Add an end screen to a YouTube video

Before opening YouTube Studio, choose what you want to recommend at the end of this video. If it’s a tutorial, for example, pick another video that helps viewers continue. You’ll add that recommendation to the video’s final seconds and preview it before saving. (YouTube Help: end screens)

Check viewing requirements

Your video must be at least 25 seconds long to have an end screen. It can appear during the last 5 to 20 seconds. You can add up to four elements to a standard 16:9 video; other aspect ratios may allow fewer. YouTube doesn’t show end screens on videos set as made for kids, on mobile web except iPad, in the YouTube Music and YouTube Kids apps, or on Flash and 360 videos. Viewers can also hide them.

An end screen may not look exactly as it does in the editor. YouTube can adjust its appearance based on performance, viewer activity, device, and context. Play the preview in Studio, then check the published video on a supported surface.

Add an element in YouTube Studio

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio with the channel that manages the video.
2. From the left menu, open Content and click the video’s title or thumbnail.
3. From the left menu, select Editor, then End screen.
4. Choose a template or add an element. You can select a video, playlist, Subscribe, or a channel.
5. Adjust where each element appears and when it starts. Play the preview in the editor, then click Save.

To link to an external website, YouTube limits that option to channels in the YouTube Partner Program. The website must also follow YouTube’s policies. If you aren’t in the program, you can lead viewers to another YouTube item or invite them to subscribe.

Fictional example: a bakery ends a video about shaping a loaf and wants to continue with baking. It selects the video on its channel that shows that next step, then adds Subscribe. In the preview, the team checks that the elements don’t cover the recipe’s final instruction.

Check what you saved and review clicks

Reopen End screen in the Editor and play the preview. Then view the video on a supported surface to see how it appears to viewers; they can hide the end screen, and YouTube may adjust its design.

To review clicks, open the video in YouTube Studio, select Analytics, then Engagement. Look for the End screen element click rate report. The metric describes interaction with those elements; by itself, it doesn’t show that an end screen increased views or subscriptions. (YouTube Help: check end screen metrics)

For Shorts, the related video option appears in the Shorts player and follows a different workflow. To make a Short public later, see how to schedule a YouTube Short. End screens are configured in YouTube Studio. If you also want to prepare or publish videos from an assistant, see the YouTube MCP page.