YouTube Tests Hiding Dislike Button in Desktop Overflow Menu

Overview

• The test, which was reported Tuesday, moves the dislike control from its usual spot under the video into the three-dot overflow menu for a subset of desktop users.
• Users on Reddit and X shared screenshots and tech outlets confirmed the layout change but said the test is limited and not reproducible for all accounts.
• YouTube does not appear to have removed the dislike option entirely in the experiment; it now requires extra clicks to access while the like button remains visible.
• Creators and viewers have pushed back because dislikes serve as a quick way to spot misleading content or bad tutorials and creators still rely on private dislike metrics in YouTube Studio.
• The shift follows prior moves by YouTube to hide public dislike counts in 2021 and to remove the dislike button from Shorts earlier this year, which suggests the company may be testing a broader reduction in visible negative signals.