YouTube reportedly tests Shorts-style infinite scroll for long-form videos on Android

YouTube has been on a spree of changes lately—some good, some not so much. From cracking down on ad-blockers to increasing YouTube Premium prices, its ~2.7 billion users have had to adapt to a lot.

Now, reports suggest that YouTube is testing a potentially divisive new swipe gesture for Android users watching long-form videos in full-screen mode.

According to Androidauthority, instead of swiping up or down to minimize a full-screen video or activate Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode, users in the test group now find themselves scrolling to the next recommended video, much like the setup for YouTube Shorts or TikTok’s quick-swipe interface (as seen in the video below).

For Android users accustomed to the swipe-down gesture as a quick way to exit full-screen mode, this shift could be jarring. Now, to minimize, users have to tap an exit icon at the top left or bottom right of the screen—an option that feels less intuitive, especially on larger devices where reaching for buttons can be awkward.

While YouTube’s goal here seems to be unifying navigation across video formats, early reactions from X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit suggest this approach may miss the mark.

Unlike Shorts, where quick-swipes fit the fast, low-commitment browsing style, long-form content usually invites a different focus and intention. Users seem to not appreciate having their muscle memory disrupted just for the sake of consistency across formats. For many, the swipe-down gesture felt natural; now, this simple action may feel disrupted, with some calling it “annoying” and “unnecessary” on Reddit.

Adding to the frustration, some early testers report that the new swipe behavior complicates simple actions like checking the time or adjusting brightness. When they try to pull down the notification shade, they inadvertently skip to the next video, interrupting their viewing experience.

This new gesture change isn’t YouTube’s only attempt to reimagine user interactions on the platform. Earlier this year, it tested a “Jump Ahead” feature, powered by Google’s AI, to help users skip directly to key moments within long videos.

Together, these tests reveal YouTube’s effort to keep users engaged by exploring faster navigation options—even if it means challenging established habits.

Currently, the new swipe feature is limited to a small group of Android users, with no official announcement on a wider rollout. The strong user feedback could influence the feature's future, leaving open the question of whether this approach will be embraced or remembered as a well-intentioned misstep.