YouTube Shorts is a relatively new feature that allows users to create and watch short-form videos on the popular video-sharing platform.
These videos are typically 60 seconds or less and are often accompanied by catchy music or sound effects.
While YouTube Shorts can be entertaining and engaging, some users may find them distracting or overwhelming.
If you are one of those users, you might be wondering if it’s possible to disable YouTube Shorts and regain control of your viewing experience.
The good news is that there are options available to help you do just that.
Disable YouTube Shorts
How to disable YouTube Shorts on the mobile
How to disable YouTube Shorts on the desktop
How to turn off YouTube Shorts notifications
How to remove YouTube Shorts from your home feed
How to get rid of YouTube Shorts in search results
How to block YouTube Shorts from specific channels or creators
Can you disable YouTube Shorts? Exploring the options
Before we dive into the step-by-step guide on how to disable YouTube Shorts, let’s first explore whether it’s even possible.
YouTube understands that not all users may be interested in or enjoy watching Shorts, so they have provided options to customize your YouTube experience.
By making a few changes to your YouTube settings, you can effectively disable YouTube Shorts and tailor your viewing experience to your preferences.
How to disable YouTube Shorts on the mobile
If you primarily use the YouTube mobile app and want to disable YouTube Shorts, follow these simple steps:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your account settings.
- From the drop-down menu, select “Settings”.
- In the Settings menu, tap on “General.”
- Scroll down until you find the “Shorts” section.
- Toggle off the switch next to “Allow Shorts to play on this device.“
By following these steps, you have successfully disabled YouTube Shorts on your mobile app. You will no longer see Shorts in your feed or search results, and they will not play automatically when browsing through videos.
How to disable YouTube Shorts on the desktop
If you prefer using YouTube on your computer and want to disable YouTube Shorts, here’s how you can do it:
- Open a web browser and go to the YouTube website.
- Sign in to your YouTube account if you haven’t already.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your account menu.
- From the menu, select “Settings.”
- In the Settings menu, click on “Playback and Performance.”
- Scroll down until you find the “Shorts” section.
- Uncheck the box next to “Allow Shorts to play on this device.”
Following these steps will disable YouTube Shorts on the desktop version, ensuring that you have a Shorts-free viewing experience while using YouTube on your computer.
How to turn off YouTube Shorts notifications
In addition to disabling YouTube Shorts from playing, you may also want to disable notifications related to Shorts. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device.
- Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner to access your account settings.
- From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.“
- In the Settings menu, tap on “Notifications.“
- Scroll down until you find the “Shorts Notifications” section.
- Toggle off the switch next to “Allow Notifications for Shorts.”
By turning off Shorts notifications, you will no longer receive notifications for new Shorts videos or Shorts-related activities on YouTube.
How to remove YouTube Shorts from your home feed
If you find YouTube Shorts appearing in your home feed and want to remove them, follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device or go to the YouTube website on your computer.
- Sign in to your YouTube account if you haven’t already.
- Scroll through your home feed until you come across a Shorts video.
- Tap or click on the three-dot menu icon located below the video.
- From the menu that appears, select “Not Interested.“
- YouTube will take your feedback into account and try to show you fewer Shorts videos in your home feed.
By indicating that you are not interested in Shorts videos, you can reduce the frequency of Shorts appearing in your home feed.
How to get rid of YouTube Shorts in search results
If Shorts videos keep showing up in your search results and you want to remove them, here’s what you can do:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device or go to the YouTube website on your computer.
- Sign in to your YouTube account if you haven’t already.
- Enter your search query in the search bar.
- On the search results page, tap or click on the “Filter” button.
- In the filter options, select “Exclude Shorts.”
- YouTube will filter out Shorts videos from your search results, giving you a more tailored search experience.
By excluding Shorts from your search results, you can focus on finding the content you’re truly interested in.
How to block YouTube Shorts from specific channels or creators
If there are specific YouTube channels or creators whose Shorts videos you want to block, you can use the blocking feature. Here’s how:
- Open the YouTube app on your mobile device or go to the YouTube website on your computer.
- Sign in to your YouTube account if you haven’t already.
- Find a Shorts video from the channel or creator you want to block.
- Tap or click on the three-dot menu icon located below the video.
- From the menu that appears, select “Block channel” or “Block creator.”
- Confirm your choice, and YouTube will prevent Shorts videos from that channel or creator from appearing in your feed or search results.
By blocking specific channels or creators, you have more control over the content you see on YouTube.
Is there a way to completely disable YouTube Shorts?
While it is possible to disable YouTube Shorts using the methods mentioned above, it’s important to note that YouTube may continue to introduce new features and updates.
As a result, the options and settings available to disable Shorts may change over time.
It’s always a good idea to stay informed about the latest YouTube updates and explore the settings menu for any new options related to Shorts.
Conclusion: Taking control of your YouTube viewing experience
YouTube Shorts can be a fun and entertaining addition to the platform, but they may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
If you find yourself wanting to disable YouTube Shorts and take control of your viewing experience, you now have the knowledge and step-by-step guide to do so.
Whether you use the mobile app or the desktop version, you can customize your YouTube settings to remove Shorts from your feed, search results, and notifications.
By utilizing the options provided by YouTube, you can create a Shorts-free environment that aligns with your preferences and viewing habits.
Take charge of your YouTube experience and enjoy the content that matters most to you.
