TikTok redesigns web app in YouTube style

If you're addicted to endlessly scrolling through TikTok videos on the mobile app, you might want to do the same on the web app, too. Because TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has revamped the TikTok web app.

TikTok redesigns web app in YouTube style

TikTok's future in the United States remains up in the air, but that hasn't stopped ByteDance from trying to improve the app experience. Specifically, the web app experience at TikTok.com.

According to a post on TikTok Newsroom, the web app updates offer an “easy-to-use and engaging viewing experience,” allowing users to “enjoy their favorite content on their desktop.”

The major updates are:

• The modular design repositions the navigation bar and reduces distractions for a more immersive viewing experience.
• Ability to allow users to stream games in portrait or landscape mode. This gives desktop users a full-screen landscape view.
• A small floating player is available only on desktop inside the Chrome browser. This allows TikTok videos to play in other windows.
• The new Collections feature lets you organize your favorite categories into custom categories. Making it easy to access them later.

Cody Puckett, Product Manager at TikTok, welcomed the new desktop app by saying:

"Our users interact with TikTok in many different ways, which is why we're excited to introduce these web app updates. By improving our desktop capabilities, we aim to bring the TikTok mobile experience to the desktop, providing an engaging experience with greater flexibility so you can enjoy TikTok anytime, anywhere. As TikTok grows, we remain committed to innovating for our community and ensuring the platform is accessible to everyone."

The most notable thing about TikTok’s new desktop UI is that it looks a lot like YouTube. While there are some obvious differences, like the single vertical layout, the experience is still very similar. And that’s a good thing.

Mobile first, but desktop experience matters too

TikTok is adamant that it remains a mobile-first platform, but these updates to the web app at least prove that ByteDance isn’t ignoring its desktop users. And after using the web app to test new features, many have had a great experience.

Using TikTok on desktop is a little weird because all the videos appear in portrait mode, but it still works surprisingly well. The new layout and features are now available globally to anyone who visits TikTok.com.