YouTube for iOS Gaining New Gestures and Controls - MacRumors
Skip to Content

YouTube for iOS Gaining New Gestures and Controls

Google is overhauling the YouTube app for iOS to add more intuitive gestures and control options, according to a new blog post on the YouTube site.

youtubenewcontrols
The AutoPlay button is being moved from below a video to the top of a video, so it's easier to turn off autoplay content if desired. Captions are also easier to get to right above the video screen, and YouTube said there are "snappier" controls that make actions faster.

Entering full screen mode can be done by swiping upwards on a video instead of having to tap the screen expansion icon at the bottom of the video, which makes it easier to get to full screen mode. A swipe down exits full screen mode and returns to the standard view.

youtubeswipegestures
Tapping on the timestamp will now toggle between the time left on a video and the time that has elapsed, so you can view the video length in your preferred way.

YouTube for iOS is getting suggested actions, which are designed to prompt users to do things like rotate a phone or play a video in VR when YouTube thinks a better viewing experience is available.

YouTube in May added video chapters, and now the feature has been expanded to include a list view that pops up when you tap or click on the chapter title. It includes a complete list of all chapters in the video and a preview thumbnail of content.

These features are rolling out to YouTube users on iOS starting today, with YouTube available from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

gemini for mac app google

Google Maps for CarPlay Getting Gemini AI

Monday May 11, 2026 4:25 pm PDT by
The Google Maps app for CarPlay could soon include support for Gemini, based on code that MacRumors found in the Google Maps app. Gemini integration would allow CarPlay users to get detailed directions and information from Gemini. Strings in the app suggest users will be able to tell Gemini to navigate to a specific location after agreeing to new Terms of Service in the iPhone version of the ...
google gemini intelligence

Google Previews Android 17 With 'Gemini Intelligence' a Month Before Apple's iOS 27 Reveal

Tuesday May 12, 2026 12:21 pm PDT by
Google today previewed Android 17, the next version of Android that it is bringing to smartphones and other devices. Android 17 includes multiple new AI features, and it comes about a month ahead of when Apple plans to unveil iOS 27 with new AI capabilities. Google is now calling the AI features on Android "Gemini Intelligence," branding similar to Apple Intelligence. Google said it is...
android iphone airdrop quickshare

Google Makes It Easier to Share Files Between Android and iPhone

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:48 pm PDT by
Google today said it is introducing updated file sharing features that will make it easier for Android users to send files to iPhone users. Quick Share is already compatible with Apple's AirDrop feature on select Android devices, but Google says the feature will expand to Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR devices in 2026. On Android devices that are not compatible with...

Top Rated Comments

73 months ago
Could they overhaul it to allow PIP, please?
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
73 months ago
KILL AUTOPLAY!

I’ll pick another video if I want, dammit.
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
73 months ago
Just let us always have video play at highest quality and easier way to change res without 2 steps, also PIP?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
I honestly think YouTube app is coded by monkeys... Way too many bugs and aggressive ads.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
InGen Avatar
73 months ago
“Sorry guys, we know a lot of you are paying $14.99 per month for Premium but we don’t care about you and we are not adding PiP. But here have a few visual cues and improvements...”
- YouTube
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
73 months ago
If they could just enable HDR on iPhones 12, iPad Pro and Apple TV 4K. That would be great.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)