PlaylistTime / Creator tools / Block Shorts
How to block YouTube Shorts: turn off or hide Shorts on any device
Pick where you watch YouTube and see every working way to hide, limit or turn off Shorts there, checked against YouTube's own help pages.
Where do you watch YouTube?
Hide the Shorts row on Home
- On youtube.com, scroll Home to the Shorts row.
- Click the X or More (three dots) at the top right of the row.
- Choose Not interested.
Use a browser extension that hides Shorts
The only way to remove Shorts everywhere on a computer is an extension. Search your browser's add-on store for "hide YouTube Shorts" and choose one that:
- asks only for access to youtube.com,
- was updated recently (YouTube changes its pages and old extensions stop working),
- lets you choose what to hide, so you keep the rest of YouTube.
Open a Short as a normal video
If someone sends you a Short, change /shorts/ in the address to /watch?v=. It plays in the normal player with a seek bar and no swipe to the next Short. The Shorts to normal video tool does it for you.
Turn off watch history for an empty Home page
YouTube's help says that if you do not want video recommendations on Home, you can delete and turn off your watch history (myactivity.google.com, YouTube History). YouTube does not say this removes Shorts everywhere, and it also stops history-based recommendations you might like.
Set your Shorts feed limit to zero
- Open the YouTube app and tap You, then Settings (the gear).
- Tap Time management, then Shorts feed limit.
- Pick a limit from the list, or zero to stop the Shorts feed.
When the limit is reached, the Shorts feed shows a message instead of more Shorts. On your own account you can dismiss it, so it works as a strong nudge rather than a lock. YouTube said in April 2026 that the zero option was rolling out to everyone on Android and iOS; if you do not see it yet, update the app. It does not apply on computers or TVs.
Show fewer Shorts on Home
- On the Home tab, find a row of Shorts.
- Tap More (the three dots) above the Shorts.
- Tap Show fewer Shorts.
Limit the whole YouTube app
- Open Settings, then Digital Wellbeing and parental controls.
- Tap App timers (or your dashboard), find YouTube and tap Set timer.
- Pick a daily time.
What does not work
There is no switch that removes the Shorts tab from the app. Old app versions and modified YouTube apps that promise to remove Shorts miss security updates and are not supported by YouTube, so we do not recommend them.
Set your Shorts feed limit to zero
- Open the YouTube app and tap You, then Settings (the gear).
- Tap Time management, then Shorts feed limit.
- Pick a limit from the list, or zero to stop the Shorts feed.
When the limit is reached, the Shorts feed shows a message instead of more Shorts. On your own account you can dismiss it, so it works as a strong nudge rather than a lock. YouTube said in April 2026 that the zero option was rolling out to everyone on Android and iOS; if you do not see it yet, update the app. It does not apply on computers or TVs.
Show fewer Shorts on Home
- On the Home tab, find a row of Shorts.
- Tap More (the three dots) above the Shorts.
- Tap Show fewer Shorts.
Limit the whole YouTube app with Screen Time
- Open Settings, then Screen Time, then App Limits.
- Tap Add Limit, choose YouTube and set a daily time.
- Tap Add.
What does not work
There is no switch that removes the Shorts tab from the app. Old app versions and modified YouTube apps that promise to remove Shorts miss security updates and are not supported by YouTube, so we do not recommend them.
Supervised account: set the Shorts feed limit to zero
- Open Family Center in the YouTube app (or the YouTube settings for your child in Family Link).
- Select your child's account, then Time management.
- Set the daily Shorts feed limit, down to zero.
When your child reaches the limit, a message appears and they cannot scroll the Shorts feed for the rest of the day; the limit resets every morning. YouTube announced the zero setting for supervised teen accounts in January 2026 for moments like homework, and you can raise it again for a long car trip.
Use YouTube Kids for young children
The YouTube Kids app does not have Shorts, so a child who only uses YouTube Kids does not see them.
Limit the whole app on the device
Family Link (Android) and Screen Time (iPhone and iPad) can limit how long the YouTube app is used each day. These limit all of YouTube, not only Shorts.
You cannot delete Shorts from YouTube, but you can come close. The strongest option today is in the YouTube app itself: set your Shorts feed limit to zero and the Shorts feed stops showing videos. On a computer, where that setting does not exist, you can hide the Shorts row on Home or use a browser extension that hides Shorts. For children, a supervised account lets a parent set the Shorts limit to zero, and the YouTube Kids app has no Shorts at all. Pick your device above to see the steps for it. This page covers how to block YouTube Shorts, how to disable or turn off Shorts in the app, and how long each method lasts, with each step checked against YouTube's, Google's or Apple's own help pages and dated reporting.
Can you turn off YouTube Shorts completely?
Not with a single switch, but the zero Shorts feed limit is the nearest thing. YouTube's help page lists zero among the limits you can pick, and once it is reached the Shorts feed shows a message instead of videos. On your own account the message can be dismissed; on a supervised child's account it cannot be skipped and lasts until the next morning. The setting lives in the Android and iPhone app, not on computers or TVs, where Shorts can only be hidden.
| Method | Where | What it does | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts feed limit at zero | YouTube app (Android, iPhone) | The Shorts feed shows a message instead of videos | Until you change it; you can dismiss it |
| Shorts feed limit at zero (supervised) | Child's account, set by a parent | Blocks scrolling the Shorts feed | Resets each morning |
| Show fewer Shorts | Home in the app | Fewer Shorts on Home | Until you delete it in My Activity |
| Not interested on the Shorts row | youtube.com | Hides the row on Home | Temporary (reported as 30 days) |
| Browser extension | Computer | Hides Shorts wherever it is set to | As long as it keeps up with YouTube changes |
| YouTube Kids | Child's device | No Shorts in the app | Always |
How to block YouTube Shorts in the app
Step 1: Open the YouTube app settings
In the YouTube app, tap You and then Settings.
Step 2: Find the Shorts feed limit
Tap Time management, then Shorts feed limit.
Step 3: Choose zero
Pick zero from the list of limits. The Shorts feed then shows a message instead of more Shorts.
Step 4: Hide Shorts on a computer too
The limit is for the phone app. On youtube.com, hide the Shorts row with Not interested, or use an extension that hides Shorts.
How to remove Shorts from the YouTube home page on a computer
Scroll Home to the row of Shorts, click the X or the three dots at its top right and choose Not interested. YouTube's help describes Not interested for Home sections on a computer but gives no time span; guides have reported a "Shelf will be hidden for 30 days" message, so expect the row to return. For something that lasts, use an extension that hides Shorts. Pick one that only asks for access to youtube.com and was updated recently.
How to disable Shorts on Android
Use the Shorts feed limit in the YouTube app (You, Settings, Time management, Shorts feed limit, zero), and tap Show fewer Shorts on any row of Shorts on Home. If you want a hard stop for all of YouTube, set an app timer in Digital Wellbeing. There is no setting that hides the Shorts tab itself.
How to turn off Shorts on iPhone and iPad
The same YouTube app settings work on iPhone and iPad: the Shorts feed limit set to zero and Show fewer Shorts. iOS Screen Time cannot block one part of an app, so App Limits can only cap the whole YouTube app.
How to block YouTube Shorts for kids
With a supervised account, open Family Center, choose your child, then Time management, and set the daily Shorts feed limit, down to zero. YouTube's help says that when your child reaches the limit, a message appears and they cannot scroll the Shorts feed for the rest of the day, and that the limit resets every morning. YouTube announced the zero setting for teens in January 2026. For younger children, the YouTube Kids app has no Shorts. Device limits in Family Link and Screen Time cap the whole app.
Why do Shorts come back after I hide them?
Hiding the Shorts row on Home with Not interested is temporary, and Show fewer Shorts lowers the number rather than removing them. Shorts also appear outside Home: in search results, on channel pages, under videos you watch and in the Shorts tab. Only the Shorts feed limit stops the feed itself, and only an extension removes Shorts across youtube.com.
Watch YouTube without Shorts
If a friend sends you a Short, open it as a normal video: the Shorts to normal video tool changes the link so it plays with a seek bar, speed control and captions, and nothing to swipe. And if you use YouTube to learn from playlists, the PlaylistTime button shows how long a playlist takes, so you can plan your watching instead of scrolling.
Is it safe to use apps that remove Shorts?
Browser extensions from the official Chrome, Edge or Firefox stores are the normal way to change how youtube.com looks; check their permissions and reviews first. Modified YouTube apps for phones and old app versions are a different matter: they are not supported by YouTube, miss security updates and may ask you to sign in with your Google account. We do not recommend them.
How accurate is this guide?
Each step was checked on 26 October 2026 against the help pages and reports listed below. YouTube changes its apps often and rolls features out in stages, so a menu name or option may look slightly different on your device, and the zero Shorts limit may reach some accounts later than others. If a step no longer matches, the YouTube Help page linked below is the place to check.
Sources
- Set a Shorts feed limit, YouTube Help, checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Manage your recommendations and search results (Show fewer Shorts, Not interested, watch history), YouTube Help, checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Parental controls and conversation topics for supervised kid accounts on YouTube (Shorts feed limit in Family Center), YouTube Help, checked 26 Oct 2026.
- New parental controls for teens: a Shorts timer that can be set to zero, YouTube Official Blog (Jennifer Flannery O'Connor), 14 Jan 2026.
- YouTube now lets you turn off Shorts completely (zero-minute limit rolling out to all accounts on Android and iOS, not on computers or TVs), Digital Music News (Ashley King), 16 Apr 2026.
- How to remove YouTube Shorts from your home page (the 30-day shelf message), SlashGear (Lynnae Williams), 25 Dec 2023.
- Is YouTube Shorts safe for kids? (YouTube Kids has no Shorts), Qustodio, 5 Feb 2026.
- Set schedules and limits in Screen Time on iPhone (App Limits), Apple Support, checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Manage how you spend time on your Android phone with Digital Wellbeing (app timers), Android Help, checked 26 Oct 2026.
Why we wrote this guide
Search for how to block Shorts and most answers are years old: they say it cannot be done, or suggest downgrading the app. YouTube now has a real setting for it, and it has a different home on each device. Nitin Raja, who builds PlaylistTime, tested a lot of these pages before building this one: after testing out a lot of websites, he found what people need and what they do not, and built around that. People need the method that works on the device in their hand, how long it lasts, and a straight answer about what does not work.
What this page covers
- The Shorts feed limit in the YouTube app, including the zero setting, from YouTube Help.
- Show fewer Shorts and Not interested, from YouTube's recommendations help page, with the reported 30-day span marked as reported.
- Parental controls for supervised accounts, and YouTube Kids.
- Whole-app limits in Android's Digital Wellbeing and iOS Screen Time.
- What it does not do: this page cannot change any setting for you, and it does not recommend modified apps. It stores nothing; the share link only remembers which device you picked.
Why it is different
| This guide | A typical "block Shorts" article | |
|---|---|---|
| Shorts feed limit at zero | Covered, with the account types it applies to | Often missing or out of date |
| Steps by device | Pick your device, see only its steps | One long list |
| How long each method lasts | Stated, with sources | Rarely mentioned |
| Modified apps | Not recommended, with reasons | Sometimes suggested |
Built by Nitin Raja. Last updated 26 October 2026.
Questions
How do I turn off YouTube Shorts?
In the YouTube app, tap You, then Settings, Time management and Shorts feed limit, and choose zero. The Shorts feed then shows a message instead of videos. On your own account you can dismiss the message.
Can I remove the Shorts tab from the YouTube app?
No. There is no setting that removes the tab. The Shorts feed limit at zero stops the feed from showing videos instead.
How do I block Shorts on YouTube on a computer?
Hide the Shorts row on Home with Not interested, which is temporary, or install a browser extension that hides Shorts. The Shorts feed limit is only in the phone app.
How long does hiding the Shorts row last?
YouTube does not say. Guides have reported a message saying the shelf will be hidden for 30 days.
Can parents block YouTube Shorts?
Yes. With a supervised account, a parent can set the daily Shorts feed limit in Family Center, down to zero. The limit resets every morning.
Does YouTube Kids have Shorts?
No. A child who only uses the YouTube Kids app does not see Shorts.
Is the zero Shorts limit available for everyone?
YouTube said in April 2026 that it was rolling out to all accounts on Android and iOS. If you do not see it, update the YouTube app.
Related creator tools
- YouTube Shorts Money Calculator: What Shorts pay: an earnings range from a channel's Shorts, one Short or typed views, from Shorts RPM data.
- YouTube Shorts Analyzer: Shorts vs long videos vs live streams for any channel: counts, views, posting pace and top Shorts.
- YouTube Shorts to Normal Video: Turn a Shorts link into the normal video link, with a seek bar, speed and captions.
- YouTube Shorts Checker: Pick a video file and see if YouTube will treat it as a Short: length, size and aspect ratio.
- YouTube Shorts Safe Zone: See which parts of your frame the Shorts buttons, title and top bar cover, and save it as a PNG.
- YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Grabber: Every thumbnail size YouTube has for a Short, with links you can copy.
- YouTube Money Calculator: Estimate what a video or channel earns from its views, as a range by niche, for long videos and Shorts.
- YouTube Monetization Checker: Check a channel against the public part of the YouTube Partner Program rules.
- YouTube Sponsorship Rate Calculator: Average views of the latest long videos, turned into a sponsorship price range by niche and format.
- YouTube Engagement Rate Calculator: Likes and comments per view across recent videos, compared with published benchmarks.
- YouTube CPM and RPM Calculator: Work out earnings, RPM, CPM, ad cost or impressions from any two numbers.
- TikTok Money Calculator: Creator Rewards estimate from qualified views, with the eligibility rules checked.
- YouTube Channel ID Finder: Find the UC channel ID behind any @handle, custom URL or video link.
- YouTube Live Subscriber Count: A channel subscriber count that refreshes on its own.
- Compare YouTube Channels: Put two channels side by side: subscribers, views, uploads and more.
- YouTube Upload Schedule Checker: See which days and hours a channel usually posts.
- YouTube Tag Extractor: Copy the tags a video was uploaded with.
- YouTube Handle Checker: See if an @handle is free, check it against YouTube's rules, and get free variants.
- YouTube Profile Picture Downloader: A channel's profile picture at full size, plus its banner.
- YouTube Watch Hours Calculator: Views you need for 4,000 watch hours, from your view duration or your videos.
- YouTube Video Duration Checker: Exact length of one video or 50, with the total and time at 2x.
- Most Subscribed YouTube Channels: The top 100 channels ranked live by YouTube's own counts.
- YouTube Dislike Checker: What can still be known about a video’s dislikes, and where the numbers come from.
- YouTube Region Restriction Checker: See the countries where a video is blocked or allowed.
- YouTube Comment Picker: Pick random giveaway winners from the comments of one video or up to ten.
- YouTube Live Chat Picker: Collect a live stream’s chat while it runs, filter by a keyword and draw a winner.
- Instagram Comment Picker: Paste a post’s comments and draw a fair random giveaway winner.
- TikTok Comment Picker: Paste a video’s comments and draw a fair random giveaway winner.
- YouTube Thumbnail Downloader: Every thumbnail size of any video, up to 20 links at once, JPG or WebP.
- YouTube Thumbnail Preview: See your thumbnail and title in feed, search, suggested and phone layouts, light or dark.
- YouTube Thumbnail Size Checker: Check an image against YouTube's thumbnail rules and get a fixed copy under 2 MB.
- YouTube Banner Size and Safe Area: Your banner on the 2560 x 1440 template with what TV, desktop, tablet and phone show.
- YouTube Title Length Checker: Count against the 100-character limit and see where your title gets cut.
- YouTube Bitrate Calculator: YouTube's recommended upload and live bitrates, plus file size and length.
All of them in one place: YouTube creator tools.