Yes, you can block YouTube Shorts, but the method depends on what device you're using and how much control you want
YouTube Shorts are short vertical videos that play automatically when you open the YouTube app or website. If you find them distracting or straightforward don't want to see them, you have several options — though none of them will remove Shorts from YouTube entirely. You can hide the Shorts tab, use parental controls, install browser extensions that filter content, or switch to a version of YouTube designed for older devices. The right choice depends on whether you want to block them for yourself, for someone else in your household, or across all your devices.
The reality is that YouTube treats Shorts as a core product it wants to promote, so blocking them completely requires either third-party tools or accepting that they'll still appear in some places. But you can reduce how often you see them and make them much harder to access.
Key Takeaways
- On the YouTube app, you can remove the Shorts tab from your navigation menu, which hides it from your home screen but doesn't prevent Shorts from appearing in search results or recommendations.
- YouTube's Restricted Mode filters out mature content and can reduce Shorts visibility, though it's designed primarily for younger viewers and requires a separate account setup.
- Browser extensions like uBlock Origin or Return YouTube Dislike can block Shorts on the web version of YouTube, but they require installation and may need updates when YouTube changes its code.
- If you're blocking Shorts for a child, parental control apps on Android and iOS offer the most reliable method because they work across all apps, not just YouTube.
- YouTube's older mobile web interface (m.youtube.com) shows fewer Shorts than the app, though this may change as YouTube continues updating its platform.
Hiding the Shorts tab on the YouTube app
The simplest way to reduce Shorts visibility is to remove the Shorts tab from your YouTube app's navigation menu. On both Android and iPhone, open YouTube, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, select "Settings," then "General." Look for "Customize your feed" or a similar option. From there, you can toggle off the Shorts tab. This removes the dedicated Shorts section from your home screen and makes Shorts less prominent when you first open the app.
This method has a real limitation: Shorts will still appear in your recommendations, in search results, and mixed into your regular video feed. You're not blocking Shorts entirely — you're just removing the dedicated tab that makes them straightforward to find. If you want stronger filtering, you'll need to use a different approach. Many people combine this with one of the other methods below for better results.
Using Restricted Mode to limit Shorts
YouTube's Restricted Mode is a filtering system designed to reduce mature content. It also tends to show fewer Shorts overall, though that's not its primary purpose. To turn on Restricted Mode, scroll to the bottom of the YouTube app or website, tap or click your profile icon, select "Restricted Mode," and toggle it on. You'll need to sign in to your account for the setting to stick.
Restricted Mode works across devices when you're signed into the same account, so if you set it on your phone, it will also explore when you use YouTube on a computer or tablet. The trade-off is that Restricted Mode is somewhat blunt — it filters based on YouTube's automated system, which sometimes blocks content that isn't actually mature and sometimes misses content that is. It's most useful if you're setting up a separate account for a younger family member rather than filtering your own viewing.
Browser extensions for blocking Shorts on desktop
If you watch YouTube on a computer, browser extensions can block Shorts more aggressively than YouTube's built-in tools. uBlock Origin is a free ad and content blocker available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Once installed, you can add custom filters to hide Shorts. Search online for "uBlock Origin YouTube Shorts filter" to find community-maintained filter lists, or create your own by right-clicking on a Shorts element and selecting "Block element."
Return YouTube Dislike is another extension that modifies YouTube's interface. While its main purpose is to show dislike counts, it also includes options to hide Shorts from your recommendations and feed. Both extensions require you to install them on each browser you use, and they may need updates if YouTube changes how Shorts are coded on the page. Extensions don't work on the YouTube app — only on the web version.
Parental controls for blocking Shorts across all apps
If you're trying to block Shorts for a child or teenager, device-level parental controls are more reliable than YouTube settings because they work across all apps, not just YouTube. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Screen Time," select "Content & Privacy Restrictions," and set restrictions on apps or content categories. On Android, use Google Family Link, which lets you set app limits, block specific apps entirely, or restrict content ratings across the device.
Family Link is particularly useful because it lets you manage multiple devices from one parent account. You can set different rules for different children, see which apps they're using, and adjust restrictions remotely. The downside is that a determined teenager can sometimes work around device-level controls, and parental control apps require ongoing maintenance as your child's needs change.
Using the mobile web version instead of the app
YouTube's mobile web version (accessed by typing m.youtube.com into your phone's browser) displays fewer Shorts than the official app. This isn't a permanent block — YouTube is gradually adding more Shorts to the web version — but it's a quick workaround if you prefer browsing on mobile without downloading the app. The trade-off is that the mobile web version is slower, has fewer features, and doesn't work as smoothly as the app.
This option works best as a temporary measure or if you only watch YouTube occasionally on your phone. If you watch regularly, the app's better performance usually outweighs the annoyance of seeing Shorts. You can bookmark m.youtube.com on your phone's home screen to make it easier to access than opening the full app.
What doesn't work and why
You cannot completely remove Shorts from YouTube without using third-party tools, and even those tools have limits. YouTube's algorithm will still recommend Shorts in your feed, and they'll still appear in search results. Some people hope that reporting Shorts as "not interested" will train YouTube's recommendation system to show them fewer Shorts, but YouTube's data suggests this has minimal effect — the algorithm treats Shorts as a separate content type that it wants to promote regardless of individual user feedback.
You also cannot block Shorts using your internet router or network-level filters, because Shorts are served from the same domain as regular YouTube videos. Any filter that blocks Shorts would block all of YouTube. This is why device-level or app-level blocking is your only real option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will YouTube ever let me turn off Shorts completely?
YouTube has not announced plans to let users disable Shorts entirely. The company treats Shorts as a core part of its platform and wants to promote them. Your options remain limited to hiding the tab, using filters, or switching to alternative platforms.
Do browser extensions work on the YouTube app?
No. Browser extensions only work on the web version of YouTube accessed through Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. They cannot modify the YouTube app on your phone. If you want to block Shorts on mobile, use the app's built-in settings, Restricted Mode, or parental controls instead.
If I hide the Shorts tab, will Shorts still appear in my recommendations?
Yes. Hiding the Shorts tab only removes the dedicated Shorts section from your home screen. Shorts will still show up in your regular feed, in search results, and in your recommendations. To reduce Shorts across all areas, you'll need to use Restricted Mode or a browser extension.
Can I block Shorts for my child without blocking YouTube entirely?
Yes. Use Google Family Link on Android or Screen Time on iPhone to set content restrictions that limit access to specific apps or content types. You can also create a separate YouTube account for your child and enable Restricted Mode on that account, though this is less reliable than device-level controls.
Why does YouTube keep adding Shorts if people don't want them?
YouTube's business model depends on watch time and engagement. Shorts are highly engaging — they autoplay and encourage rapid scrolling — which means they generate more ad views and user data than longer videos. YouTube prioritizes features that increase engagement, even when individual users would prefer to disable them.