YouTube Music Rolls Out Dual-Pane ‘Now Playing’ Layout on Android & iOS

YouTube Music is rolling out a redesigned ‘Now Playing’ screen for both Android and iOS users, aiming to offer a more modern and efficient listening experience. After months of testing since November 2024, the platform has finally started delivering the update via a server-side rollout. While not every user will see it immediately, the refreshed design introduces a dual-pane layout, compact controls, and improved navigation for a cleaner interface.

Redesigned Now Playing Experience

The most noticeable change is the dual-pane layout, which streamlines the arrangement of controls. The update eliminates clutter and makes the app look more intuitive while keeping the playback essentials accessible.

• The Song/Video switcher that used to appear at the top has now been removed.

• The Cast button remains in place next to the three-dot overflow menu, allowing easy casting to smart devices.

• Beneath the song title and artist name, users can now access playback controls in a simplified arrangement.

• Tapping on the track title still opens the “Related” section for exploring similar music.

Although the new design shifts elements slightly higher on the display, one-handed usability remains intact.

Updated Scrubber Bar and Playback Controls

One of the biggest visual updates comes with the scrubber bar, which now features a box-style design. This interactive bar responds dynamically to user input, offering a modern look compared to the traditional circular playhead.

The update also reorganizes playback features into a compact carousel format:

• Thumbs up / down for quick feedback.

• Comments and Save options.

• Lyrics for real-time song tracking.

• Video/Song toggle (now repositioned).

• Share, Download, and Radio functions.

By merging these tools into a single row, YouTube Music eliminates the older bottom row of tabs, reducing redundancy and improving the flow of the interface.

The New “Up Next” Section

The redesign introduces an upgraded Up Next section with a drag handle that highlights the current playlist or radio session. Instead of swiping gestures, users can tap to expand this section into a dual-pane view.

• The action carousel disappears in this expanded view, making room to display around four upcoming tracks.

• Users can expand further to view the full queue for better control over their listening experience.

• Once you exit the Now Playing screen, the dual-pane queue view closes automatically, keeping the interface minimal.

This layout makes managing playlists and song queues more efficient, particularly for users who enjoy curated mixes or continuous play.

Expanded Related and Lyrics Sheets

YouTube Music has also refined its Related and Lyrics sections:

• Both can now expand fully, giving users more immersive content.

• Each section displays the currently playing track at the top, with basic play/pause controls for convenience.

• This ensures that users don’t need to exit these sections to control playback.

Consistency for Podcasts

The redesign is not limited to music playback. Podcasts within YouTube Music also adopt the new layout, ensuring a consistent interface across different types of content. This helps users switch between songs, albums, and podcasts without adjusting to different navigation styles.

Availability and Rollout

The refreshed Now Playing screen is being introduced via a server-side update, meaning users may receive it at different times. Some may see the changes immediately, while others may need to wait a few days or weeks.

YouTube Music has been actively refining its interface to better compete with rivals like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, and this update demonstrates its push toward a more visually polished and functional UI.

Conclusion

The new dual-pane Now Playing layout on YouTube Music brings a blend of functionality, simplicity, and visual appeal. With the redesigned scrubber, compact carousel controls, improved queue management, and consistency across music and podcasts, the platform is clearly focusing on enhancing user experience.

As YouTube Music continues to evolve, users can expect more personalized features, AI-driven recommendations, and visual upgrades in the near future.