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What it's like using YouTube's quirky new Spotify competitor
Here's the first thing you see when you open the YouTube Music app.
![What it's like using YouTube's quirky new Spotify competitor](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-49762643%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1189293%2Fheres-the-first-thing-you-see-when-you-open-the-youtube-music-app-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
It automatically recognizes the Google accounts you're logged into on your phone and let's you quickly sign in.
![It automatically recognizes the Google accounts you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762644,width-700,height-525,imgsize-58809/it-automatically-recognizes-the-google-accounts-youre-logged-into-on-your-phone-and-lets-you-quickly-sign-in-.jpg)
Then you're prompted to begin a free 14-day trial of YouTube Red, which removes all ads on YouTube and gives you some other perks.
![Then you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762645,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1372634/then-youre-prompted-to-begin-a-free-14-day-trial-of-youtube-red-which-removes-all-ads-on-youtube-and-gives-you-some-other-perks-.jpg)
Here's my YouTube Music home page. The app gave me some music station suggestions based on videos I've already watched on YouTube.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762646,width-700,height-525,imgsize-499158/heres-my-youtube-music-home-page-the-app-gave-me-some-music-station-suggestions-based-on-videos-ive-already-watched-on-youtube-.jpg)
Scroll down for recommended videos based on what you've watched already.
![Scroll down for recommended videos based on what you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762647,width-700,height-525,imgsize-659510/scroll-down-for-recommended-videos-based-on-what-youve-watched-already-.jpg)
The app also shows past plays of yours on YouTube.
![The app also shows past plays of yours on YouTube.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762648,width-700,height-525,imgsize-641341/the-app-also-shows-past-plays-of-yours-on-youtube-.jpg)
The middle tab of YouTube Music shows you the hottest music for the day, including "The Daily 40" playlist of the most popular music videos right now.
![The middle tab of YouTube Music shows you the hottest music for the day, including "The Daily 40" playlist of the most popular music videos right now.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762649,width-700,height-525,imgsize-627164/the-middle-tab-of-youtube-music-shows-you-the-hottest-music-for-the-day-including-the-daily-40-playlist-of-the-most-popular-music-videos-right-now-.jpg)
You can browse new music by genre.
![You can browse new music by genre.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762650,width-700,height-525,imgsize-671107/you-can-browse-new-music-by-genre-.jpg)
And see individual videos that are currently trending.
![And see individual videos that are currently trending.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762651,width-700,height-525,imgsize-620299/and-see-individual-videos-that-are-currently-trending-.jpg)
You can like songs to have them show up here.
![You can like songs to have them show up here.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762652,width-700,height-525,imgsize-21277/you-can-like-songs-to-have-them-show-up-here-.jpg)
Switching this tab to the headphones icon turns the app into audio-only mode, which means videos won't play and less data will be used.
![Switching this tab to the headphones icon turns the app into audio-only mode, which means videos won](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762653,width-700,height-525,imgsize-230700/switching-this-tab-to-the-headphones-icon-turns-the-app-into-audio-only-mode-which-means-videos-wont-play-and-less-data-will-be-used-.jpg)
The app's settings let you switch Google accounts, view your offline mixtape (we'll get to that in a second), view recently played videos, and more.
![The app](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762654,width-700,height-525,imgsize-240380/the-apps-settings-let-you-switch-google-accounts-view-your-offline-mixtape-well-get-to-that-in-a-second-view-recently-played-videos-and-more-.jpg)
Here's what the settings look like. The app will only download songs for offline access over Wi-Fi by default, but you can override that behavior.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762655,width-700,height-525,imgsize-42083/heres-what-the-settings-look-like-the-app-will-only-download-songs-for-offline-access-over-wi-fi-by-default-but-you-can-override-that-behavior-.jpg)
How YouTube Music decides to surface music can feel strange. For instance, one of the first videos I was presented with was this poor quality video someone shot on their phone at a concert.
![How YouTube Music decides to surface music can feel strange. For instance, one of the first videos I was presented with was this poor quality video someone shot on their phone at a concert.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762656,width-700,height-525,imgsize-158243/how-youtube-music-decides-to-surface-music-can-feel-strange-for-instance-one-of-the-first-videos-i-was-presented-with-was-this-poor-quality-video-someone-shot-on-their-phone-at-a-concert-.jpg)
When you're playing a video (I had audio-only mode enabled), you can see some related videos by scrolling down.
![When you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762657,width-700,height-525,imgsize-463005/when-youre-playing-a-video-i-had-audio-only-mode-enabled-you-can-see-some-related-videos-by-scrolling-down-.jpg)
The "Explore" tab shows even more videos you may like, usually from the same channel.
![The "Explore" tab shows even more videos you may like, usually from the same channel.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762658,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1074840/the-explore-tab-shows-even-more-videos-you-may-like-usually-from-the-same-channel-.jpg)
When you like a video with a thumbs up, YouTube learns to give you better suggestions.
![When you like a video with a thumbs up, YouTube learns to give you better suggestions.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762659,width-700,height-525,imgsize-444165/when-you-like-a-video-with-a-thumbs-up-youtube-learns-to-give-you-better-suggestions-.jpg)
One of the most interesting parts of the app is the offline mixtape. It finds music for you and lets you save it all for offline playback.
![One of the most interesting parts of the app is the offline mixtape. It finds music for you and lets you save it all for offline playback.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762660,width-700,height-525,imgsize-360637/one-of-the-most-interesting-parts-of-the-app-is-the-offline-mixtape-it-finds-music-for-you-and-lets-you-save-it-all-for-offline-playback-.jpg)
The main issue I ran into with YouTube Music is that playing music videos in audio-only mode still included the music video version of the audio track. In the case of this Adele song, that includes distracting background noise and some talking.
![The main issue I ran into with YouTube Music is that playing music videos in audio-only mode still included the music video version of the audio track. In the case of this Adele song, that includes distracting background noise and some talking.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762661,width-700,height-525,imgsize-346236/the-main-issue-i-ran-into-with-youtube-music-is-that-playing-music-videos-in-audio-only-mode-still-included-the-music-video-version-of-the-audio-track-in-the-case-of-this-adele-song-that-includes-distracting-background-noise-and-some-talking-.jpg)
The same thing happened with the "Hotline Bling" video, which has a special intro with talking before the actual song plays.
![The same thing happened with the "Hotline Bling" video, which has a special intro with talking before the actual song plays.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762662,width-700,height-525,imgsize-248495/the-same-thing-happened-with-the-hotline-bling-video-which-has-a-special-intro-with-talking-before-the-actual-song-plays-.jpg)
You can adjust the quality of video playback, enable closed captions, and report it to YouTube.
![You can adjust the quality of video playback, enable closed captions, and report it to YouTube.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762664,width-700,height-525,imgsize-321818/you-can-adjust-the-quality-of-video-playback-enable-closed-captions-and-report-it-to-youtube-.jpg)
And send a video link via iMessage, Twitter, and the other apps you have installed on your phone.
![And send a video link via iMessage, Twitter, and the other apps you have installed on your phone.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762665,width-700,height-525,imgsize-586815/and-send-a-video-link-via-imessage-twitter-and-the-other-apps-you-have-installed-on-your-phone-.jpg)
If you're playing videos in a station, you can adjust the kind of variety of suggestions you want to get.
![If you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762666,width-700,height-525,imgsize-121582/if-youre-playing-videos-in-a-station-you-can-adjust-the-kind-of-variety-of-suggestions-you-want-to-get-.jpg)
The app can automatically keep playing videos related to what you've been watching or listening to, which makes for a pretty hands-free listening experience.
![The app can automatically keep playing videos related to what you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762667,width-700,height-525,imgsize-427365/the-app-can-automatically-keep-playing-videos-related-to-what-youve-been-watching-or-listening-to-which-makes-for-a-pretty-hands-free-listening-experience-.jpg)
If you're watching a video and minimize it in the app or leave the app altogether, it will keep playing just the audio in the background.
![If you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762668,width-700,height-525,imgsize-779042/if-youre-watching-a-video-and-minimize-it-in-the-app-or-leave-the-app-altogether-it-will-keep-playing-just-the-audio-in-the-background-.jpg)
Here's what audio playback looks like from the iPhone's lock screen.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762669,width-700,height-525,imgsize-736895/heres-what-audio-playback-looks-like-from-the-iphones-lock-screen-.jpg)
YouTube Music isn't for everyone. It can be kind of confusing to use, but if you're a YouTube junkie, hate ads, and want to be able to switch seamlessly between watching music videos and listening to music, you should check it out.
![YouTube Music isn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49762670,width-700,height-525,imgsize-43/youtube-music-isnt-for-everyone-it-can-be-kind-of-confusing-to-use-but-if-youre-a-youtube-junkie-hate-ads-and-want-to-be-able-to-switch-seamlessly-between-watching-music-videos-and-listening-to-music-you-should-check-it-out-.jpg)
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