YouTube removing ‘Subscriptions’ bottom bar tab on Android, iOS after nearly a decade

YouTube is implementing significant changes to its mobile apps with the upcoming launch of custom feeds. Among these updates, the "Subscriptions" bottom bar tab is being removed, shifting its position to the redesigned top bar on the Home tab. This change, which has been in testing for several months, follows nearly a decade of subscriptions appearing in the fourth position of the bottom bar (since 2017).

The "Subs" tab will now be the second entry after "Home," accompanied by a red underline to indicate its new location. This modification will undoubtedly disrupt users' muscle memory, as it has been a fixture of the YouTube interface for an extended period. In addition to the redesigned top bar, YouTube is introducing dedicated feeds for Live, Music, and Movies & TV, which will appear following the "Subscriptions" tab.

However, the Movies & TV category will only be visible if the user has active subscriptions, such as those related to Primetime Channels. This redesign aims to streamline the YouTube experience by eliminating the navigation drawer and tailoring content to users' specific interests. Free users can save up to three custom feeds, while YouTube Premium members can save up to eight.

Custom feeds will initially launch on mobile and desktop in English for U.S. based, signed-in viewers and expand to additional countries in the future.