June 3, 2026, 12:38 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
YouTube frequently makes changes to its Music app. A recent update affects not only the app’s appearance but also its fundamental structure.
Simplified Navigation
The search function is moving from the top to the navigation bar, replacing the previous “Explore” tab, as reported by “9To5Google.” The new order in the bar will be: “Home,” “Samples,” “Search,” and “Library.”
Previously, users had to click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen to open the search field. By integrating it into the navigation bar, the frequently used function is more accessible. Tapping it still brings up the keyboard directly. The buttons for voice search and song recognition remain in place.
Before the change, the search function was located between access to activities/notifications and profile settings, making it somewhat harder to reach with a thumb on large smartphone displays. The other two buttons remain and are now closer together.
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“Explore” Content Now in Search
Upon opening the search, YouTube Music first displays the most recent search queries. Below that is the previous grid from the “Explore” tab, including categories like New Releases, Charts, Moods and Genres, and Podcasts. This keeps a large part of the former “Explore” page accessible.
Further down on the newly designed page, according to “9To5Google,” more recently searched terms appear. The app also suggests new content under the “You Might Also Like” section.
Rollout on iOS and Android
Google has been testing the new app design since last year. The placement in the bottom bar also aligns with the layout of other music streaming apps. According to “9To5Mac,” the change comes with app version 9.22 on iOS and version 9.21 on Android. If it’s not yet visible, force-stopping the app via the app info may help.