YouTube is finally letting users slip past those end-of-video pop-up recommendations, no more competing overlays obscuring the punchline or finale. The streaming giant announced the feature on Wednesday, revealing a new “Hide” button in the corner of the video player. One tap, and the clutter vanishes, giving viewers an uninterrupted look at the last seconds on screen.
It’s not a blanket setting. Hiding end screens only applies to the current video. Want them back? The “Show” button reverses things instantly. It’s a small tweak, but a welcome one. For years, end screens have doubled as navigation hubs and promotional real estate, but have also annoyed loyal binge-watchers looking for a clean finish.
There’s more: the ever-present “Subscribe” button tied to video watermarks is going away. YouTube says its spot underneath the player makes it redundant anyway. The goal is clarity, with less visual noise for viewers hoping to focus on the main event.
Why now? YouTube says feedback drove these changes: more control, fewer distractions, easier focus. And for creators worried about metrics, the impact appears minor. An internal study pinned the drop in end-screen-driven views at less than 1.5%, and the loss of hover-to-subscribe clicks is virtually statistical dust, just 0.05% of overall subscriptions.
The message is clear: YouTube wants viewers to decide how the story ends, without one-size-fits-all interruptions. The experiment signals a small but notable win for user experience, without tipping the scales for creators or casual fans.