YouTube’s Reddit-style threaded comments are finally rolling out to desktop users, marking the completion of a nearly year-long testing phase that started on mobile devices.
The feature first appeared in limited testing back in February, showing up sporadically for mobile users with curved lines and indents connecting reply chains. It’s been a slow burn since then.
YouTube officially expanded the experiment to Premium subscribers on Android and iOS in mid-July, giving those users early access to the nested comment system. Then in October, the company rolled out threaded comments to everyone alongside a broader UI overhaul, but most users who got it were still on mobile apps.
Now desktop users are reporting they’re seeing the feature appear in their comment sections. Posts started popping up on Reddit over the weekend from users noticing the change, though it’s clearly a wave-style rollout since plenty of people — myself included — are still stuck with the old layout.
The new system supports up to three levels of threading, letting viewers tap or click into a comment to see the full conversation in an expanded tree. Once you hit that third level, any additional replies get flattened out. It’s basically how Reddit handles comment chains, and honestly, it’s been needed for years.
User reactions are predictably mixed. Some are calling it “YouTube’s best feature” and praising how much easier it makes following long conversations. Others are complaining it looks too much like Reddit and griping about having to scroll to the bottom of long reply chains to collapse them.
But here’s the thing most people are missing: you can click the vertical line on the left side of a thread to collapse it instantly, just like on Reddit. You don’t need to load all the replies first. That one detail seems to be winning people over once they discover it.
The rollout appears to be happening gradually, so if you’re not seeing it yet on desktop, you probably will within the next few weeks. It’s one of those rare YouTube UI changes that actually solves a real usability problem instead of just moving buttons around.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1383 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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