You can hide YouTube Shorts but not fully disable them
YouTube does not offer a built-in setting to completely turn off Shorts. The feature is woven into the YouTube app and website, and Google treats it as a core part of the platform. However, you have several practical options to minimize or remove Shorts from your view depending on which device you use and how much friction you are willing to accept.
The most effective method depends on whether you watch YouTube on your phone, computer, or both. Phone users have the most control through third-party apps and browser extensions. Desktop users can use browser extensions or adjust their YouTube settings to reduce Shorts visibility. If you use YouTube's official app on Android or iPhone, your options are more limited but still workable.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube's official app and website do not have a setting to disable Shorts entirely, but you can reduce how often they appear in your feed.
- Browser extensions like Return YouTube Dislike and uBlock Origin can hide the Shorts shelf on desktop YouTube, though they require installation and maintenance.
- Third-party YouTube apps for Android like NewPipe and Vanced give you the option to turn off Shorts completely within the app settings.
- On iPhone, your best option is to use a web browser instead of the official YouTube app, combined with a desktop-focused extension or by telling YouTube you are not interested in Shorts content.
- Telling YouTube "Don't recommend channel" and "Not interested" on individual Shorts will gradually reduce how many appear in your recommendations.
Hiding Shorts on desktop YouTube with browser extensions
The easiest desktop solution is uBlock Origin, a free ad blocker that also lets you hide specific page elements. Install it for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, then go to YouTube's home page. Right-click the Shorts shelf (the horizontal row of Shorts videos), select "Block element", and confirm. The shelf disappears and stays gone.
If you want a lighter-touch approach, Return YouTube Dislike is a free extension that restores the dislike count and includes an option to hide the Shorts shelf. Install it, click the extension icon, and toggle "Hide Shorts shelf" on. This works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. The extension updates regularly, so it tends to keep working even when YouTube changes its layout.
Both extensions are maintained by independent developers and work on the YouTube website but not the YouTube app. If you switch devices or browsers, you will need to install the extension again. They do not affect your YouTube account settings, so Shorts will still appear if you log in on a different browser without the extension.
Disabling Shorts in third-party Android apps
NewPipe is a free, open-source YouTube client for Android that gives you full control over what appears on your home feed. read it from F-Droid (not the Google Play Store), open Settings, go to "Feed", and toggle off "Show Shorts". Shorts will not appear anywhere in the app. NewPipe also blocks ads and lets you read videos, though it does not support YouTube Premium features like offline viewing of regular videos.
YouTube Vanced (now discontinued but still available through archived versions) was another popular option that let you disable Shorts in settings. Since Google shut down the project, finding a working version is harder, and updates are no longer may provide. NewPipe is the more reliable choice going forward.
Third-party apps do not sync with your YouTube account the way the official app does, so your subscriptions, watch history, and recommendations may not carry over perfectly. You will need to sign in separately, and some features like YouTube Premium will not work. For people who primarily want to avoid Shorts and do not rely on YouTube's recommendation algorithm, this trade-off is worth it.
Reducing Shorts in your YouTube feed without extensions
If you do not want to install extensions or use a different app, you can train YouTube's algorithm to show you fewer Shorts. On any Shorts video, tap the three-dot menu and select "Don't recommend channel" or "Not interested". Do this consistently, and YouTube will gradually reduce how many Shorts from that creator appear in your feed. This does not remove Shorts entirely, but it shifts the balance toward longer videos.
You can also adjust your YouTube home feed settings on desktop. Click your profile picture, go to Settings, select "Home", and look for options related to what content appears. YouTube does not have a direct "disable Shorts" toggle here, but you can clear your watch history and search history, which resets what the algorithm thinks you want to watch. This is a nuclear option and will affect all your recommendations, not just Shorts.
This approach requires ongoing effort. Every time you see a Shorts video you do not want, you have to mark it as uninterested. Over weeks, the feed will shift, but new Shorts will still appear. It is the least friction-heavy option if you want to stay within YouTube's official ecosystem, but it is also the least effective at actually removing Shorts from view.
Using YouTube on iPhone without the official app
iPhone users cannot install browser extensions the way desktop users can, and the YouTube app does not have a Shorts disable option. Your best workaround is to use Safari or another mobile browser instead of the YouTube app. Open YouTube in Safari, bookmark it to your home screen, and use it like an app. The mobile website shows Shorts, but you can use browser extensions if you jailbreak your phone — a process most people should not attempt.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party YouTube app from the App Store, though options are limited. Apps like Tube Browser for YouTube and Yattee offer some control over what appears in your feed, though they do not always have a dedicated Shorts toggle. Check the app's settings before committing to it.
The reality for iPhone users is that you cannot fully disable Shorts without significant workarounds. Your most practical option is to use "Not interested" on individual Shorts and accept that some will still appear in your feed.
Why YouTube keeps Shorts even when you do not want them
YouTube prioritizes Shorts because they keep people on the platform longer and generate advertising revenue. Shorts are also easier for creators to produce than long-form videos, which means more content flows into YouTube constantly. Removing the feature entirely would mean losing creators and viewers to competing platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
From YouTube's perspective, Shorts are not a bug or a mistake — they are a deliberate business decision. This is why there is no official off switch. The company has made it clear that Shorts are here to stay, which is why third-party tools and workarounds exist in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable Shorts on the YouTube app itself?
No, the official YouTube app for iPhone and Android does not have a setting to turn off Shorts. Your options are to use a third-party app like NewPipe on Android, use a browser instead of the app, or mark individual Shorts as "Not interested" to reduce how many appear.
Will YouTube ever add an official disable Shorts option?
It is unlikely. YouTube has not added this option despite years of user requests, and the company treats Shorts as a core feature. If this changes, it would be announced in YouTube's official blog or settings menu.
Do browser extensions work on mobile YouTube?
Not on the YouTube app. Extensions only work in web browsers. On iPhone, Safari does not support extensions in the way desktop browsers do. On Android, Firefox supports extensions, so you could use uBlock Origin or Return YouTube Dislike in Firefox to hide Shorts.
If I use a third-party app, will my watch history still sync?
It depends on the app. NewPipe does not sync with your YouTube account at all — it keeps its own separate history. Other apps may sync some data but not all. Check the app's documentation before switching.
Does marking Shorts as "Not interested" actually work?
Yes, but slowly. YouTube's algorithm will gradually reduce Shorts from channels you mark as uninterested, but it takes consistent action over weeks. New Shorts from other creators will still appear. It is a partial solution, not a complete removal.