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YouTube is testing a new Custom Feeds feature that gives eligible users more control over the videos recommended to them. Instead of relying only on viewing behavior, users can describe what they want to watch and create a dedicated feed around that request.
The feature appears at the top of YouTube Home as a Custom Feed chip. Users can enter a natural-language description covering a topic, routine, or mood, after which YouTube generates a stream of recommendations based on the prompt.
The latest version of the experiment allows some eligible users in the US to save up to eight active Custom Feeds. Users can switch between these feeds from the top of the Home page and edit their prompts when their interests change.
On mobile, Custom Feeds can replace YouTube’s standard topic chips, while desktop users continue to have access to the existing topic chips. The feature remains experimental, and availability may vary by account.
Custom Feeds are different from a standard search. While a search generally provides results for a single query, a Custom Feed is designed to remain as a dedicated destination that users can return to without entering the same request again.
Despite giving viewers more direct control, Custom Feeds do not replace YouTube’s recommendation system. The platform continues to determine which videos appear in each feed.
YouTube also requires both watch and search history to remain enabled for the experiment. Videos watched through Custom Feeds are added to the user's normal watch history and may influence recommendations on the main Home page.
This means the feeds are not isolated spaces. Instead, they provide YouTube with an additional signal about what users want to watch at a particular time.
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The latest multi-feed experiment is limited to eligible, signed-in users in the US on Android, iOS and desktop, with English language settings and watch history enabled. YouTube has not announced an official India rollout date.
For creators, views from Custom Feeds contribute to watch time and monetization in the same way as views from Home. However, creators cannot guarantee that their videos will appear in a particular Custom Feed because YouTube’s ranking system still determines placement.
YouTube is also monitoring how the experiment affects views, watch time, and revenue as it evaluates the feature.
