YouTube is bringing back in-app messaging (well, sort of)

Technology Nov 20, 2025

YouTube is testing a new in-app chat feature so you can share videos and talk about them right inside the app—think long-form videos, Shorts, and even live streams.

This comes after years of users asking for messaging to return since it was dropped back in 2019.

The test kicks off November 19, 2025, for users 18+ in Ireland and Poland on both iOS and Android.

How sharing and chatting will work

To start chatting, you'll need to send or accept an invite.

You can block or report people, unsend messages, or delete conversations if things get weird.

Everything follows YouTube's Community Guidelines and is monitored by automated systems.

Why now? YouTube wants to keep up with the competition

YouTube hasn't said when (or if) this will roll out globally—they're waiting to see how it goes first.

By adding built-in messaging, they're hoping to make sharing videos more social—and keep up with apps like Instagram and TikTok that already let you chat inside the app.