[Tip] How to Enable or Disable New YouTube Homepage Layout Design

SUMMARY: YouTube has released a new layout design or user interface (UI) called “Polymer” for its homepage which is rolling out to all YouTube users. If you don’t like the new layout, this tutorial will help you in disabling or removing the new layout design and restoring old layout in YouTube. On the other hand, if you haven’t received the new layout design yet and want to activate and enable it right now, this tutorial will also help you in enabling the new layout design manually in YouTube homepage.

YouTube has released a new layout design or you can say a new look/theme for its Homepage which includes various changes and new features such as:

  • Larger high-quality video thumbnails
  • New add to queue feature to create video playlist
  • You can now disable unwanted channels to appear in recommendations
  • Channel logo/icon is shown for each video
  • New redesigned icons, buttons and other elements
  • New color scheme
  • Larger section names with extra gap in left-side pane for responsive design suitable for touch-enabled devices

Following screenshot shows the new YouTube homepage layout design:

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New_YouTube_Homepage_Layout_Design.png

This new layout design has been named as “Polymer” by Google team.

YouTube is rolling out the new design for all users in phases and some users have already received the new design and some are waiting for the new design to apply. I got the new design layout a few months back in my YouTube account.

Now there might be 2 types of YouTube users:

  • People who got the new homepage layout design but didn’t like the new UI and want to restore old design
  • People who have not received the new layout yet and want to enable it as soon as possible

Today in this tutorial, we’ll share small tips to please both types of users. If you don’t like the new YouTube homepage layout or facing issues in new design and want to get back the classic design or if you haven’t received the new layout design and want to manually activate it in your YouTube account, this article will help you.

YouTube has provided a URL parameter or flag “disable_polymer” to enable or disable the new layout design for its homepage and it’s not new. I have used this trick a few months back when my YouTube account was automatically upgraded with the new UI. If we set “disable_polymer” parameter value to true in YouTube homepage URL, it disables the new layout design and opens YouTube homepage in classic layout. If we set “disable_polymer” parameter value to false in YouTube homepage URL, it enables the new layout design and opens YouTube homepage in new enahanced layout.

Following screenshot shows YouTube homepage in old layout design using above mentioned URL parameter:

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Old_Classic_YouTube_Homepage_Layout_Design.png

With the help of this URL parameter, you can open and visit YouTube homepage in new layout design or previous classic layout design.

To Disable New YouTube Homepage Layout Design and Get Old Design Back:

Visit following link and it’ll launch YouTube homepage in good ol’ classic layout design with small thumbnails:

Visit YouTube Homepage in Old Layout Design

To Manually Enable New YouTube Homepage Layout Design in Your Account:

Visit following link and it’ll launch YouTube homepage in new enhanced layout design with high-resolution bigger thumbnails:

Visit YouTube Homepage in New Layout Design

PS: You can bookmark these links for quick and easy access.

Also Check:

[YouTube Tips] How to Enable New Dark Theme Mode or Restore Old Interface

YouTube’s Hidden Secret Easter Eggs

Published in: Mobiles and Internet

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. If you don’t want the ‘New’ YouTube layout anywhere on YouTube,
    open the console on a YouTube page, go to Application/Storage/Cookies/youtube and change the PREF to: al=en&f5=30030&f6=8
    If you want the New layout back, clear cookies.

  2. Gratitude!

    First article I found that actually helped me get what I needed, the exact layout before Nov7th.
    Answers on this topic directed to youtube.com/?disable_polymer=true which isnt the youtube it was before that date, its an previous version to that, & this brings the answer needed – youtube.com/?disable_polymer=false 🙂

    I also suggest we must all write to youtube team for them to add in the settings the option to return to this layout.

    Gratitude once again

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