Yes, you can remove Shorts from your YouTube feed, but the options depend on what device you're using
YouTube does not offer a single "disable Shorts" button that turns them off everywhere. Instead, you can hide the Shorts shelf from your home feed on desktop and mobile, mute individual Shorts channels, or use browser extensions to filter them out. On the YouTube app itself, your control is more limited — you can tell YouTube you're not interested in specific Shorts, but you cannot remove the entire Shorts section from the app's navigation.
The reason for this split is technical: YouTube's mobile app and desktop site are built differently, and the company treats Shorts as a core feature rather than an optional one. That said, the methods below will reduce how often Shorts appear in your regular viewing experience.
Key Takeaways
- On desktop, you can hide the Shorts shelf from your home feed by clicking the three-dot menu next to it and selecting "Don't show Shorts."
- On the YouTube mobile app, you cannot remove Shorts from the navigation bar, but you can tell YouTube you are not interested in individual Shorts to reduce recommendations.
- Browser extensions like "Return YouTube Dislike" and "Unhook" can hide Shorts sections and feeds on desktop, though they require installation and updates.
- Muting a channel prevents its Shorts from appearing in your subscriptions feed, but does not affect recommendations on your home page.
- YouTube may restore the Shorts shelf to your home feed after updates, so you may need to hide it again periodically.
Hiding Shorts from your home feed on desktop
On YouTube's desktop site, the Shorts shelf usually appears below your subscriptions feed. To remove it, hover over the shelf until a three-dot menu appears in the top right corner of the Shorts section. Click that menu and select "Don't show Shorts." The shelf will disappear from your home feed when ready.
This setting is tied to your YouTube account, so it will carry over if you log in on another computer. However, YouTube sometimes restores the Shorts shelf after major site updates or when you clear your browser cache. If Shorts reappear, you can hide them again using the same method.
Reducing Shorts in the YouTube mobile app
The YouTube app for iOS and Android does not let you remove Shorts from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. YouTube treats the Shorts tab as a permanent feature. However, you can reduce how often Shorts appear in your recommendations by telling YouTube you are not interested in them.
When a Short appears in your home feed or subscriptions feed, swipe left on it (iOS) or press and hold it (Android) until a menu appears. Select "Not interested" or "Don't recommend channel." Repeat this for Shorts you do not want to see. Over time, YouTube's algorithm will show you fewer Shorts based on these signals, though the reduction is gradual and not may provide.
Using browser extensions to filter Shorts on desktop
If you watch YouTube primarily on desktop, browser extensions can hide Shorts more aggressively than YouTube's built-in options. Unhook (available for Chrome and Firefox) lets you hide the Shorts section, the Shorts tab, and recommendations for Shorts videos. Return YouTube Dislike (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) also includes an option to hide Shorts.
To use these extensions, install them from your browser's extension store, then open the extension's settings. Look for options labeled "Hide Shorts," "Disable Shorts," or "Remove Shorts feed." The exact wording varies by extension. These extensions work by hiding elements on the page with code, so they do not affect what YouTube stores or recommends — they just change what you see.
Keep in mind that browser extensions require maintenance. When YouTube redesigns its site, an extension may break until the developer updates it. Check the extension's reviews or support page before installing to see whether it is actively maintained.
Muting channels to stop their Shorts from appearing
If specific creators are flooding your feed with Shorts, you can mute their channel without unsubscribing. On desktop, go to the channel's page, click the bell icon next to the Subscribe button, and select "Mute." On mobile, tap the three-dot menu on the channel page and choose "Mute channel."
Muting prevents that channel's uploads — including Shorts — from appearing in your subscriptions feed. However, it does not affect YouTube's recommendations on your home page. If YouTube's algorithm thinks you might like a Muted channel's content, it can still recommend their videos to you.
What happens when you use YouTube on multiple devices
Your "Don't show Shorts" setting on desktop syncs across all browsers and computers where you log into YouTube, because it is stored in your account settings. However, the setting does not carry over to the YouTube mobile app — the app has its own separate interface and does not recognize the desktop setting.
If you use YouTube on both desktop and mobile, you will need to manage Shorts separately on each platform. Desktop gives you the cleaner option (hiding the shelf entirely), while mobile requires the slower approach of marking individual Shorts as "Not interested."
Why YouTube does not offer a complete disable option
YouTube's parent company, Google, has invested heavily in Shorts as a competitor to TikTok and Instagram Reels. Shorts generate engagement and watch time, which YouTube uses to train its recommendation algorithm and sell advertising. A full disable option would reduce that data, so YouTube treats Shorts as a core feature that cannot be turned off entirely.
This is a trade-off worth understanding: YouTube benefits from keeping Shorts visible, and you benefit from being able to hide them partially. Neither side gets everything it wants, but you do have real options to reduce their presence in your feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I hide Shorts on desktop, will they stop appearing on mobile?
No. The desktop setting only affects the YouTube website. The mobile app has its own separate settings and will continue to show Shorts in your home feed and subscriptions. You need to manage Shorts separately on mobile by marking individual videos as "Not interested."
Can I remove the Shorts tab from the bottom of the YouTube app?
No. YouTube does not offer an option to remove the Shorts tab from the app's navigation bar. You can only reduce how often Shorts appear in your home feed by telling YouTube you are not interested in specific ones.
Will browser extensions slow down YouTube?
Most Shorts-hiding extensions have minimal impact on performance because they straightforward hide page elements rather than processing video data. However, any extension uses a small amount of memory. If you notice YouTube loading slowly, try disabling the extension temporarily to see whether it is the cause.
What if Shorts reappear after I hide them?
YouTube sometimes restores the Shorts shelf after site updates or if you clear your browser cookies. If this happens, use the three-dot menu to hide Shorts again. The setting will stick until the next major update.
Does muting a channel stop them from making Shorts?
No. Muting only affects what you see in your own feed. The channel continues to upload Shorts normally, and other viewers will still see them. Muting is purely a personal preference tool.