YouTube Custom Feed: How to Create Your Own Video Feed

YouTube is giving some users a new way to shape their recommendations with YouTube Custom Feed, an AI-powered feature that creates a personalized video feed from a written prompt. The feature is designed for users who want more control over what appears on their homepage.

The new option lets users enter a topic or viewing preference and receive video suggestions built around that request. YouTube gives examples such as workouts, tech podcasts, and meditation exercises.

What Is YouTube Custom Feed?

YouTube Custom Feed is a feed-building tool that uses a user’s text input to generate a themed set of video recommendations. Instead of relying only on the standard homepage or subscription feed, users can describe what they want to watch.

The feed can also be adjusted later. If the recommendations do not match the user’s expectations, the prompt can be refined to make the results more specific.

How to Create a Custom YouTube Feed

Users who have access to the feature can start from the YouTube homepage. A new button allows them to choose the custom feed option and open a text field.

• Open YouTube and sign in.
• Go to the homepage.
• Select the custom feed option when it appears.
• Enter a topic or viewing request.
• Review the generated feed.
• Edit the request if the suggestions are not useful.

More detailed prompts may help produce a more focused feed. For example, a user could ask for beginner workouts without equipment, short meditation videos, long-form science interviews, or technology explainers.

Who Can Use the Feature Now?

The rollout is limited at first. YouTube says the feature is available to signed-in users in the United States who have search history and watch history enabled.

That means many users outside the United States may not see the button yet. For users in Germany and other countries, the feature may not appear until YouTube expands availability.

Why the Custom Feed May Not Appear

The YouTube Custom Feed option may be missing for several reasons. The feature may not have reached the user’s country or account, the user may not be signed in, or search and watch history may be turned off.

An outdated app may also prevent the option from appearing. YouTube is offering the feature on mobile and through the YouTube app on desktop, but availability still depends on the rollout.

What It Means for YouTube Recommendations

The new feed gives users more control over topic-based recommendations, but it does not replace YouTube’s broader recommendation system. It may help users create a feed around a specific interest, but it does not guarantee that all unwanted suggestions will disappear.

The feature also relies on AI to build the feed. Users who want to avoid AI-based recommendations will not be able to use the tool without that system.

YouTube Also Expands AI Labels

YouTube is also making AI labels more visible on long videos and Shorts. The labels are intended to show viewers when AI was used in video creation.

The platform also plans to use automatic detection when creators do not label AI use themselves. This change is separate from the custom feed feature, but both updates reflect YouTube’s wider effort to manage AI-driven content and recommendations.

YouTube recommendations remain a common source of frustration for many users. The Custom Feed feature offers a new way to guide what appears on the homepage, although its usefulness will depend on availability, prompt quality, and how closely the generated videos match user intent.