How to Get Rid of Shorts on YouTube: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re tired of the endless scroll of YouTube Shorts, eh? You crave the long-form content and hate the fleeting, attention-grabbing distractions? You’re not alone! Getting rid of YouTube Shorts isn’t a magic bullet, but there are several strategies you can employ to significantly reduce their prominence and reclaim your YouTube experience. Here’s the lowdown:

The direct answer is this: you can’t completely eliminate YouTube Shorts from the platform. YouTube prioritizes them, and they’re integrated into various sections. However, you can minimize their appearance through a combination of active management, browser extensions, and strategic channel interactions. The key is persistence and employing multiple methods.

Strategies to Minimize YouTube Shorts

The battle against the short-form content onslaught is a multi-front war. Here are the tactics you’ll need in your arsenal:

1. The “Not Interested” Button: Your First Line of Defense

This is the simplest, yet most consistently overlooked method. Every time a Short appears in your feed, on your home page, or even in search results, hit the “Not Interested” button (the three vertical dots). Then, select “Don’t recommend channel.” This tells YouTube you’re not a fan of that particular Short and, more importantly, you don’t want to see content from that specific channel. Repeat this religiously. Over time, it will have a cumulative effect, pushing those types of videos out of your immediate view.

2. Channel Blocking: A More Aggressive Approach

While the “Not Interested” button is reactive, channel blocking is proactive. If you consistently see Shorts from specific channels you dislike, block them directly. This prevents their content from appearing in your recommendations, search results, and even comments sections. To block a channel, go to their “About” tab and click the flag icon, then select “Block user.” Be warned: this is a more permanent action.

3. Curate Your Subscription List: Quality Over Quantity

Take a hard look at your subscriptions. Are you subscribed to channels that primarily produce Shorts? Unsubscribe from them. Your subscriptions heavily influence what appears in your feed. Focus on subscribing only to channels that consistently deliver the long-form content you prefer.

4. Leverage Browser Extensions: The Power User’s Choice

Several browser extensions are designed to filter out Shorts specifically. These are generally available for Chrome, Firefox, and other Chromium-based browsers. Search for extensions like “Block YouTube Shorts” or “Hide YouTube Shorts” in your browser’s extension store. These extensions often allow you to hide Shorts from your home page, subscription feed, and even search results. Remember to read reviews and ensure the extension is reputable before installing.

5. Use YouTube’s Built-in Filters: Refine Your Search

When searching on YouTube, utilize the filter options. After performing a search, click the “Filter” button and select “Long” under the “Duration” category. This will prioritize videos longer than 20 minutes, effectively excluding most Shorts from your results. While it doesn’t completely eliminate them, it significantly reduces their prominence.

6. Engage Strategically: Train the Algorithm

The YouTube algorithm learns from your behavior. Watch and engage with long-form content. Like videos, leave comments, and share them. The more you interact with longer videos, the more likely YouTube is to recommend similar content in the future. Conversely, avoid clicking on Shorts as much as possible. Even negative engagement can signal interest to the algorithm.

7. Utilize Playlists: Create Your Own Content Oasis

Create and curate playlists of long-form content you enjoy. This not only helps you organize your viewing but also signals to YouTube your preference for longer videos. The algorithm often uses playlist activity to determine your interests.

8. Explore Alternative YouTube Frontends: The Advanced Technique

For the truly dedicated, consider using alternative YouTube frontends like Invidious or Piped. These are open-source platforms that offer a cleaner, ad-free YouTube experience and often allow for more granular control over what content you see. However, setting these up requires some technical knowledge.

9. Use the Desktop Site on Mobile: Bypass the App’s Emphasis on Shorts

YouTube’s mobile app tends to push Shorts more aggressively. Accessing YouTube through a mobile browser and requesting the desktop site can offer a slightly different, less Shorts-centric experience. It’s not a perfect solution, but it can help.

10. Report Shorts That Violate Guidelines: Do Your Part

If you encounter Shorts that violate YouTube’s community guidelines (hate speech, harassment, etc.), report them. This helps improve the overall quality of the platform and potentially reduces the number of unwanted videos you see.

11. Consider a YouTube Premium Subscription: A Partial Solution

While a YouTube Premium subscription won’t eliminate Shorts, it will remove ads, which can make the viewing experience more bearable. It also allows for background playback and offline downloads of long-form videos, making them more accessible.

12. Adjust Your Viewing Habits: Break the Scroll

The final, and perhaps most important, strategy is to consciously adjust your viewing habits. Resist the urge to endlessly scroll through the Shorts feed. Set aside specific times for watching longer videos and avoid mindlessly browsing YouTube when you’re bored.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Getting Rid of Shorts on YouTube

Here are some common questions, answered with expert insight:

1. Can I permanently disable YouTube Shorts?

No. YouTube has integrated Shorts deeply into its platform. There is no option to completely disable them at a user level. The strategies outlined above are designed to minimize their appearance, not eliminate them entirely.

2. Does YouTube track my “Not Interested” selections?

Yes, YouTube tracks your “Not Interested” selections. This data is used to personalize your recommendations and improve the algorithm’s understanding of your preferences. However, the effect is gradual, and you need to consistently use the feature for it to be effective.

3. Do browser extensions really work to block YouTube Shorts?

Yes, many browser extensions are effective at hiding Shorts. However, their effectiveness can vary depending on the extension and YouTube’s platform updates. Always choose reputable extensions with positive reviews.

4. Will blocking a channel prevent me from seeing their long-form content?

Yes. Blocking a channel prevents you from seeing any of their content, including long-form videos and comments. Consider the impact carefully before blocking a channel.

5. Does my watch history influence the appearance of Shorts?

Absolutely. Your watch history is a primary factor in YouTube’s recommendations. If you frequently watch Shorts, YouTube will assume you’re interested in them and show you more. Actively watch long-form content to counteract this.

6. Is there a way to customize the YouTube homepage to only show subscriptions?

While YouTube doesn’t offer a direct “subscriptions only” homepage option, managing your subscriptions effectively can achieve a similar result. Unsubscribe from channels that post primarily Shorts and focus on subscribing to creators of long-form content.

7. Can I block Shorts on the YouTube Kids app?

The YouTube Kids app is designed with parental controls in mind. You can block specific channels or videos within the app. Review the app’s settings to ensure appropriate content filters are enabled and actively manage your child’s viewing experience.

8. Does deleting my watch history help in removing Shorts?

Deleting your watch history can provide a temporary reset of your recommendations. However, YouTube will quickly start learning your preferences again based on your subsequent viewing behavior. It’s more effective to focus on actively engaging with long-form content.

9. Are there any official YouTube settings to control the frequency of Shorts?

No, YouTube currently does not offer any official settings to control the frequency or visibility of Shorts. The platform seems to be heavily invested in promoting short-form content.

10. Can I create a custom YouTube feed without Shorts?

Not directly within YouTube itself. However, using third-party apps or browser extensions designed for YouTube content curation might allow you to create a custom feed that filters out Shorts.

11. Will leaving negative comments on Shorts affect the algorithm?

While leaving negative comments expresses your dissatisfaction, it still counts as engagement. The algorithm may interpret this as interest, potentially leading to more Shorts recommendations. It’s generally better to simply ignore Shorts or use the “Not Interested” button.

12. Is YouTube likely to add options to better control the appearance of Shorts in the future?

It’s difficult to predict YouTube’s future plans. However, given the pushback from some users regarding the prominence of Shorts, it’s possible that YouTube may introduce more granular control options in the future. Keep providing feedback through official channels.

Ultimately, minimizing the presence of YouTube Shorts requires a proactive and consistent effort. By employing these strategies, you can reclaim your YouTube experience and focus on the long-form content you truly enjoy. Good luck!