YouTube said it is updating the YouTube Shorts experience with a distraction-free clear screen mode, adjustable playback speeds, a new heart icon and more precise feed customization controls, in changes announced on July 2, 2026.
The company said the updates are aimed at making Shorts easier to browse and personalize. The new clear screen mode removes some on-screen clutter from the Shorts player, giving more of the display to the video itself. YouTube said the cleaner layout is designed for a more focused viewing experience on mobile, where short-form clips often compete with captions, buttons and other interface elements.
Alongside the clearer player, YouTube is adding playback speed controls that let viewers slow down or speed up Shorts. The company said the feature is intended to give users more control over pacing when watching tutorials, travel clips and quick explainers, or when they want to skim content more quickly. The speed options are part of a broader set of changes to make the Shorts format more flexible.
YouTube is also introducing a new heart icon, which it described as a clearer way for viewers to signal appreciation or interest. The company said the added feedback signal may help inform recommendations. The update comes as short-form video platforms continue to rely on engagement cues to shape what appears in a user’s feed.
In addition, YouTube said it is giving users more precise controls over the Shorts feed so recommendations can be tuned more closely to individual preferences. The company said those controls are meant to improve customization and reduce the number of videos that do not match a viewer’s interests. That kind of tuning may be especially relevant for viewers who follow topics such as travel, webcams, city scenes and technology content, including streams like Live Cam UADE 9 de Julio Independencia Buenos Aires and Live Abbey Road Crossing Cam London.
YouTube did not announce a price for the Shorts updates. The company did not say when all users would receive the changes, other than describing them as part of an ongoing rollout. The updates follow broader interface adjustments across the platform as YouTube continues to refine how Shorts is displayed and personalized.
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