When I run the YouTube app on my S25 and watch a video in landscape mode, the video doesn't fill the complete screen horizontally. Obviously, because the display resolution is wider than the video resolution. So the YouTube app puts sidebars on the display. Three sidebars should be black, but for me that are varying shades of gray. During video playback, the sidebars can increase and decrease in luminosity.
If I clear all the data for the YouTube app and then run it, the sidebars will be black. However, anytime I run the app after that the sidebars will go back to varying shades of gray. Or going incognito will change the sidebars to black for the duration of the incognito mode.
Had anyone noticed this behavior? It started a month or two ago and I'm trying to determine if it's the device or the app that's causing this effect.
Thank you for providing such a clear description of the behavior you're experiencing with the YouTube app on your Galaxy S25.
The issue you've described where the sidebars in landscape video playback appear as varying shades of gray rather than solid black appears to be related to how the YouTube app handles UI rendering and video overlays.
The fact that the sidebars return to black:
After clearing app data, and while using Incognito Mode, suggests that the app’s rendering behavior is changing based on user session or cached settings, rather than being a device-level issue.
We recommend trying the following steps:
Ensure that both your YouTube app and device software are fully up to date.
Within the YouTube app, try enabling Dark Theme explicitly (Menu > Settings > General > Appearance).
Monitor if the issue reappears after logging in or changing video playback settings.
Consider submitting feedback directly through the YouTube app (Settings > Help & feedback > Send feedback) so their development team is aware.
At this time, it does not appear to be a hardware-related issue with the Galaxy S25, but we will continue to monitor for any broader reports. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us ensure the best experience for all users.
