YouTube Users Panic as Key Features Suddenly Disappear – What’s Going On?

ISLAMABAD: YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, which means any change, intentional or accidental, quickly draws attention. That happened earlier today when users began noticing missing features and unusual interface behavior across the site.

Key YouTube Features Suddenly Disappear

Reports gathered by Android Authority highlighted two major issues: the missing Subscriptions tab and the disappearance of video publishing dates. Several users on Reddit said the published date, which normally appears below a video title and next to the view count, no longer showed up on regular videos or Shorts. Others noted they could still see the information, suggesting the issue may not be affecting everyone.

Users also flagged that the Subscriptions tab had vanished from the sidebar for a period of time. Some said it later reappeared, while others found it relocated to a new position, leading many to believe YouTube might be experimenting with placement. One Reddit user explained that the feature had swapped places with the You tab on their account, disrupting their usual navigation habits.

Read more: YouTube Tests Private Messaging Feature on Mobile App

Another interface surprise involved the Bookmark button. According to Reddit user Budget_Possible2002, the option was hidden and replaced by an AI-powered Ask button. The accompanying complaint summed up the frustration: YouTube “being biologically incapable of keeping a non-horrible interface for more than a month straight.”

A Test… or a Glitch?

YouTube has a long history of UI controversies, with many users still frustrated by past decisions. One of the most widely criticized changes came in 2021, when the platform made dislike counts private to combat targeted harassment campaigns—an update that remains unpopular to this day.

Because of this history, it can be difficult for users to tell whether issues like today’s are intentional experiments or simple bugs. YouTube has been trying to gather more public feedback for major updates and recently introduced Your Custom Home Feed, a tool designed to let users shape the recommendations they see.

Whether the missing features are part of a broader redesign or the result of temporary glitches, the platform is once again receiving plenty of user feedback—something YouTube will need to address as it adjusts its interface.