YouTube Adds ‘Hide’ Button to Remove End-Screen Pop-Ups for a Cleaner Viewing Experience

 

YouTube has officially announced a long-awaited update that will give viewers more control over their streaming experience. For years, YouTube end-screen pop-ups — those clickable recommendations and subscription prompts that appear in the final seconds of a video — have been a common complaint among users. While these interactive elements help creators promote more content, they often obstruct important details in the video, frustrating millions of viewers worldwide.

Now, YouTube is rolling out a new “Hide” button that allows users to temporarily remove these end-screen recommendations. Located in the top-right corner of the video player, the button instantly clears the screen, letting viewers watch the content without distractions. If a user decides to bring them back, a “Show” button will appear in the same spot.

However, the feature comes with one limitation: it only applies to the video currently being played. Each time you switch to a new video, the process must be repeated if end screens appear again. While not a permanent removal, this toggle system still gives users more freedom than ever before.

According to YouTube’s official support documentation, this update was introduced after consistent viewer feedback demanding more seamless playback. The company’s internal testing revealed that hiding end screens reduced overall video views by less than 1.5%, while channel subscriptions via watermarks contributed to less than 0.05%. These numbers suggest the impact on creators will be minimal, while significantly improving the user experience.

For creators, end screens will remain a valuable tool for promoting playlists, channels, or encouraging subscriptions. But for viewers, the ability to hide them ensures a smoother and less interrupted experience, especially when watching music videos, tutorials, or cinematic content where the ending is crucial.

This new update reflects YouTube’s broader strategy to enhance video streaming quality and compete with other platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and TikTok by offering greater customization. With billions of daily active users, even small tweaks like this can greatly influence engagement and satisfaction.