YouTube tests new button for users who don’t know what to watch

YouTube is testing a new button for those who struggle to find something to watch on the video sharing platform.

YouTube has long been a go-to platform for killing time, and a new feature test aims to make it even more engaging. According to a report by 9to5Google and posts from users dating back to May 2023, the YouTube Android app now includes a button labeled “Play Something.”

This feature plays a random video tailored to your content preferences. It’s similar to an experiment from 2023, but the new iteration appears to have an updated design and slightly tweaked functionality.

Per 9to5, YouTube’s Android app has re-introduced a “Play Something” button, located in the lower right corner of the interface. This function appears to launch a randomly selected YouTube Short aligned with your preferences when tapped.

YouTube testing a Play Something button for bored users

The feature doesn’t seem to have been rolled out widely yet. For instance, it’s not visible on all devices. Screenshots shared by 9to5 originate from Brazil, so if you’re based there, it’s worth checking your YouTube app to see if the button is available for you.

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These reports are in-line with what users claimed to be seeing back in May 2023 on Android.

The experiment from last year also introduced a “Play Something” button into the home screen feed, as reported by The Verge at the time. However, the updated version seems to be a permanent fixture in the user interface rather than a scrollable element you can bypass.

According to 9to5, the new button is showing up in version 19.5 of the YouTube Android app. It isn’t clear, however, why it was brought into testing after being phased out in 2023. Many users with this version of Android still aren’t seeing it, meaning that the feature isn’t rolling out to everyone just yet.

In other YouTube news, the video platform is testing a voice reply feature to help enable “meaningful relationships” between creators and their viewers.