How to hide YouTube Shorts

YouTube can show you fewer Shorts, but it has no switch that turns them off. TubeBlock, a free browser extension, adds one switch that keeps Shorts shelves and Shorts cards out of Home, search and Subscriptions on your computer until you turn it off.

Download free extensionTry the demo

Demo feed: switch Hide Shorts on and off

Made-up channels and videos. This is a live preview of how TubeBlock behaves on YouTube.

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What YouTube offers built-in

Is there a way to hide Shorts on YouTube? Not with YouTube's own settings. What it offers is feedback, not an off switch:

  • Show fewer Shorts (mobile app). In the YouTube app, the More menu on the Shorts grid on Home has "Show fewer Shorts". You see fewer Shorts, not none. To undo it, delete the "Show fewer Shorts" feedback in Google My Activity (Other activity).
  • Not interested. Feedback on a single video. It does not turn Shorts off.
  • No off switch. YouTube has no setting that removes Shorts from Home, search results and Subscriptions on a computer.

For a supervised child account, parents can set a daily limit for the Shorts feed. For your own account the built-in options only reduce Shorts; they do not remove them.

How to do it with TubeBlock

  1. 1

    Install the extension

    Download the free zip and load it in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Opera. The install guide has the exact clicks for each browser.

    A test feed with fictional channels: the TubeBlock Block channel button on a video card, a video with spoiler in the title and a Shorts shelf
    Before: the Block channel button on a card (test feed with fictional channels).
  2. 2

    Switch on Hide Shorts

    Click the TubeBlock icon in the browser toolbar and turn on Hide Shorts. The setting is saved, so it stays on after you restart the browser.

    TubeBlock popup with the Hide Shorts switch
    The Hide Shorts switch in the popup.
  3. 3

    Browse without Shorts

    Shorts shelves and Shorts cards disappear from Home, search results and Subscriptions, along with the Shorts entry in the left menu. Want them back for a day? Switch it off; nothing else changes.

    The same test feed after blocking a channel, adding the keyword spoiler and turning on Hide Shorts
    After: the blocked channel, the spoiler video and the Shorts shelf are gone, with an Undo toast.

What gets hidden where

Place on YouTubeWith Hide Shorts on
Shorts shelf on HomeHidden
Shorts in search resultsHidden
Shorts in SubscriptionsHidden
Shorts link in the left menu, Shorts filter chips, Shorts tab on channel pagesHidden
The Shorts player (a /shorts/ link)Covered with a notice and a link to open the same video in the normal player
Regular videosNot affected

YouTube built-in vs TubeBlock

What you wantYouTube built-inTubeBlock
Hide the Shorts shelf on HomeOnly "Show fewer Shorts" in the app, which reduces themWhile the switch is on
Hide Shorts in searchNoYes
Hide Shorts in SubscriptionsNoYes
Turn Shorts back on instantlyUndo means deleting feedback in My ActivityYes, one switch
Works in the YouTube phone app"Show fewer Shorts"; a daily Shorts limit for supervised accountsNo, desktop browser only

Limitations

  • On a phone, TubeBlock cannot help. Many people use youtube.com in a desktop browser for focused watching and keep the app for other things.
  • YouTube renames and moves its Shorts sections from time to time. If a shelf slips through after an update, reload the tab and see the help page.

FAQ

Can you hide Shorts on YouTube?

Not completely with YouTube's own controls: "Show fewer Shorts" in the mobile app reduces them, and there is no off switch. With TubeBlock on a computer, Shorts stay hidden as long as the switch is on.

How do I block Shorts on YouTube for good?

On a computer, install TubeBlock and turn on Hide Shorts. It hides Shorts shelves and Shorts cards on Home, in search and in Subscriptions.

Can I block Shorts on the YouTube app?

Not with TubeBlock: it does not run in the YouTube apps for iPhone, iPad or Android, on TVs or in YouTube Kids. In the app you can use "Show fewer Shorts"; for a supervised child account, parents can set a daily Shorts feed limit.

Will hiding Shorts change my recommendations?

No. TubeBlock does not send feedback to YouTube; it only hides Shorts on your screen. Turn the switch off and everything looks as before.

Can I still watch a Short someone sends me?

Yes. While Hide Shorts is on, TubeBlock pauses the scrolling Shorts player and shows a notice with a link that opens the same video in the normal player. Or switch Hide Shorts off in the popup.

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