- How to join a YouTube experiment
- How to leave an experiment, and what happens if you don't
- How to see which experiments you've joined
- Why you might not see an experiment
- Where experiments fit in your Premium benefits
- Is it worth paying for Premium just for experiments?
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
YouTube experiments are test features that YouTube Premium members can try at youtube.com/new. Go to the page, click Try it out next to a feature you like, use it and send feedback. Some experiments run for a limited time, have limited spots or only work in certain countries and devices, and not every one goes live.
If you've ever seen a friend with a YouTube button or setting you don't have, they may have joined an experiment. It's YouTube's way of letting paying members test ideas before (or instead of) rolling them out to everyone.
It's a small page, but there are a few rules worth knowing before you switch things on, especially if you might cancel Premium later.
How to join a YouTube experiment
- Go to youtube.com/new while signed in to your Premium account.
- Look through the experiments on offer.
- Click Try it out next to the one you want.
- Use the feature as normal, and come back to give feedback.
YouTube says to give as much feedback as possible while you're trying a feature, because it helps shape what YouTube does next. To do that, go back to youtube.com/new and click Feedback beside the feature.
How to leave an experiment, and what happens if you don't
To switch one off, go to youtube.com/new and click Turn Off next to the experiment. If you don't, the feature disappears on its own on its scheduled end date and your YouTube goes back to normal.
Here's the catch I'd want to know before joining: experiments that need YouTube Premium can only be turned off while you're a Premium member. So if you're thinking of cancelling Premium, turn off anything you don't want to keep first, or you'll be living with it until its end date.
How to see which experiments you've joined
There isn't a separate list. You check on the same page, by the button next to each feature:
| Button you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Turn off | You've joined this experiment and it's on |
| Try it out | It's available, but you haven't joined it |
YouTube also says the page shows how many experiments you've joined, which is handy if YouTube suddenly looks different and you can't work out why.
Why you might not see an experiment
- You're not a Premium member. youtube.com/new is a Premium benefit.
- The spots are full. Some experiments have limited places.
- It's not in your country or on your device. Some are limited to select territories and devices.
- It's finished. Some only run for a limited time, and not all of them end up going live.
Where experiments fit in your Premium benefits
Experiments are one perk among many. YouTube's Your Premium benefits page pulls them together: a list of your membership benefits, personal stats such as the hours and minutes you've watched, and promotions or offers open to you. You can only view it from a computer or a phone, not a tablet. In the app, tap your profile picture, then Your Premium benefits.
That's also where Premium badges show up. YouTube says you earn them for how long you've had Premium and for using your benefits, they're available to members aged 18+, and family plan members can earn them too.
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For a sense of what Premium already includes beyond experiments: Jump ahead skips to the point most viewers fast forward to, auto speed adjusts playback speed for you on Android in English, and 1080p Premium gives an enhanced bitrate on videos uploaded in 1080p. I've rounded up the full list in every YouTube Premium benefit.
Is it worth paying for Premium just for experiments?
On its own, no. Experiments come and go, there's no promise any of them will last, and some have limited spots. The value of Premium is the ad-free viewing, downloads and background play, and experiments are a bonus on top. If you're weighing it up, see how the YouTube Premium free trial works, or whether YouTube Premium Lite covers what you need for less.
My verdict
If you already pay for Premium, bookmark youtube.com/new and check it every few weeks. It's free to try things, it's easy to switch them off, and YouTube says your feedback helps shape what comes next. Just remember the one rule that bites: turn off any Premium experiment you don't want before your membership ends, because you can't do it afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
What is youtube.com/new?
It's the page where YouTube Premium members can try experimental YouTube features. Click Try it out to join one, Feedback to comment on it, and Turn Off to leave.
Do I need YouTube Premium to try YouTube experiments?
Yes. YouTube describes youtube.com/new as a place for Premium members to learn about and try multiple experimental features.
How do I turn off a YouTube experiment?
Go to youtube.com/new and click Turn Off next to the experiment. If you leave it, the feature disappears on its own on its scheduled end date.
Can I turn off a YouTube experiment after cancelling Premium?
No. YouTube says experiments that need Premium can only be turned off while you're a Premium member, so switch them off before your membership ends.
Why can't I see a YouTube experiment my friend has?
Some experiments have limited spots, run for a limited time, or are only available in select territories and devices, so not every member sees the same ones.
