YouTube Tests New “Play Something” Button to Randomly Select Videos

YouTube is currently testing a new feature that could make discovering content even easier with a floating “Play Something” button. The button, which appears just above the app’s bottom bar on Android devices, allows users to tap it and have YouTube automatically select and play a video.

The feature, still in testing, utilizes YouTube’s portrait-oriented Shorts player to showcase videos, including both Shorts and standard YouTube content. However, it’s expected that this may be adjusted before the feature is officially released to the broader user base.

This latest version of the “Play Something” button is part of an ongoing experiment that has included other variations over the past year, such as a “Play Something” banner and a simple button resembling the black-and-white YouTube logo. The concept is reminiscent of Netflix’s own random video feature, originally called “Play Something” and later rebranded to “Surprise Me” before it was retired in 2024.

The new feature could offer a fun and effortless way for users to explore content they may not have actively searched for, expanding their viewing experience.