Learn mode gives YouTube videos that are filed as lessons a longer window: after a 3-second breath you can choose 15, 30 or 60 minutes instead of the usual 2, 5 or 15. It is on by default for YouTube in Ask first mode, so tutorials and lectures stay easy to watch while the home feed and Shorts stay behind a pause.
How does Learn mode know a video is a lesson?
Every YouTube video has a category, chosen by the person who uploaded it. When you open a video page, I've had it reads that category. These count as learning:
- Education
- Science & Technology
- Howto & Style
- News & Politics
- Nonprofits & Activism
Anything else, like Entertainment, Gaming, Music or Comedy, gets the normal pause for a specific page. The category is the uploader's choice, so now and then a lesson is filed somewhere else, or something that is not a lesson is filed under Education. The check is simple on purpose and it all happens in your browser.
What does the Learn mode pause look like?
- The screen says it looks like a lesson, and that suggestions stay hidden.
- A 3-second breath, shorter than the usual pause.
- Learn something is already picked as your reason. Type the thing you want to learn, in a few words.
- Choose 15, 30 or 60 minutes and press Enter.
The pill at the bottom of the page shows the time left and what you said you were learning. The full pause is described in the intent gate.
What is hidden on YouTube?
Even when a video is open, the parts of YouTube built to keep you watching something else are taken away:
- The grid of recommendations on the home page.
- Shorts shelves, and Shorts in the side menu.
- The related videos next to and under the player.
- End screens: the thumbnails and links laid over the last seconds of a video.
- The autoplay suggestion for the next video.
The video, its description, comments, search, channels and your playlists still work. More on this in hide YouTube recommendations and hide YouTube Shorts.
When does Learn mode apply?
All of these need to be true:
- YouTube is set to Ask first. See site modes.
- The Longer for lessons option is ticked for YouTube. It appears under YouTube on your dashboard when YouTube is on Ask first.
- The page is a video, and you opened it yourself. A video link someone sent you first opens with a quick pass. When that runs out, the Learn mode pause comes up.
- Your daily budget is not spent. Once it is, YouTube is shut for the day and a typed video gets a single two-minute window, lessons included.
On a Daily limit YouTube, every video simply plays until the minutes are used. On No feeds, lessons get the same two-minute window as any other video you type.
How do I turn Learn mode on or off?
- Open your dashboard.
- In the site list, make sure YouTube is set to Ask first.
- Tick or untick Longer for lessons.
It is saved to your account and reaches every linked browser on the next sync.
Does Learn mode time count toward my budget?
Yes. Learn mode gives you a longer window, not free time. Every minute you watch counts toward the daily budget like any other window. If you watch a lot of courses, a larger budget, or setting YouTube to a Daily limit, may suit you better.
Questions
Can I use YouTube for learning only?
Close to it. With YouTube on Ask first and Learn mode on, lessons get 15 to 60 minute windows, other videos get short windows after a pause, and recommendations, Shorts and end screens are hidden.
Which YouTube categories count as learning?
Education, Science & Technology, Howto & Style, News & Politics, and Nonprofits & Activism. The category is set by the uploader.
Why did a tutorial get the short pause?
Its uploader filed it under a category that is not on the learning list, such as Entertainment or People & Blogs. The pause then offers 2, 5 or 15 minutes.
Does Learn mode work when YouTube is on No feeds?
No. Learn mode is for Ask first. On No feeds, every video you open yourself gets a two-minute window.