YouTube Music Tests New Album and Playlist Layout With Expanded Artwork Header

In the test, the action bar becomes a split row. It includes circular quick-action buttons for offline downloads, library bookmarks, and comments. A prominent Play button and a dedicated shuffle option sit alongside those buttons. Android Authority described the layout as bringing cleaner controls to the forefront.

The update is currently reaching only a small group of users. Android Authority reported that it is likely a server-side A/B test before a potential wider release. Because the test is limited and server-side, availability may vary by account and region. YouTube Music has not announced a full launch date.

The album page redesign follows other visual experiments on the service. Android Authority noted that Google has been steadily giving YouTube Music a visual refresh, including experiments with a Now Playing redesign and expanded full-screen album art. The latest test brings a similar expansive treatment to album and playlist pages.

Multiple users on Reddit spotted the new album look, according to Android Authority. The album cover now stretches across the top third of the screen, a treatment similar to what appears on artist landing pages. The redesign also removes the traditional boxed-in header that had previously framed album and playlist artwork.

The change keeps core playback functions in place while rearranging how users access downloads, saved items, and comments. Offline downloads, library bookmarks, and comments appear as circular quick actions in the split row, while Play and shuffle remain prominent. The test does not yet indicate when or whether the design will reach all YouTube Music users.

Editor's Summary YouTube Music is testing an album and playlist redesign with expanded cover art and a split action bar, according to Android Authority. The update is limited to a small group of users and may be a server-side A/B test. It follows other visual experiments Google has run on YouTube Music.