GoKawiilYouTube app bug covers video progress bar with 'watch next' suggestions on Android
Numerous Android users report that YouTube's full-screen video player is being partially obscured by suggested 'watch next' videos, blocking the progress bar and preventing scrubbing. The issue has reportedly been occurring since at least April, with a fresh wave of complaints emerging recently, including from Android Authority's own staff who saw it appear and disappear intermittently. Google has not publicly acknowledged the glitch, leaving users uncertain whether it's a bug or a UI experiment.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
YouTube's recommendation interface is central to how the app keeps users watching, so an overlay that blocks core playback controls like scrubbing undermines basic usability for millions of Android viewers. Google's unusual silence, despite a Reddit thread gaining hundreds of upvotes, suggests either a low-priority bug or a deliberate test that could roll out more broadly if unaddressed.
- Suggested videos are overlapping and hiding the progress bar in YouTube's full-screen Android player.
- Complaints trace back to April, with new reports resurfacing recently across multiple users.
- Google hasn't confirmed whether it's a bug or intentional design change, and a temporary workaround exists.
Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-09-17
Published there as: “YouTube’s watch next suggestions are crossing the line on Android — literally”
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