YouTube has officially launched its first-ever YouTube Recap, a personalised yearly summary that highlights everything users watched throughout the year. The new feature, which is now rolling out across North America and will reach global users by the end of the week, offers a customised set of 12 vibrant highlight cards that capture each viewer’s unique watch story.
Accessible directly from the YouTube homepage or under the “You” tab on both mobile and desktop, the Recap acts as a digital time capsule for the billions of viewers who rely on YouTube for entertainment, learning, news, music, and more.
A Fully Personalised Look at Your Year on YouTube
According to YouTube, no two users experience the platform the same way. While one viewer might spend hours exploring mechanical keyboard builds, another may go down rabbit holes of KATSEYE edits or collectable Labubu blind box videos. The new Recap is designed to reflect these deeply personal viewing patterns.
Once opened, YouTube Recap showcases up to 12 themed cards, each focusing on a different part of the user’s activity, including:
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Top creators
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Most-watched topics
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Viewing patterns over time
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Trending habits
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Defining moments of the year
YouTube also adds a playful twist by assigning users a watch personality type based on their behaviour. Common categories include:
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Sunshiner – someone who prefers uplifting, cheerful content
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Curiosity Seeker – the viewer who loves obscure or niche videos
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Connector – a fan of community-driven, collaborative content
Rarer types such as Philosopher and Dreamer cater to those who enjoy reflective or long-form viewing sessions.
A Deeper Dive with YouTube Music Recap
Music lovers get an expanded version of the experience through YouTube Music Recap, which compiles a year-long listening diary. This includes:
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Top artists
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Most-played songs
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Favourite genres
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Podcast habits
The feature helps users revisit how their moods, tastes, and trends evolved throughout the year.
Built Through Extensive User Testing
YouTube says the Recap feature was not developed lightly. The company conducted nine rounds of user testing and explored more than 50 design prototypes before finalising the polished, shareable format available today.
The goal was to create a product that feels deeply personal yet easy to share. Users can save, download, or post their Recap cards across social media platforms, turning their watch history into a visual storybook.
A Storybook of Your Digital Year
With the launch of YouTube Recap, users now get a curated, colourful summary of the videos, creators, playlists, and music that shaped their year. As YouTube continues expanding both video and audio offerings, Recap serves as a nostalgic, data-driven way for viewers to reflect on the content that mattered most to them.