YouTube is making changes to how viewers interact with end-of-video features. A new “Hide” button is being added to let users dismiss end-screen overlays, while the platform is also removing the hover-to-subscribe button that previously appeared on desktop when viewers moused over a channel watermark. The company says these adjustments are intended to streamline the viewing experience.
Details of the update
End screens appear in the final seconds of many YouTube videos and typically include links to other content, playlists, or subscription prompts. With the update, viewers will see a “Hide” button in the corner of the screen when these overlays appear. If pressed, the end screen disappears for that video only. Users can bring it back by selecting “Show.”
At the same time, YouTube is removing the hover-to-subscribe option that was tied to channel watermarks on desktop. The company explained that subscription options are already available elsewhere on the page and that removing the feature simplifies the interface.
YouTube said internal testing found that adding the hide button reduced end-screen clickthroughs by about 1.5 percent, a relatively small change in engagement. End screens and watermark branding remain available for creators to use, and the broader design of these tools is unchanged.
The new hide feature is rolling out across platforms, though YouTube has not provided details on whether its behavior will differ on mobile and TV apps. Creators and viewers will be watching to see whether the change affects engagement patterns, such as how often viewers continue to other videos or subscribe to channels.