Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
YouTube’s redesigned channel menu for Android TV and Google TV uses a narrow, two-column side panel instead of a large card over the right side of the video. Playback remains visible, though the picture shrinks slightly while the panel is open. The redesign was reported on October 10, 2024, after appearing on Google TV Streamer and Chromecast with Google TV; it was not available across all devices at the time.
What changed in YouTube’s channel menu?
The older design showed channel details and actions in a large floating card that covered a substantial part of the video. The new layout places channel information and controls in a more structured side panel, with two visual columns. Rather than laying the card over the picture, YouTube slightly reduces the playing video while the panel is open, leaving more of it visible.
This is a change to how the channel menu is presented, not a new channel-browsing feature or split-screen mode. The second column is for controls and navigation; it does not show another video. The updated panel also fits with YouTube’s other TV interfaces for details and comments. The October 2024 report describes the visual change and the devices where it was observed.
Recommended Free Tools
What can you do from the panel?
The menu provides access to channel information and familiar channel actions:
#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
- Subscribe if you are not subscribed.
- Join when the channel offers memberships and the option is available to your account.
- Go to channel to open the channel’s full page.
The exact options can vary. A subscribed viewer may see a subscription-state control instead of Subscribe; Join may be absent if memberships are not offered or unavailable to the account. Signed-out or supervised accounts may also have fewer actions. YouTube’s June 2024 update for YouTube on TV had already described prioritizing Subscribe, followed by Join and Go to channel. That update confirms the panel’s intended actions, but not the precise dual-column layout reported later.
How to open it
The remote-button sequence is not identical on every television or streaming device, and YouTube’s on-screen controls have changed over time. As a general guide:
Rank #2
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution: Enjoy your TV in stunning resolution Ultra HD ers four times the resolution of Full HD for greater clarity and detail
- Android TV: With the Android TV operating system you will have access to the best content, download the infinity of applications available through the Google Play Store!
- Voice remote control: Just press the Google Assistant button and ask it to find, play and control content
- Chromecast Built-in: Easily cast movies, shows, and photos from your Android or iOS device to your Android TV
- Easy Setup: Access your Google account and configure the device, language and Wi-Fi network
- Open a video in the YouTube app on an Android TV or Google TV device.
- Bring up the playback controls with the remote, then look for the on-screen channel information or channel-related option.
- Select that option to open the channel panel.
- Use the directional pad to move through the available actions. Press Back to close the panel and return to playback.
Follow the control shown on your screen rather than relying on a particular remote shortcut: its position and the button needed to reach it can vary by device and interface version.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhich devices have the redesign?
The change concerns the YouTube app’s viewing interface on Android TV and Google TV. The October 2024 report specifically observed it on Google TV Streamer and Chromecast with Google TV, while noting that the older animation remained on many devices. That is evidence of a staggered rollout, not a guarantee that every Android TV model—or every Google TV device—received the same panel.
Rank #3
- 4K Ultra HD with Cinematic Visuals & Sound: Supports 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) at 60FPS, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ for enhanced contrast, brightness, and color accuracy. Delivers immersive audio via Dolby Audio and DTS:X surround sound
- High-Performance Hardware: Equipped with a Quad-Core CPU (up to 2.5GHz) and ARM G310 V2 GPU for seamless navigation and multitasking. Includes 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage (ROM) for ample app and content space
- Google TV Smart Platform: Runs the latest Google TV OS, offering personalized content recommendations, access to thousands of streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, etc.), and voice control via Google Assistant
- Advanced Connectivity & Decoding: Features dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI 2.1, and USB 2.0 ports. Supports decoding of 4K 60FPS video formats and Google Cast for screen mirroring
- Complete Setup Included: Comes with Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen), voice remote control, power adapter, HDMI cable, and user manual. Compact design (95.25 x 95.25 x 16.7 mm) for discreet placement
Android TV is the platform used by many televisions and streaming boxes; Google TV is a newer Google TV experience on supported hardware. The YouTube app can look similar on both, but rollout timing and visible controls may differ. Earlier changes to YouTube’s TV sidebars were also spotted on other hardware, including Nvidia Shield TV, but that does not establish that this particular channel menu is available on every Shield model. The earlier sidebar report is useful context, not proof of compatibility for this redesign.
This is the YouTube app on a TV device, not the separate YouTube TV live-television service. It is also not a reason to buy a new streamer: the reported change is an interface rollout, not a hardware-exclusive feature.
Rank #4
- No More App-Switching. Forget learning to navigate a new screen with every app. TiVo Stream 4K enables one centralized place for searching, browsing, and creating watch lists across all your apps..DC Input Range 5V/1.0A. Power Consumption : Maximum 5 W
- Recommendations Across All of Your Apps: Get rid of the walls between what you watch. TiVo recommends your next favorite shows and movies based on what you love, not where they live.
- Say it and watch it. The power of voice control makes it easy to find shows. Integrated Google Assistant allows you to launch apps, dim the lights and more.
- One place for all your favorite streaming apps. TiVo Stream 4K includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock plus many more, so you can get to your shows fast.
- TiVo Stream 4K is one of Time Magazine’s “2020 Best Inventions, Special Mention” and PCMag hails it as “an excellent media streamer for TV lovers.” Operating Temperature 0˚C - 40˚C
Is it an app update or a setting?
No minimum YouTube app version has been confirmed for the dual-column panel, and no dedicated setting to turn it on has been identified. The evidence points to a staged interface rollout, possibly controlled in part by YouTube’s service, rather than a feature users can activate through a specific Android TV setting. Updating the app is sensible, but it may not make the redesigned menu appear immediately.
Do not treat version 4.31.300 as a requirement. That version appeared in reporting about an earlier sidebar redesign in May 2024, not as the confirmed version for the dual-column channel menu.
Best Value
- Ask to control your TV with your voice, and quickly cast your photos, videos, music and more from your phone, tablet, or PC to your TV with Chromecast built in
- Built-in Virtual Assistant – just press the mic button on the remote to get what you want
- Built-in content and entertainment including YouTube, Play Movies & TV, and more
- Support for thousands of Apps on the Play Store
- 2K resolution TV streaming
If you still see the old menu
Try the routine checks below, but understand that they cannot force YouTube to enable a staged rollout:
- Open the device’s app store and check for a YouTube update.
- Force-close YouTube, then reopen it.
- Restart the television or streaming device.
- Check that the device is online and signed into the account you intend to use.
- Try another video or channel, since available actions can depend on the channel and account.
- Check again later if the old panel remains.
There is no verified fix involving clearing app data, changing account region, or sideloading an unofficial APK. Avoid unofficial APKs just to obtain a visual redesign; they are not a supported way to trigger this rollout.
Why change the layout?
The practical benefit is reduced obstruction: viewers can inspect channel details or use channel actions while more of the video remains on screen. The panel also follows a broader pattern in YouTube’s TV interface, which has been revising sidebars, animations, and controls. In May 2024, related sidebar changes were reported; in June, YouTube documented a reordered channel side sheet. The October dual-column presentation continues that direction, although Google did not publicly document this exact layout in the June update.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
