YouTube Music appears to be experimenting with the placement of its Search button. A Reddit user, Maleficent_Race1072, shared screenshots showing that the search function, which traditionally sat at the top of the app, is now located in the bottom navigation bar.
The update looks like part of an A/B test, which explains why not everyone is seeing it yet. In fact, I haven’t spotted the change across three different Android devices or on my iPhone, confirming that the rollout is still limited.
Many users are welcoming the shift, saying that Search deserves a permanent spot at the bottom of the screen since it’s among the most frequently used features. The new placement could be especially handy for people using larger-screen phones, where reaching the top navigation is less convenient.
Not everyone is thrilled, though. The new Search placement appears to replace the Samples tab, a feature some listeners relied on for music discovery. As one commenter noted, the Samples tool was YouTube Music’s attempt to mimic TikTok’s discovery style, offering short music previews. While it wasn’t universally loved, a vocal group of users regularly used it to find new tracks.
Interestingly, the Explore tab hasn’t disappeared completely. According to the original Reddit post, the functionality is still accessible — but now requires an extra tap through the Search interface. For some users, this added step introduces unnecessary friction into the music discovery process.
Whether this redesign becomes permanent is still unclear. Personally, I’m in favor of the change since I use Search far more often than Explore. Having it on the bottom navigation bar feels like a win. For now, though, most people will need to wait and see if they’re included in the test. As with similar rollouts, it could take weeks or even months before the updated layout reaches everyone.
What do you think of this change? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
