A Guide to Ambient Mode on YouTube

Have you ever wondered what Ambient Mode on YouTube is all about? In this guide, we’ll explore the features of Ambient Mode and provide you with easy steps to activate or deactivate it. Introduced in late October 2022 Ambient Mode is a unique feature that enhances your video-watching experience by adding a soft glowing light around the video you’re watching. This effect mirrors the colors in the video creating a cozy atmosphere similar to the glow of a TV screen in a dimly lit room. Designed for use in YouTube’s dark mode it aims to make your viewing experience even more engaging.

What is Ambient Mode?

Ambient Mode adds a dynamic color-changing glow around the video player when activated. This is particularly noticeable when you’re in a dark environment making the video feel more immersive. The idea was inspired by the ambient glow of a television in a dark room. To see the difference it makes imagine a video without Ambient Mode where the background is simply black. Once Ambient Mode is enabled the area around the video softly lights up reflecting the predominant colors of the video such as pink or red hues.

Activating Ambient Mode

To use Ambient Mode you must first switch on the Dark Theme on YouTube. Here’s how you can enable the Dark Theme:

On the Web

  • Visit YouTube.com
  • Sign in to your account
  • Click on your profile icon 
  • Choose Appearance 
  • Select ‘Dark theme’ or ‘Use device theme’ if your device is set to dark mode.

On Android and iOS 

  • Open the YouTube app
  • Tap on your profile icon
  • Go to Settings then General 
  • Select Appearance
  • Choose ‘Dark theme’ or ‘Use device theme’.

Turning Off Ambient Mode

If Ambient Mode is too much for you it’s easy to switch off. You can do this on any device:

  1. While you’re watching a video click the settings icon that looks like a gear.
  2. You’ll see an option for Ambient Mode. Here you can turn it on or off.
  3. Once you turn it off it stays off for all videos until you turn it back on.

Best Times to Use Ambient Mode

Ambient Mode is great for cozy evenings when you’re chilling with your favorite shows or music. It’s also nice when you’re watching videos with friends or family because it makes everything feel a bit more special and cozy. Whether you’re enjoying a funny video or getting absorbed in a fascinating documentary, Ambient Mode can make your watching experience more pleasant and enjoyable.

Customize Your Viewing Experience

YouTube’s Ambient Mode lets you adjust how you watch videos to match how you feel or where you are. If you like to make your digital world uniquely yours you’ll enjoy experimenting with Ambient Mode. It’s simple to switch it on and off so you can go back to the regular setting anytime you want a simpler distraction-free view.

Final Thoughts on Ambient Mode

Ambient Mode is a nice feature on YouTube that makes watching videos better. You can use it all the time or just sometimes depending on what you like. It’s a great way to make your video-watching more immersive and fun. Give it a try, adjust the settings and see how it changes the way you enjoy YouTube!