The end of your video is the most valuable real estate you're probably wasting. A good end screen turns a viewer who's about to leave into one who watches your next video or subscribes. Here's how to use them well.
What end screens can do
- Promote another video — ideally the next logical thing to watch.
- Promote a playlist to start a binge session.
- Show a subscribe button to convert engaged viewers.
- Link to an approved website (for eligible channels).
The big win is the first one. Sending a finished viewer straight into another of your videos boosts session watch time, which is one of the strongest signals to the YouTube algorithm.
How to add an end screen
- Open the video in YouTube Studio.
- Go to the End screen section (in the editor).
- Add elements: video, playlist, subscribe, or link.
- Position them and set the timing (5–20 seconds before the video ends).
- Save. You can also copy end screens from a previous video to stay consistent.
Design your outro for the end screen
The most common mistake is bolting an end screen onto a video that just cuts to black. Instead, plan a 10–20 second outro with empty space where the elements will sit, and verbally point to them: 'watch this next.' An end screen the viewer is told to use gets clicked far more than a silent one.
What to promote (and what not to)
- Best for retention: the single most relevant next video, not a grid of random ones.
- Use 'best for viewer': YouTube can auto-pick a video tailored to each viewer.
- Don't overload: two elements (a next video + subscribe) usually beats four.
End screens are one piece of retention
End screens help at the finish line, but retention is won throughout the video. Pair them with strong hooks, chapters, and tight pacing. For the bigger picture on keeping viewers, see watch time vs. views.
Keep viewers in your content
Tubely's free tools help you plan videos, chapters, and packaging that boost watch time — managed across every channel in one Mac app.