How to Disable Suggested Videos on YouTube Embeds (2024 Guide)

Embedding YouTube videos on your business website is one of the most effective ways to hold visitor attention and communicate your value. But YouTube's default behavior — showing a grid of suggested videos from other channels the moment your video ends — creates a problem: you just invested time and money in a video, and now YouTube is using it to promote your competitors.

This guide explains why this happens, what options are realistically available to control it, and the trade-offs of each approach.

Why YouTube Shows Suggested Videos on Embeds

YouTube changed its embed behavior in September 2018. Before that change, using the rel=0 parameter in an embed URL suppressed related videos entirely. After the change, rel=0 was redefined to mean "only show videos from the same channel" rather than "show no videos."

This change benefits YouTube because it keeps viewers on the platform longer. It is a problem for businesses because it means competitors or completely unrelated content can appear the moment your video ends.

Understanding this context is important because a lot of outdated advice still circulates suggesting that rel=0 will completely hide suggested videos. It will not. Here is what actually works.

Method 1: Use rel=0 With a Dedicated Channel

The rel=0 parameter appended to a YouTube embed URL tells the player to only show videos from the same channel when playback ends.

Your standard YouTube embed URL looks like this:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID

With rel=0 added:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YOUR_VIDEO_ID?rel=0

If your channel contains only your own business content, this is the simplest and most search-friendly solution. After your video ends, YouTube will only suggest your other videos — not your competitors'.

The limitation: If you have a mixed channel with lots of content, you have less control over which of your own videos get suggested. Creating a dedicated channel specifically for your website-embedded videos, with only the content you want suggested, gives you the most control within YouTube's current restrictions.

SEO impact: None. Your videos remain public and indexed. This is the recommended starting point for most businesses.

Method 2: Use the YouTube iframe API With JavaScript

For businesses that want more control over the end-screen experience, the YouTube iframe API allows you to detect when a video ends and take action — such as hiding the suggestion grid entirely or showing a custom overlay.

Here is a basic implementation:

<div id="player"></div>

<script>
  var tag = document.createElement('script');
  tag.src = "https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api";
  var firstScriptTag = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
  firstScriptTag.parentNode.insertBefore(tag, firstScriptTag);

  var player;
  function onYouTubeIframeAPIReady() {
    player = new YT.Player('player', {
      height: '390',
      width: '640',
      videoId: 'YOUR_VIDEO_ID',
      events: {
        'onStateChange': onPlayerStateChange
      }
    });
  }

  function onPlayerStateChange(event) {
    if (event.data == YT.PlayerState.ENDED) {
      // Hide the player or show a custom CTA
      document.getElementById('player').style.display = 'none';
      document.getElementById('video-cta').style.display = 'block';
    }
  }
</script>

<div id="video-cta" style="display:none;">
  <p>Ready to learn more? <a href="/contact/">Contact us today.</a></p>
</div>

This approach detects when the video ends and replaces the YouTube player with a custom element — in this case, a call-to-action linking to your contact page. The suggested videos never appear because you have replaced the player before they load.

The advantage: You have complete control over what the visitor sees after the video. You can show a testimonial, a contact form, a related service page link, or anything else relevant to your business goals.

The limitation: This requires adding JavaScript to your website and the ability to edit your page templates. If you use a website builder without code access, this may not be an option.

For businesses investing in video as part of a broader strategy, pairing this with a complete video marketing approach for small businesses ensures the technical work translates into real results.

Need help embedding videos correctly on your business website? Contact us and our team will handle the technical setup so your videos work the way you intend.

Method 3: Host the Video Elsewhere (When Appropriate)

For specific use cases — such as a product demo or testimonial that you do not want publicly searchable — hosting the video outside YouTube is worth considering. Platforms like Vimeo offer plans that allow private or domain-restricted video hosting with full control over post-play behavior.

When this makes sense:

• The video contains sensitive business information
• You want a completely custom post-play experience with no third-party suggestions
• You are running a paid course or gated content where YouTube's recommendation algorithm would undermine the experience

When it does not make sense:

• You want the video to rank in Google search results (YouTube videos indexed by Google have a significant ranking advantage)
• You want to build your YouTube channel's subscriber count and watch time
• You are on a budget and do not want to pay for video hosting

For most small businesses, YouTube is still the right choice for public-facing video content because of its SEO benefits and zero hosting cost. The goal is to manage its behavior on your website, not abandon it. If you are building out your video content strategy, see how other local businesses are using video marketing effectively as part of their overall marketing mix.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here is a direct recommendation based on your situation:

For most small business websites, Method 1 combined with a dedicated YouTube channel for embedded content is the right balance of control and effort. If you are already investing in a broader SEO strategy, keeping your videos on YouTube maximizes the SEO benefit while Method 1 keeps competitors out of your end screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you completely stop YouTube from showing suggested videos after an embed?

Not entirely with a single perfect method. The rel=0 parameter limits suggestions to your own channel, but YouTube removed the ability to suppress them entirely in 2018. The workarounds described in this post are the current best options.

Does using rel=0 in a YouTube embed URL still work?

Yes, rel=0 still tells YouTube to only show related videos from the same channel at the end of playback. If your channel only has the videos you want shown, this is an effective approach.

Why does it matter if competitor videos show on my embedded YouTube video?

When a visitor finishes watching your video and sees a competitor's content recommended, they may click away and never return to your site. Controlling what appears after your video keeps your audience focused on your business.

At Amble Media Group, we help small businesses in Frederick, MD get more from their video content — from YouTube setup to full website integration. Contact us for a free consultation and let us review how your current video content is performing.