YouTube for Android updated with Material You homescreen widgets

Following iOS last month, YouTube for Android now offers homescreen widgets that provide quick access to search and core parts of the app.

The first capability available is being able to quickly “Search YouTube.” Tapping the text field opens the YouTube app to the search UI with the keyboard already open. There’s also a voice shortcut at the right to perform queries that way.

• Quick Actions: The fastest way to search and browse YouTube
• Search: The fastest way to search YouTube

If you just want that functionality, use the “Search” widget. There’s also “Quick Actions” with the exact same search field, as well as one-touch access to the Home, Shorts, Subscriptions, and Library tabs/feeds. The latter disappears if you shrink the widget to 3×2.

These widgets follow Android’s Material You design language and take advantage of Dynamic Color. As such, the theme depends on your current wallpaper and homescreen placement.

We’re seeing these YouTube for Android widgets rolled out with version 17.43.36. It follows a broader overhaul for the app that is rolling out with a darker theme, rounded corners, and various updates to the video player.

More on YouTube:

• YouTube Primetime Channels let you subscribe to 30+ streaming services in one UI
• YouTube channels will finally stop showing Shorts in the Videos tab
• How the new, darker YouTube look compares to the old design [Gallery]
• Discord gets official YouTube integration along with a cheaper basic subscription