You can disable YouTube Shorts, but the method depends on what device you use
YouTube does not offer a single "turn off Shorts" button in settings. Instead, you have three practical routes: hide Shorts from your home feed, use browser extensions that block them, or switch to YouTube's desktop layout that does not show Shorts prominently. The easiest method for most people is the home feed adjustment, which takes about 30 seconds and works on phones and tablets.
If you use a computer, you can also install a free browser extension that removes Shorts from the site entirely. This approach works across all your browsing sessions without touching YouTube's settings. The trade-off is that extensions require a bit more setup and only work in that specific browser.
Key Takeaways
- On phones and tablets, you can customize your YouTube home feed to hide Shorts by tapping your profile icon, selecting Preferences, and toggling off "Show Shorts on home."
- Browser extensions like "Return YouTube Dislike" and "Unhook" can remove Shorts from your feed on desktop, and they work without changing your YouTube account settings.
- YouTube's desktop site still shows Shorts in the Shorts shelf, but you can ignore it or use a full-page blocker extension if you want them gone completely.
- Disabling Shorts on one device does not affect other devices — you will need to adjust settings separately on your phone, tablet, and computer.
- YouTube may re-enable Shorts in your feed after app updates, so you may need to turn off the setting again periodically.
Hide Shorts from your home feed on Android and iPhone
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears. Scroll down and tap Preferences, then look for the option labeled Show Shorts on home. Toggle this switch to the off position.
Once you turn this off, Shorts will no longer appear in your home feed when you open the app. You can still access Shorts by tapping the Shorts icon at the bottom of the screen if you change your mind, but they will not interrupt your regular video browsing. This setting stays in place until you manually turn it back on, even after you close and reopen the app.
If you cannot find this option, your app may be out of date. Go to your device's app store (Google Play Store on Android, App Store on iPhone), search for YouTube, and tap Update if an update is available. YouTube rolls out new settings gradually, so the option may not appear immediately after an update.
Remove Shorts on desktop using browser extensions
On a computer, the easiest way to remove Shorts is with a free browser extension. Two popular options are Return YouTube Dislike and Unhook, both available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. These extensions do more than block Shorts — they also remove recommended videos and other distracting elements — but you can configure them to target only Shorts if you prefer.
To install one, open your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store for Chrome, Add-ons for Firefox). Search for the extension name, click Add to Chrome or Add to Firefox, and confirm the permission prompt. The extension activates immediately and will remove Shorts from YouTube the next time you refresh the page.
If you want a simpler option that blocks Shorts without other changes, Video Blocker is another lightweight extension that lets you block specific content types. After installation, click the extension icon and select which elements to hide. These extensions do not require you to log in or change your YouTube account in any way.
What happens to Shorts on different devices
Disabling Shorts on your phone does not turn them off on your tablet or computer. YouTube treats each device as separate, so you need to adjust settings on every device where you want Shorts hidden. This means if you turn off Shorts on your iPhone but use YouTube on a work computer, Shorts will still appear on the computer until you disable them there too.
Similarly, if you use multiple browsers on the same computer (Chrome and Firefox, for example), you will need to install the extension in each browser separately. The settings do not sync across browsers because extensions are browser-specific.
Why Shorts might reappear after app updates
YouTube occasionally resets the "Show Shorts on home" setting when you update the app. This is not a glitch — it is how YouTube handles changes to its settings structure. After a major app update, open your settings and check whether Shorts have been turned back on. If they have, toggle the setting off again.
To avoid this surprise, you can turn off automatic app updates on your phone and update YouTube manually when you have time to check your settings afterward. On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select Settings, then Network preferences, and toggle off Auto-update apps. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and turn off Automatic Updates.
The difference between hiding and blocking Shorts
Hiding Shorts (through the home feed setting) removes them from your main feed but leaves the Shorts shelf visible on the home page. You can still see a row labeled "Shorts" with thumbnail previews. Blocking Shorts (through a browser extension) removes them completely from the page, including the shelf.
If seeing the Shorts shelf bothers you even when you are not watching them, a browser extension is the better choice. If you just want to avoid accidentally clicking on them, hiding from the home feed is enough. Neither method prevents you from accessing Shorts if you intentionally navigate to them — they only remove them from your default browsing experience.
Using YouTube's desktop layout without Shorts
YouTube's desktop site has a Compact view option that reduces the prominence of Shorts. Click your profile icon in the top right, select Appearance, and choose Compact from the layout options. This view shows fewer Shorts on the home page and makes the feed feel less cluttered overall.
Compact view is not the same as blocking Shorts entirely — they still appear, just less frequently. If you want them gone completely on desktop, a browser extension remains the most effective approach. Compact view is useful if you want a cleaner YouTube experience without taking the extra step of installing software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable Shorts permanently so they never come back?
No, YouTube does not offer a permanent disable option. You can hide Shorts from your home feed or use a browser extension to block them, but YouTube may re-enable the home feed setting after app updates. Browser extensions persist until you uninstall them, so they are more stable than the built-in setting.
Will disabling Shorts affect my watch history or recommendations?
No. Turning off Shorts only changes what appears on your home page and feed. Your watch history, recommendations, and subscriptions work the same way. YouTube still tracks what you watch if you intentionally click on Shorts, but hiding them from your feed does not change how the algorithm works.
Do browser extensions work on mobile YouTube?
Most browser extensions do not work on mobile browsers because phones do not support extensions the same way computers do. The built-in home feed setting is your best option on phones and tablets. If you use a mobile browser like Firefox on Android, some extensions may work, but this is not reliable.
What if I change my mind and want to see Shorts again?
On your phone, go back to Settings > Preferences and toggle Show Shorts on home back on. On desktop, uninstall the browser extension by clicking the extension icon and selecting Remove from Chrome (or your browser equivalent). Shorts will reappear the next time you refresh YouTube.
Does YouTube know I disabled Shorts?
YouTube knows you toggled the home feed setting because it is stored in your account. Browser extensions work locally on your device, so YouTube does not know you installed one. Either way, disabling Shorts does not affect your account or cause any problems with YouTube.