End screens are the final segment of a YouTube video (typically the last 5–20 seconds) where you can promote additional content, encourage subscriptions, or direct viewers to take action. They are a powerful tool for increasing watch time and channel growth.
Note: Your video must be at least 25 seconds long to use end screens, and you can include up to 4 elements (for standard 16:9 videos).
What You Can Add to an End Screen
You can include different types of interactive elements:
- Video: Promote a recent upload, a best-performing video, or any specific video
- Playlist: Link to a public playlist
- Subscribe: Encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel
- Channel: Promote another channel
- External link (YouTube Partner Program only): Direct viewers to an approved website
How to Add an End Screen (Desktop / YouTube Studio)
- Sign in to YouTube Studio
- Go to Content
- Select the video you want to edit
- Click Editor from the left menu
- Select End screen
- Click Add element
- Choose the type of element (video, playlist, subscribe, channel, or link)
- Adjust placement and timing on the timeline
- Click Save
Customizing Your End Screen
You can fully control how your end screen appears:
Change timing
- Drag the start and end points on the timeline
- Set when each element appears during the final seconds
Change placement
- Drag elements directly on the video preview
- Use grid and snapping tools for alignment
Use templates
- Apply pre-made layouts to quickly build an end screen structure
Remove or replace elements
- Click the delete icon next to an element
- Add a new one if needed
Best Practices
- Place end screens only in the last 5–20 seconds
- Leave clear visual space so elements are easy to see
- Use strong calls-to-action (e.g., “Watch next,” “Subscribe for more”)
- Feature content that is relevant to the current video
- Consider staggering elements so they don’t appear all at once
What End Screens Look Like to Viewers
- They appear during the final seconds of playback
- Viewers can click or hover to interact with elements
- If multiple elements are used, viewers can browse between them
- Some viewers may be able to hide end screens
Where End Screens Don’t Work
End screens are not available on:
- Videos under 25 seconds
- Videos marked as made for kids
- YouTube Music or YouTube Kids apps
- 360° videos
- Some mobile web environments (limited support)
Tracking Performance
You can analyze how well your end screens perform in YouTube Analytics:
- Click Content → Analytics → Engagement
- View metrics like:
- End screen impressions
- Click-through rate
- Top-performing end screen elements
End screens are a simple but powerful way to keep viewers engaged after your video ends. By adding links to videos, playlists, or subscriptions in the final seconds, you can guide viewers to continue watching your content and grow your channel more effectively.
