YouTube Introduces First Annual Recap Feature With Personalized Viewing Insights

YouTube has introduced its first annual Recap feature, offering users a detailed summary of their viewing activity over the past year. The feature, available beginning today for users in North America and rolling out globally over the coming week, marks the platform’s latest effort to enhance user engagement with personalized data. The launch was announced on the official YouTube Blog.

Feature Overview

The new Recap experience can be accessed via the YouTube homepage or through the “You” tab on both mobile and desktop. YouTube generates up to 12 recap cards based on an individual’s watch history, highlighting top channels, most-watched topics, and broader viewing trends.

A notable addition is the introduction of personality classifications derived from viewing behavior. Users may be assigned one of several types, including Adventurer, Skill Builder, Creative Spirit, Sunshiner, Wonder Seeker, Connector, Philosopher, and Dreamer. According to YouTube, Sunshiner, Wonder Seeker, and Connector emerged as the most common viewing personas, while Philosopher and Dreamer appeared least frequently.

For users who consume music on the platform, the Recap includes additional insights such as Top Artists and Top Songs. More detailed music metrics, including genre and podcast data, are available through the YouTube Music app.

Development and Technology

YouTube reported conducting nine rounds of user feedback testing and evaluating more than 50 early concepts before finalizing the Recap feature. The company said the team leveraged Google’s Gemini model to analyze viewing patterns at scale, using it to convert the platform’s large and unstructured video catalog into structured, digestible summaries.

The introduction of personalized year-end summaries mirrors similar offerings from other major platforms, particularly Spotify Wrapped, which has become a widely recognized annual engagement tool. YouTube’s move signals increased investment in data-driven personalization to maintain user attention and boost year-end activity.

Implications for Creators

The Recap feature may also provide benefits for content creators. Channels that appear in users’ top-viewed lists may see increased visibility as viewers save and share their Recap cards across social platforms. This distribution could contribute to additional traffic during the competitive holiday season, when creators typically seek heightened engagement.

Rollout Timeline

The feature is available immediately to users in North America. Global availability is expected to expand throughout the week as YouTube completes the rollout.