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Test allows YouTube viewers to watch in full-screen mode while also viewing comments

By Sarah Chen
1 min read
video streaming media youtube
video streaming media youtube
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Google has been testing a revision to the comments section for the Android version of YouTube. With the test, Google will allow YouTube users to view and scroll comments on Android even when in full-screen mode. Previously, in full-screen mode users would not be able to read comments because of the lack of room. With the update, the video is minimized allowing users to view the content while the comments appear on a sliding panel.

After viewing all of the comments that a user might care to read, swiping down on the screen from the top of the banner will hide these comments and once they are swiped away, the screen returns to its usual size. Now we should point out that you can also read comments and view a YouTube video at the same time if you’re watching the video in portrait mode.

If Google is pleased with the response from the testing and decides to roll this out to all Android-powered YouTube users, we might get a good idea what Android users think about certain content on the app. Instead of having to choose between watching full-screen YouTube content and getting to read comments from those fellow YouTube users, you’ll be able to do both. It’s called multitasking!

Again, the testing by Google appears to be limited in scope, but we won’t object if you decide to see whether you and your phone are part of the test.

Questions & Answers

Q.

Is this new feature available to all YouTube users on Android now?

A.

No, this feature is currently only part of a test conducted by Google. It is limited in scope and not yet rolled out to all Android-powered YouTube users.

Q.

How will users view comments while watching a video in full-screen mode?

A.

When the feature is active, the video will minimise, and comments will appear on a sliding panel. Users can then scroll through the comments while the video continues to play.

Q.

Can comments be hidden once a user has finished reading them?

A.

Yes, after viewing comments, users can hide them by swiping down on the screen from the top of the banner. The video screen will then return to its usual full size.

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