YouTube has introduced a new feature that lets viewers remove often-annoying end screen pop-ups in videos.
These overlays, with links to recommended videos or channel subscriptions, can obscure the final moments of a clip. But now, a “Hide” button appears in the top-right corner whenever an end screen shows up, allowing viewers to clear these distractions and enjoy the video ending fully instantly.
End screens are now hideable on YouTube videos
The “Hide” button immediately relieves viewers who prefer an unobstructed finish. If the pop-ups appear in the last seconds of a video, tapping the button removes them just like that.
“You can tap the ‘Hide’ button in the top-right corner of the video player to hide them from the current video you’re watching,” YouTube explained. If viewers want those end screens back, tap “Show.” It’s important to note that this setting applies per video and must be toggled each time.
This change follows frequent feedback that end screens interfered with content consumption. YouTube’s testing showed that allowing viewers to hide end screens had minimal impact on engagement, with less than a 1.5% drop in clicks on those final screen elements.
The company reassures creators that they can still use end screens, but viewers now have the choice to control their experience.
This small but powerful tweak demonstrates that YouTube takes viewer preferences seriously and improves user control over the watching experience.
“These overlays often block the final shot viewers want to see,” noted Android Police, highlighting how the fix improves playback enjoyment for all.
This update is rolling out globally and should already be available for many users. Meanwhile, YouTube also plans to remove the hover-to-subscribe button on desktop, another seldom-used feature, to reduce clutter and keep viewing focused.
Ending videos cleanly and clearly is no longer a wish; YouTube users can now remove end screens whenever they want with a simple tap.