To hide YouTube recommendations on a computer, you can pause your watch history, which empties the home page, or use an extension that removes the suggestions everywhere. I've had it, in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Arc, hides the home page grid, the related videos next to a video, end screens, cards and the autoplay suggestion on every YouTube page, and puts a pause in front of the home feed. Search and the videos you pick still work.
How do I turn off YouTube recommendations with YouTube's own settings?
YouTube has a few real levers. At the time of writing:
- Pause watch history. In your YouTube history settings, turn watch history off. When it is off and there is no recent history, YouTube stops filling the home page with recommendations and shows a short message instead. This is the closest thing to an official off switch for the home feed.
- Turn off autoplay. The autoplay switch sits in the video player. With it off, the next video doesn't start on its own.
- Not interested and Don't recommend channel. These are in the three-dot menu on a recommendation. They change what you are shown, not how much.
The limit: pausing history only touches the home page. Related videos beside the player and the end screen suggestions are still there, and they are where a single video often turns into ten. Pausing history also means YouTube won't remember what you watched.
How do I hide YouTube recommendations with I've had it?
- Add the extension from the install page.
- Finish setup. YouTube starts on Ask first.
- Open any video. The column of related videos is gone, and so are end screen suggestions, cards and the autoplay suggestion.
- Open youtube.com. Instead of the grid, you get a short breath and a question about what you came for.
You don't have to change any YouTube setting for this, and your watch history keeps working if you want it.
What does the extension hide on YouTube?
| Part of YouTube | What happens |
|---|---|
| Home page recommendations grid | Hidden, and the home page is behind a pause or shut |
| Related videos next to the player | Hidden |
| End screen suggestions and in-video cards | Hidden |
| Autoplay "up next" | Hidden |
| Shorts shelves and the Shorts sidebar link | Hidden |
| Shorts, subscriptions feed, trending, gaming | Count as feeds: behind a pause or shut |
| Search, channels, playlists, single videos | Usable |
The hidden parts are hidden in every mode. Which feeds get a pause and which are shut depends on YouTube's mode, explained in site modes.
Can I still use YouTube for tutorials and lectures?
Yes, and that is the case I designed YouTube's default around. In Ask first, a video you open yourself gets a short pause, then you choose 2, 5 or 15 minutes. When YouTube files the video under education, science and technology, how-to, news or nonprofits, you get 15, 30 or 60 minutes instead, and suggestions stay hidden. That is YouTube Learn mode.
A video someone sends you plays straight away for 30 seconds, the quick pass, before you are asked.
What about the subscriptions feed?
The subscriptions page at youtube.com/feed/subscriptions scrolls forever like the home page, so it counts as a feed. If you only want new videos from a few channels, open those channels directly; channel pages are usable.
Should YouTube be on Ask first, No feeds or Daily limit?
- Ask first (the default): the home page and Shorts open after a 15-second breath and a reason, for two or five minutes. Good for most people.
- No feeds: the home page, Shorts and subscriptions are shut. Videos you open yourself get two minutes at a time, which is strict for long videos.
- Daily limit: YouTube works as usual for its minutes (30 by default), then the feeds shut until midnight. Suggestions stay hidden either way.
Does this work on my phone or TV?
No. The extension works in desktop browsers only. The I've had it phone app shows your numbers and changes your plan, but it doesn't block inside the YouTube app. Pausing watch history does apply to your whole account, so it usually calms the home page on your phone and TV too.
Questions
How do I get rid of recommended videos on YouTube?
Pausing watch history empties the YouTube home page. To also hide related videos, end screens and autoplay on a computer, use an extension like I've had it, which hides them on every page.
Can I use YouTube without the home page?
Yes. With I've had it, the home page is behind a pause or shut, and you can go straight to search, a channel or a video.
Does hiding recommendations delete my watch history?
No. The extension only hides parts of the page in your browser. Your YouTube history and subscriptions are untouched.
Will YouTube still autoplay the next video?
The autoplay suggestion is hidden. To stop autoplay entirely, also turn off the autoplay switch in YouTube's player.
Why is my subscriptions feed blocked?
It scrolls without end like the home page, so it counts as a feed. Open a channel page directly instead, or switch YouTube to Daily limit.