Something quirky is happening over on YouTube. Many users are reporting a strange visual glitch affecting the search bar on the popular video platform’s web version. It looks like the regular search icon is being replaced by a much larger, somewhat distorted, “watch history” or “magnifying glass” symbol. This oddity appears primarily when users are signed into their Google accounts.
Reports started popping up in the past few hours, with people taking to Reddit and X to share screenshots and confirm they weren’t alone. One user, TheGloUP, posted a picture asking, “Does anyone know what the hell has happened to my search bar??” The image (added below) showed a prominent, oversized icon overlapping parts of the search suggestions. Several others quickly chimed in, echoing similar experiences.
It appears the issue is not universal. Some users have reported seeing a large magnifying glass icon instead of the watch history symbol. It seems to be a visual bug rather than something breaking the search functionality itself. While the icon looks out of place, you can still type and search for videos as usual. It’s more of an aesthetic annoyance than a critical malfunction.
Based on the conversations online, this glitch seems to be affecting users primarily on Chrome. However, I’ve tried to replicate this myself on Chrome, Dia, and Safari browsers, and interestingly, I haven’t encountered the glitch. This suggests it might be affecting specific browser versions, extensions, or probably just a bug that’s hitting users randomly.
One user, AlaskanAsh, mentioned, “Ok I thought I was losing it more than I already was… glad I’m not the only one going crazy here… Only Chrome that I can see but I’ll have to give Opera a shot and see. It doesn’t do it in Edge… but I felt dirty trying it.” Another user, StarWiz2K, simply stated, “Omg I am having the same issue I thought it was only me!” It’s clear that this is a widespread, albeit not universal, problem.
Given the fact that this is a visual bug, it’s likely that Google will fix it sooner rather than later. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s taken care of in the next couple of hours itself. That said, feel free to drop a comment below to let us know if you’re still seeing the bug.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1075 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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