YouTube Tests Center-Screen Google Lens Button on Paused Shorts

Google added the Lens button to Shorts in May 2025, giving users a way to run a visual search on objects appearing in videos. Android Authority reported that it was a useful addition for people who do not have access to Circle to Search. At the time, the Lens icon appeared in Shorts’ top menu. The test described by the outlet moves that button to the middle of the screen on paused videos.

Android Authority said it encountered the change during a recent session. When Shorts are paused, the Lens button sits in the center of the screen, covering part of the video. A tap meant to restart playback can instead hit the Lens button. Several Reddit users have already complained about the placement, the report said.

Android Authority wrote that Shorts has not been a fan-favorite feature and that the format often pushes low-quality “brain rot” content and repeats videos. The outlet described the new Lens placement as another way to make the Shorts experience feel frustrating.