YouTube is introducing major changes to its homepage, giving users greater control over the videos they see. The platform is replacing its existing topic chips with a new feature called “Custom Feeds” and testing a redesigned top navigation menu that makes the Subscriptions tab easier to access.
Create your own Custom Feeds
YouTube began testing Custom Feeds earlier this year and is now expanding the feature to more users as part of the regular homepage experience. Instead of selecting from predefined topic chips, viewers can tap the “+” button at the top of the Home page and enter a description of the content they want to watch.
Users can create feeds based on specific subjects, content categories or even a particular mood. YouTube will then generate a dedicated stream of relevant videos, similar to how YouTube Music uses written prompts to create personalised playlists. These feeds will automatically refresh as new videos become available.
Free users can save up to three Custom Feeds, while YouTube Premium subscribers can maintain up to eight. Users can also modify or delete their feeds whenever they wish.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced the feature on X, saying it would allow viewers to take control of their homepages. He described Custom Feeds as a way of giving users the keys to their homepage and revealed that his first feed would focus on Bay Area sports highlights.
Subscriptions move to the top
YouTube is also testing changes to navigation in its mobile app to make important sections easier to reach without scrolling to the bottom of the screen. The experiment introduces a simpler navigation bar at the top of the Home tab.
The Subscriptions feed will move to this new menu, alongside permanent shortcuts for Live and Music. Users with active subscriptions will also see a dedicated Movies & TV option in the top navigation bar.
Who can access the update?
Custom Feeds are currently being rolled out to signed-in users in the United States who are at least 13 years old and have their language settings configured in English. Users must also have their YouTube watch and search histories enabled for the feature to work.
Feeds created through the mobile app will automatically synchronise with YouTube on desktop browsers. The platform is expected to expand availability to additional regions in the coming period.
