YouTube Testing New Fullscreen Swipe Gestures, Faces Backlash from Users

YouTube is experimenting with a new swipe feature on mobile, which has already sparked discontent among users. As revealed by user Tushar Mehta on X, YouTube is repurposing vertical scroll gestures in fullscreen mode to shift between videos — mirroring the experience of YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram. This change replaces the traditional gesture system that many users have grown accustomed to, causing a stir among longtime viewers of long-form content.

How the New Fullscreen Swipe Feature Works

Currently, mobile users can swipe up on a video to open it in fullscreen and swipe down to exit. Additionally, in fullscreen mode, a vertical scroll brings up suggested videos. The new feature, however, radically shifts this experience: swiping up in fullscreen mode now transitions to the next video, while swiping down brings up the previous video. To exit fullscreen, users must either go all the way back to the first video or manually click a button.

This change makes long-form videos feel more like Shorts, encouraging users to mindlessly scroll through suggested videos, extending time spent on the platform in a manner better suited for bite-sized content.

Why Users Are Frustrated

For many, YouTube’s classic gesture controls have become second nature. The newly proposed system breaks this muscle memory, causing unnecessary friction in an otherwise smooth experience. The update forces users to interact with videos in a way that doesn’t align with the intent of watching long-form content. Long-form videos require focus, not the mindless swiping typical of short-form content.

Additionally, the change seems to interfere with Picture-in-Picture (PiP) functionality, which has also seen multiple changes over time, leaving users feeling alienated by YouTube’s frequent and often disruptive experiments.

Will YouTube Listen to User Feedback?

User reactions to this test could ultimately determine its fate. However, YouTube has a history of implementing features despite vocal opposition. This latest experiment, which seems solely focused on increasing app engagement, underscores the growing divide between user preferences and platform decisions driven by metrics.

Whether this feature will go live remains to be seen. However, it is clear that users value control and continuity, especially when it comes to long-form viewing.