered) price is going away
• YouTube for Android TV adds prominent ‘Subscribe’ button to player UI