To add a YouTube subscribe button below a video in WordPress, use the Video (UB) block in Ultimate Blocks with Ultimate Blocks Pro. Embed a YouTube video, then turn on Show Subscribe Button in the Channel Settings panel. The block shows the channel’s profile picture, its name and a Subscribe button under the video. The Video (UB) block is free; the subscribe button is a Pro feature.
What you need #
- The free Ultimate Blocks plugin.
- Ultimate Blocks Pro, installed and activated alongside the free plugin.
- The link to a public YouTube video from the channel you want people to subscribe to.
How to add a YouTube subscribe button #
- Open the post or page in the WordPress block editor.
- Click +, search for Video (UB) and click the block to add it.
- In the Select Video Source placeholder, click Insert from URL, paste the YouTube video link and confirm. Normal watch links, short youtu.be links and Shorts links all work.
- With the block selected, open the Channel Settings panel in the Settings tab.
- Turn on Show Subscribe Button. The channel details appear under the video in the editor.
- Click Update or Publish.
How the channel is chosen #
You don’t type a channel name or ID. When you paste a YouTube link, the Video (UB) block looks up that video on YouTube and saves the channel that published it. The subscribe button always points to that channel.
- To promote your own channel, embed a video from your own channel.
- If you embed someone else’s video, the button asks visitors to subscribe to their channel, not yours.
- If you replace the video with one from a different channel, the button updates to the new channel.
What visitors see #
Under the video, visitors see the channel’s profile picture and name on one side and a Subscribe button with the YouTube icon on the other. Clicking the button opens the channel on YouTube with the subscribe confirmation prompt, so subscribing takes one more click.
Tip: Put your best video at the top of a tutorial or review post and turn on the subscribe button there. Readers who enjoy the video can subscribe without searching for your channel.
Common problems #
- I don’t see the Channel Settings panel: it shows only for YouTube videos, and only after the video is added. Uploaded videos, Vimeo and Dailymotion videos do not have a subscribe button. Also make sure Ultimate Blocks Pro is active and licensed.
- The channel name or picture is missing: the details come from YouTube while you edit. Check that the video is public, then remove the link and paste it again, and update the post.
- The button points to the wrong channel: the button uses the channel of the embedded video. Embed a video from the channel you want.
Other video settings you may want #
The Video (UB) block also has free settings such as Autoplay, Loop, Mute on page load, Show player controls, Allow custom start time and Use a custom thumbnail. See the Video (UB) block doc for all options.
Frequently asked questions #
Is the YouTube subscribe button free?
No. The Video (UB) block is free, but Channel Settings and Show Subscribe Button are part of Ultimate Blocks Pro.
How do I choose which YouTube channel the button uses?
The block uses the channel that published the embedded video. To promote your channel, embed a video from your channel.
Does the subscribe button work with Vimeo or uploaded videos?
No. The Channel Settings panel and the subscribe button are available only for YouTube videos.
What happens when a visitor clicks Subscribe?
The channel opens on YouTube with a subscribe confirmation prompt, and the visitor confirms with one more click.
Do I need a YouTube API key?
No. You only paste the video link. The block gets the channel details for you.
