YouTube has announced that its player on desktop will now automatically adapt to a video’s aspect ratio and different screen sizes, removing black bars from videos.
Last week, YouTube rolled out an update to its video player on desktop that will make a big difference to how videos of different aspect ratios play on the platform. For one, vertical videos will now show on desktop, without the signature black bars on each side. The update was first announced on its user forum last week and later reported by Android Police.
The affected aspect ratios following the update include standard and vertical 16:9, and older 4:3 as YouTube’s desktop player will also adjust automatically to a computer’s screen size. The move makes the platform more friendly for aspect ratios other than 16:9 but has angered some users, who claim the update makes videos smaller, causes parts of videos to be cut off, and even lowers video quality in some cases.
As one user explained, “Some YouTube videos just don’t look good when the screen is big. Either give us a way to opt out of this, or fix it.” So, it’s not the “best viewing experience” that YouTube was aiming for.
Here is what the update looks like:
4:3 (like older SD videos)
Vertical Video
Standard 16:9 Videos
For most newer videos in the standard HD aspect ratio, this update uses some of the screen’s extra white space, to enhance the video size, without impact to the video quality.
Android and iOS devices have had the update for a while now, so the latest change “aligns the desktop and mobile viewing experiences” somewhat. However, it seems there is a lot more work to do before it’s perfect. Perhaps that’s why YouTube announced the update on its user forums, and not in an official blog post.
You might also like
More from Youtube
9-Year Old Ryan Kaji Is The Highest-Paid YouTube Creator
Forbes has named 9-year-old Ryan Kaji as the highest-paid YouTube creator for the third consecutive year. He earned $29.5 million …
Tired Of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’ Video? Here’s A Version That Never Ends
To celebrate the 1 billion views of Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy', YouTube Music created an interactive 'infinite' version - 'Infinite …
YouTube Will Start Showing Ads On Non-YPP Channels, Won’t Pay Creators
YouTube changed its terms of service in the US to allow it to show ads on non-YPP channels and not …
YouTube Launches Audio Ads To Help Advertisers Reach Listeners
YouTube has announced audio ads, its first ad format designed to connect brands with podcast or music listeners.
YouTube Cancels Rewind 2020
2020 has been a terrible year and YouTube wants you to forget it. That's why there will be no YouTube …
YouTube Music Playlists Just Got An Upgrade
YouTube has announced five new improvements for YouTube Music playlists, making it easier for users to create, discover, and share …
David Blaine’s Latest Stunt Will Air Exclusively On YouTube
David Blaine announced Ascension, his first major stunt in a decade; an online-only event to take place exclusively on his …
TheirTube Shows You What It’s Like In Someone Else’s YouTube Filter Bubble
TheirTube is a YouTube filter bubble simulator showing you the videos that are recommended on six different personas' accounts.