When you watch YouTube on a smart TV, streaming device, or game console, you may have idle time after you enjoy videos. During these periods of inactivity, we sometimes show ambient display to help prevent screen burn-in. Ambient display rotates through still images refreshed regularly from soothing background videos.
To watch a video presented as an ambient display:
- Press the up button on your remote.
To return to the screen that you were previously viewing:
- Press the back button on your remote.
To intentionally start ambient display:
- Select “Start ambient display” when exiting the YouTube app.
What determines if a video is available on ambient display?
While many great new ambient videos are uploaded to YouTube on any given day, ambient display can only show a limited number. Ambient display aims to surface videos that:
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Are suitable for large HD TV screens in terms of production quality and aesthetic
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Showcase a diversity of themes, genres, and creators
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Are soothing or relaxing
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Are appropriate for a wide range of viewers (as ambient display videos are visible to a global audience and are not personalized)
Ambient display aims to balance all of these considerations. To achieve this, ambient display considers many signals, including (but not limited to):
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View count
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The duration of the video
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The age of the video
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How the video performs compared to other videos in similar genres
We also have staff involved as a final filter to ensure safety and appropriateness.
YouTube doesn't accept submissions or payment for placement on ambient display and doesn't favor specific creators.
Privacy settings for ambient display videos
A video can only appear in ambient display mode if its privacy setting is public.