YouTube announces new features for Premium subscribers

YouTube announced new features for Premium subscribers, including live access to key moments, picture-in-picture in short films, smart downloads for offline viewing, and more.

This all builds on a milestone you helped us reach earlier this year, with over 100 million YouTube Music and Premium subscribers worldwide! If you’re not yet a YouTube Music and Premium subscriber, sign up today to get even more insight into the latest and greatest from your favorite artists and creators.

Take a look at the new features below!

Skip straight to your next favorite moments on YouTube

It’s now much easier for you to skip to the best parts of a video. Now, when you double-tap to skip forward, you’ll see a “Skip Forward” button that will take you to where you want to go.

This feature, based on a combination of AI and audience data, is now available to all US Premium subscribers on Android. And good news for iOS users: it will be available in the coming weeks!

Introducing a seamless experience on YouTube Shorts

Get ready to multitask like a pro with our new picture-in-picture feature for YouTube Shorts! On Android devices, you can watch your favorite Shorts while browsing other apps or checking your messages. It’s perfect for staying entertained without missing a beat. Dive into endless fun with YouTube Shorts, now more flexible than ever!

Early access to the latest experimental features

Premium subscribers get a sneak peek at some of the new features being tested on YouTube at youtube.com/new. Sign up to see the latest in presentation, assistive AI, and features for YouTube Shorts. Here’s what’s available to subscribers right now:

● Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts: Say goodbye to the fear of missing out on YouTube Shorts! With Smart Downloads, you’ll automatically get a fresh batch of entertaining Shorts downloaded to your phone, ready to watch whenever you’re offline. Whether you’re riding the subway or traveling on airplane mode, you’ll always stay connected to your next favorite Shorts.
● Conversational AI: YouTube’s conversational AI experience is back on Android devices in the US! For those who don’t know, this support tool can answer questions, suggest related content, and much more, all without interrupting your reading experience. You can access the tool by tapping “Ask” below the selected videos and start by asking questions about the video or selecting a suggested prompt.
● Redesigned Reading Page: You can now test a redesigned Reading Page that we’re developing across the web to improve your viewing experience and make it easier for you to find related content and interact with comments.