YouTube

YouTube Rolls Out Redesigned Miniplayer on Android and iOS

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May 21, 2025 — Tech Update: YouTube is now rolling out its refreshed in-app miniplayer experience for both Android and iOS, following user feedback from last year’s update that introduced a floating video player. This latest design tweak aims to make the feature less obtrusive while improving multitasking within the app.

YouTube

🔄 What’s New in the Miniplayer Update?

  • Simplified Controls:
    The previous bottom control bar with play/pause and skip buttons has been removed. Instead, a play/pause icon now appears in the top-left corner, while the close (“x”) button sits on the top-right.

  • Cleaner UI:
    The redesigned miniplayer is now shorter and less intrusive, though it continues to show a red progress bar along the bottom edge of the player.

  • Floating & Docking:
    You can now dock the miniplayer to either the left or right edge of your screen — similar to Android’s native picture-in-picture (PiP) behavior. A visible drag handle allows for quick repositioning or to bring the video back into view.

  • Pause on Hide (Not Yet Working as Intended):
    YouTube said that hiding the miniplayer should pause the video and resume playback once reopened. However, current behavior (as seen on Android v20.19.37) shows that videos continue to play in the background even when hidden — a likely bug or delayed feature rollout.

  • Repeat Button:
    When a video ends in the miniplayer, users now see a repeat icon to instantly rewatch.

📱 Availability

  • Android: Version 20.19.37

  • iOS: Version 20.20.5

The update is now live on both platforms, rolling out in stages through the YouTube app.

Why It Matters

This new design reflects Google’s continued push toward fluid, multitasking-friendly interfaces on mobile. While the miniplayer now takes up less space, it still allows users to watch content while browsing YouTube, and the new dock-and-hide flexibility may appeal to those who found the previous design overly intrusive.

As always, more refinements are likely as YouTube collects fresh feedback.

Author Profile

Ganpat Singh Chouhan
Ganpat Singh Chouhan
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.