YouTube Shorts are short-form videos designed to compete with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. While some users enjoy these quick, vertical videos, others find them distracting, irrelevant, or simply not aligned with how they prefer to consume content. If you’re wondering how to block YouTube Shorts or at least limit their presence on your feed, you’re not alone—and while there’s no single “off switch,” there are multiple strategies that can help reduce or hide Shorts from your experience.
What Are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos under 60 seconds in length. They autoplay in a scrollable feed, similar to TikTok, and are prominently featured in the mobile app. While YouTube promotes Shorts to encourage more engagement, not every user appreciates them.
Common complaints include:
- Shorts cluttering the homepage or subscriptions feed
- Repetitive or low-quality content
- Disruption of long-form content experience
- Limited control over autoplay and recommendations
Unfortunately, as of now, YouTube does not offer an official setting to turn off Shorts entirely. However, you can reduce their visibility and influence in several ways.
Use the “Not Interested” Option
This is the simplest built-in method to train the algorithm to stop recommending Shorts.
Steps:
- Open the YouTube app or website.
- Find a Short on your feed or homepage.
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the Short.
- Select “Not interested.”
- You can optionally give feedback on why.
Repeat this process consistently and the algorithm will begin to deprioritize Shorts in your feed.
Remove Shorts Section from YouTube Homepage (Desktop Only)
On desktop, you can use browser extensions or custom filters to hide the Shorts section.
Using a Chrome Extension:
Extensions like “Unhook” or “Enhancer for YouTube” allow you to customize your YouTube homepage by hiding specific sections, including Shorts.
How to Do It:
- Install Unhook YouTube from the Chrome Web Store.
- Open YouTube and click the Unhook icon in your browser.
- Toggle on “Hide Shorts” or “Hide Homepage Sections.”
These tools can help create a cleaner, long-form-friendly experience.
Redirect Shorts Links
When you click on a Short URL (e.g., youtube.com/shorts/…), YouTube opens the vertical video interface. You can manually or automatically redirect Shorts to their regular video counterparts.
Manual Method:
- When watching a Short, click the Share button.
- Copy the link and replace “/shorts/” with “/watch?v=” in the URL.
- Paste it into your browser. This opens the video in the standard player.
Automatic Method (Advanced):
Use browser add-ons or custom scripts like “Redirect YouTube Shorts to Normal” to automate this process on desktop.
Use YouTube on Browser with Old Layout (Workaround)
Some users opt to use old versions of YouTube’s interface via browser tools or extensions that revert the layout to how it was before Shorts were introduced. This is a workaround and may not be supported indefinitely.
Examples include:
- “YouTube Redux” or “Revert YouTube Layout” extensions
- Setting user-agent to a device or browser version that doesn’t support Shorts
Note: Use caution with third-party tools or scripts that manipulate the website interface.
Switch to YouTube Vanced or Revanced (Android Only)
YouTube Vanced (now discontinued) and its successor ReVanced allow for custom configurations of the YouTube app, including hiding Shorts.
Features Include:
- Blocking Shorts completely
- Ad-blocking
- Background playback
- Theme customization
Disclaimer:
These are third-party, modified versions of YouTube. Use at your own risk, as they are not officially supported by Google. Sideloading apps from unofficial sources may pose security risks.
Use YouTube in a Mobile Browser
Accessing YouTube via a mobile browser like Chrome or Firefox instead of the app can reduce your exposure to Shorts, since the mobile website is less optimized for vertical video.
How to Do It:
- Open your browser and go to YouTube.com.
- Tap the browser menu and select “Request desktop site.”
- Use the site like you would on a computer.
This version of YouTube minimizes or hides the Shorts feed and gives you more control.
Use YouTube Music for Audio Content
If you use YouTube for music but find Shorts distracting, switch to YouTube Music. It focuses on audio content without Shorts interrupting your flow.
Available on desktop and mobile, YouTube Music can be a cleaner, ad-free option (especially with Premium).
Report Low-Quality Shorts
If Shorts in your feed are spammy or inappropriate, report them. This also trains the algorithm over time.
Steps:
- Tap the three dots next to the Short.
- Select “Report” and choose the appropriate reason.
It’s not an immediate fix, but repeated feedback helps the platform improve recommendations.
Set Parental Controls (For Kids)
If you’re managing YouTube for a child, consider using YouTube Kids or setting up restricted mode. This won’t remove Shorts, but it limits the type of content shown and may deprioritize Shorts over time.
Enable Restricted Mode:
- Scroll to the bottom of YouTube on desktop.
- Click “Restricted Mode” and turn it on.
On mobile, go to Settings > General > Restricted Mode and toggle it on.
While YouTube doesn’t currently allow you to completely disable Shorts with a single setting, you do have several options to hide, reduce, or avoid them. Whether you use browser extensions, app alternatives, or strategic feedback to the algorithm, you can make your YouTube experience more tailored to your preferences.
YouTube continues to push Shorts as a core part of its platform, but with a little effort, you can reclaim your feed and focus on the content that matters most to you.