YouTube’s recommendations feel worse in 2026, but these 5 simple tricks fixed mine

I budget for streaming services monthly, but YouTube still plays a core role in my entertainment routine. Unlike the relatively limited list of movies and shows on these services, YouTube houses hundreds of millions of videos on its servers, covering a broad range of topics from millions of creators. This wide array of content is beneficial to viewers, but it also means that YouTube’s recommendation punts can often be way off the mark.

In recent weeks, I’ve noticed an uptick in disgruntled users online complaining about this very issue. Some lament seeing videos that were previously suggested re-recommended ad nauseam, while others call out suggestions that don’t align with their subscriptions or searches. In short, users aren’t seeing suggestions for videos they’re likely to watch or are happy to discover. That’s an annoying problem that ultimately ruins the YouTube experience, whether you pay for it or not.