YouTube Shorts can be disabled on most devices, but the method depends on whether you use the YouTube app, the website, or a third-party tool
YouTube does not offer a built-in setting to turn off Shorts entirely. Instead, you have three realistic routes: hide the Shorts tab in the YouTube app, use browser extensions to block them on the website, or switch to a third-party YouTube client that omits Shorts. Which one works depends on where you watch — phone app, desktop browser, or both — and how much control you want over what you see.
The app method is the simplest if you only use YouTube on your phone. The browser method works on desktop but requires installing an extension. The third-party client method works on both but means leaving the official YouTube app or website. None of these methods prevent YouTube from recommending Shorts to you; they only hide them from view.
Key Takeaways
- On the YouTube app for iPhone or Android, you can hide the Shorts tab by long-pressing it and selecting "Remove" — this removes it from your bottom navigation but does not stop Shorts from appearing in your recommendations.
- On desktop, browser extensions like "Return YouTube Dislike" or "Enhancer for YouTube" can hide the Shorts shelf, though you will need to install the extension and adjust its settings.
- Third-party YouTube clients like NewPipe (Android) or Invidious (web-based) do not include Shorts at all, but they lack some YouTube features like login and watch history sync.
- Hiding Shorts from view does not change what YouTube recommends to you — it only removes them from the interface you see.
- YouTube may restore the Shorts tab after app updates, so you may need to hide it again periodically.
Removing the Shorts tab from the YouTube app
On iPhone or Android, the fastest way to stop seeing Shorts in your navigation is to remove the tab. Open the YouTube app and look at the bottom of the screen — you should see tabs labeled Home, Shorts, Subscriptions, and You. Long-press the Shorts tab until a menu appears, then tap "Remove." The tab disappears from your navigation bar.
This method works immediately and requires no additional software. However, it only hides the tab itself. Shorts may still appear in your Home feed recommendations, in search results, or when you click through from notifications. If you want to avoid seeing them anywhere, you will need to use one of the other methods below.
After a YouTube app update, the Shorts tab sometimes reappears in your navigation. If this happens, repeat the long-press and remove step. There is no permanent setting to keep it hidden across updates.
Using browser extensions on desktop to hide Shorts
On a computer, you can install a browser extension that hides the Shorts shelf from your YouTube homepage and search results. Two extensions that do this are "Return YouTube Dislike" (available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) and "Enhancer for YouTube" (Chrome and Firefox). Both are free and do not require payment or account creation.
To use Return YouTube Dislike: install it from your browser's extension store, then visit YouTube. Click the extension icon in your toolbar and look for a settings or options menu. Find the option to hide Shorts and toggle it on. The Shorts shelf should disappear from your home page within seconds.
To use Enhancer for YouTube: install it, then click its icon in your toolbar. Go to Settings, find the "Hide" or "Remove" section, and check the box next to "Hide Shorts." Refresh your YouTube page and the Shorts shelf will be gone. Both extensions also let you hide other YouTube elements like the comments section or the recommended videos sidebar if you want additional control.
These extensions work only in the browser where you install them. If you use YouTube on multiple browsers or devices, you will need to install the extension on each one. They also do not affect the YouTube app on your phone.
Switching to a third-party YouTube client
If you want to avoid Shorts across all your devices, a third-party YouTube client removes them entirely from the interface. The most common options are NewPipe (Android only) and Invidious (web-based, works on any device with a browser).
NewPipe is a free Android app that plays YouTube videos without the official YouTube app. It does not include Shorts, does not show ads, and does not require a Google account to use. You can download it from F-Droid (a free app store) or from NewPipe's GitHub page. The trade-off is that you cannot log into your YouTube account, so your watch history and subscriptions do not sync across devices. You can still subscribe to channels within NewPipe, but those subscriptions are stored only on that phone.
Invidious is a web-based YouTube alternative that works in any browser on any device. Visit an Invidious instance (a public server running the software) like invidious.io or yewtu.be, and you can search and watch YouTube videos without Shorts. Like NewPipe, Invidious does not require login and does not show ads. You also cannot sync your subscriptions or watch history to other devices unless you manually export and import them.
Both third-party clients are maintained by volunteers and may go offline or change without notice. They also do not support YouTube features like live streams, premieres, or community posts. Use them if you primarily watch regular videos and want a Shorts-free experience, but understand that you are trading convenience for privacy and simplicity.
Why YouTube may show Shorts even after you hide them
If you remove the Shorts tab from your app or hide the Shorts shelf with a browser extension, you might still see individual Shorts in your Home feed or in search results. This happens because YouTube treats Shorts as a content format, not just a section. Hiding the Shorts tab only removes the dedicated navigation area — it does not tell YouTube to stop recommending short videos to you.
To reduce Shorts in your recommendations, you can tell YouTube you are not interested in them. When a Shorts video appears in your feed, tap the three-dot menu and select "Don't recommend channel" or "Not interested." Repeat this several times and YouTube's algorithm should learn to show you fewer Shorts. This is slower than hiding the tab, but it trains your recommendations over time.
Comparing your options
| Method | Where it works | Setup time | Hides Shorts everywhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove Shorts tab from app | YouTube app on iPhone or Android | 10 seconds | No — only hides the tab |
| Browser extension (Return YouTube Dislike or Enhancer) | Desktop browser only | 1–2 minutes | No — hides the shelf but not individual Shorts in feed |
| NewPipe (Android) | Android phones only | 3–5 minutes | Yes — Shorts do not exist in the app |
| Invidious (web-based) | Any device with a browser | 1 minute | Yes — Shorts do not exist on Invidious |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Shorts affect my YouTube recommendations?
Hiding the Shorts tab or using a browser extension does not change what YouTube recommends — it only removes Shorts from view. You may still see short videos in your Home feed. If you use NewPipe or Invidious, you will not see Shorts at all, but you also will not have personalized recommendations based on your watch history since you cannot log in.
Do I need to pay for any of these methods?
No. Removing the Shorts tab is free. Browser extensions like Return YouTube Dislike and Enhancer for YouTube are free. NewPipe and Invidious are both free and open-source. YouTube Premium does not offer a Shorts-off toggle.
Will YouTube bring back the Shorts tab after I remove it?
Yes, app updates sometimes restore the Shorts tab to your navigation. If this happens, long-press it again and select Remove. There is no permanent setting to prevent this.
Can I hide Shorts on both my phone and desktop at the same time?
Not with a single method. You will need to remove the tab on your phone app and install a browser extension on your desktop. If you want one solution across all devices, use Invidious in your browser on both devices, or use NewPipe on Android and Invidious on desktop.
What is the difference between NewPipe and Invidious?
NewPipe is an Android app that works offline and stores data on your phone. Invidious is a website that works in any browser but requires an internet connection. NewPipe cannot sync across devices; Invidious can if you create an account on that instance. Both remove Shorts and ads, but neither supports login to your YouTube account.