Tumblr has officially rolled out a new desktop interface to all its users, despite some initial backlash from selected users who received the updated layout earlier. The update was announced through an official blog post from the ‘Changes’ Tumblr account, explaining the rationale behind the overhaul.
In the previous layout, navigational icons were located at the top, with a simple pencil logo button at the bottom right to create a new blog post. With the new changes, the icons have been moved to the left side as a column and are accompanied by labels explaining their purpose. The ‘create new post’ button has been labeled and relocated to the bottom left. Tabs that control what appears in the Dashboard (Tumblr’s content feed) have been moved to the top, and the Search box is now in a different spot.
The goal behind these changes, according to the ‘Changes’ blog, is to better inform users about the function of each icon. They stated that by adding text labels, they noticed more users exploring different parts of Tumblr.
However, the changes have drawn criticism from some users, with many expressing their dissatisfaction in the Notes (comments) section of the blog post. Some users have even shared methods to revert back to the original layout on the desktop.
Interestingly, some users have pointed out that the new interface bears a strong resemblance to the design of X, formerly known as Twitter, with similar label names and order. This has led to comparisons between the two platforms’ desktop interfaces.
