# End screen

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/end-screen
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: An end screen is YouTube's feature for adding clickable elements, such as other videos, a playlist, a subscribe button or a link, to the last 5 to 20 seconds of a video. The video itself usually leaves space for them with an end card.

An end screen is YouTube's way of keeping a viewer on your channel when a video finishes. In the final seconds, clickable tiles appear over the video: your latest upload, a playlist, a subscribe button. Viewers who were about to leave get a next step instead.

## What are the rules for YouTube end screens?

YouTube end screens follow a few fixed rules, according to [YouTube Help](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6388789?hl=en):

| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Where it can appear | The last 5 to 20 seconds of the video |
| Minimum video length | 25 seconds |
| Number of elements | Up to 4 on a 16:9 video (other aspect ratios may allow fewer) |
| Made for kids | Not available |

End screens are added in YouTube Studio after upload, not in your editor.

## End screen vs end card: what's the difference?

The end screen is YouTube's interactive overlay; the end card is the part of your video underneath it. A good end card leaves clear space where the tiles will sit, keeps the speaker or a simple background visible, and often includes a spoken line like "watch this one next". Without an end card, the tiles cover whatever happens to be in the last seconds of footage.

## How are end screens used on YouTube and short-form platforms?

On long-form YouTube, end screens point viewers to the next video, which keeps them watching your channel rather than leaving. Short-form feeds work differently: the next video plays on its own, so creators end Shorts and Reels on a quick call to action (follow, comment, save) or a loop back to the start instead of a long end card.

## What's an example of an end card?

A 10-minute tutorial finishes its last step. The creator says, "If you want the advanced version, it's right here," and points to the left. For the last 15 seconds the background shows the channel's colour with the creator on the right, leaving the left half empty. In YouTube Studio, a video tile is placed exactly where they pointed.

## Can Vidiyo make an end screen?

Vidiyo makes the end card, not YouTube's clickable end screen. Ask the assistant for an end card and it can use its call-to-action templates (end card, follow card, comment prompt, save for later) in your brand look. You then add the clickable elements in YouTube Studio. When Vidiyo schedules a YouTube post through Buffer, the end screen still has to be added on YouTube itself. Its quality check also flags a long run-on after the last spoken word unless an end card or call to action is planned there.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does a YouTube video need to be for an end screen?

At least 25 seconds. End screens can only be placed in the last 5 to 20 seconds of a video, and they aren't available on videos set as made for kids.

### How many elements can an end screen have?

Up to four on a standard 16:9 video, according to YouTube. Other aspect ratios may have a lower limit.

### What is the difference between an end screen and an end card?

The end screen is YouTube's clickable overlay, added in YouTube Studio. An end card is part of the video itself: the closing shot or graphic designed to leave room for those elements or to ask viewers to follow.

## Related terms

- [Title card](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/title-card)
- [Retention rate](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/retention-rate)
- [Thumbnail CTR](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/thumbnail-ctr)
- [Aspect ratio](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/aspect-ratio)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [Motion graphics without After Effects](https://getvidiyo.app/features/motion-graphics)
- [A content calendar that schedules your videos](https://getvidiyo.app/features/content-calendar-and-scheduling)

## Sources

- [Add end screens to videos (YouTube Help)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6388789?hl=en) (accessed 2026-10-08)