YouTube has no setting that turns Shorts off, but on a computer you can hide them with a browser extension. With I've had it in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Arc, the Shorts shelves and the Shorts link in the sidebar disappear on every YouTube page, and the Shorts feed itself is behind a pause (Ask first) or shut (No feeds). Normal videos, search and your subscriptions' channels keep working.
What can YouTube do on its own?
At the time of writing, YouTube lets you push Shorts back a little, not remove them:
- Hide the Shorts shelf. On the desktop home page, the Shorts shelf has a close button. YouTube hides the shelf for a while, then it comes back.
- Not interested. You can mark individual Shorts as not interesting, which changes suggestions, not how many there are.
- Watch history off. If you pause your watch history, YouTube stops filling the home page with recommendations. That calms the home page, but the Shorts tab is still there.
- Time limits in the phone app. YouTube's app has a take-a-break reminder, and it has been adding a time limit for the Shorts feed. These live in the app's settings and change often.
How do I hide YouTube Shorts with I've had it?
- Add the extension from the install page.
- Go through setup. YouTube starts on Ask first.
- Open youtube.com. The Shorts shelves and the Shorts entry in the left sidebar are gone.
- Open
youtube.com/shorts. Instead of the feed, you get a 15-second breath and a question: what did you come here to do? You can carry on for two or five minutes, or leave.
If you want Shorts shut with no way in except a deliberate unlock, set YouTube to No feeds in the popup or on your dashboard.
What exactly gets hidden on YouTube?
Whatever YouTube's mode, the extension hides these parts of the page:
- Shorts shelves in the home page and in search results
- The Shorts link in the left sidebar and in the narrow sidebar
- The grid of recommendations on the home page
- Related videos next to a video you're watching
- End screen suggestions and cards inside the player
- The autoplay "up next" suggestion
And these addresses count as feeds, so they get the pause or the wall:
| Address | What it is |
|---|---|
youtube.com/ | Home page |
youtube.com/shorts/... | The Shorts feed, and any single Short |
youtube.com/feed/subscriptions | The subscriptions feed |
youtube.com/feed/trending, /feed/explore | Trending and Explore |
youtube.com/gaming | Gaming |
Every /shorts/ address counts as the feed, including a single Short someone sends you. That is on purpose: a Short opens straight into a swipeable feed, so there is no way to watch just one.
What stays usable?
Videos, search, channels and playlists. In Ask first, a video you open from a link elsewhere plays for a 30-second quick pass; after that, or when you open YouTube yourself, you get a short pause and choose 2, 5 or 15 minutes. Videos YouTube files under education, science, how-to or news get a longer window of 15, 30 or 60 minutes, which is YouTube Learn mode.
Should I pick No feeds or Ask first for YouTube?
| Ask first | No feeds | |
|---|---|---|
| Shorts and home page | A breath and a reason, then 2 or 5 minutes | Shut |
| A video you open yourself | Pause, then 2, 5 or 15 minutes (lessons up to 60) | Pause, then 2 minutes |
| A video from a link | 30 seconds, then the pause | 30 seconds, then the pause |
| Shorts shelves and suggestions | Hidden | Hidden |
No feeds is strict for the rest of YouTube too, so most people keep Ask first. The Shorts shelves are gone either way, and reaching the Shorts feed becomes a choice instead of a reflex. Daily limit is the third option: YouTube works as usual for its minutes (30 by default), then the feeds shut until midnight. More in site modes.
Does this hide Shorts on my phone?
No. The extension runs in desktop browsers only. The phone app shows your numbers and changes your plan, but it does not block inside the YouTube app. On a phone, look at YouTube's own time settings, and Screen Time (iPhone) or Digital Wellbeing (Android), which can limit the whole YouTube app.
Questions
How do I permanently hide Shorts on YouTube?
YouTube doesn't offer a permanent switch. On a computer, I've had it hides the Shorts shelves and the sidebar link on every visit, and puts the Shorts feed behind a pause or shuts it.
Can I still watch normal YouTube videos?
Yes. Only the home page, Shorts, subscriptions, trending and gaming count as feeds. Single videos, search and channels open after a short pause, or straight away for 30 seconds from a link.
Why is a Short someone sent me blocked?
Every Shorts address opens into the swipeable feed, so the extension treats it as the feed. If you need it, take the pause in Ask first mode, or unlock for 10 minutes.
Does it remove YouTube recommendations too?
Yes. The home page grid, related videos, end screens and autoplay suggestions are hidden. See hide YouTube recommendations.
Does it work in Safari or Firefox?
Not yet. It works in Chrome, Edge, Brave and Arc on a computer.