For a long time YouTube had no switch to turn Shorts off. Today the closest thing is the Shorts time limit in the app's time management settings, which can be set low enough to pause the Shorts feed. Besides that you can use Show fewer Shorts, Not interested, parental controls for a supervised account, or hide the shelf in a browser.
A short video feed can be useful or it can swallow an evening. Whichever side you are on, you may want to see fewer of them. Below is each option, what it does and how long it lasts. YouTube changes its settings often, so the names of menus may differ slightly in your version.
Is there a way to disable YouTube Shorts?
Partly. YouTube does not offer a single "remove Shorts everywhere" switch for everyone. What it offers are tools to limit time on the Shorts feed and to tell the recommendation system you want fewer. The mobile app is where most of these controls live.
| Option | Where | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts time limit | App settings, time management | Pauses the Shorts feed after a daily limit | Until you change it |
| Show fewer Shorts | Menu on the Shorts shelf | Reduces the shelf on your home screen | Temporary |
| Not interested | Menu on a single Short | Trains the feed away from that topic | Per video, fades |
| Parental limit | Family settings | Caps Shorts for a supervised account | Until the parent changes it |
| Browser add-on or filter | Desktop browser | Hides Shorts elements on the page | While installed |
The daily Shorts limit
YouTube added a daily timer for Shorts to its mobile apps in late 2025. In the app, open your profile, go to Settings and look for Time management. There you find a setting for the Shorts feed limit, where you choose how much time you want to allow each day. In some app versions the limit can be set to zero minutes, which hides the Shorts feed on iPhone and Android.
Two things to know:
- When the limit is reached, a message tells you the Shorts feed is paused. You can usually dismiss it, so the timer works as a nudge, not as a lock.
- Shorts can still show up in other places, such as a channel page or a link someone sends you.
The setting may roll out gradually and may not exist in your version. If you cannot find it, update the app first.
Show fewer Shorts and Not interested
These work through the recommendation system.
- On the Shorts shelf on your home screen, open the three-dot menu and choose the option to show fewer Shorts.
- On a single Short, open the menu next to its title and pick Not interested. You can also tell YouTube not to recommend a channel.
Both reduce what you see for a while. They do not remove Shorts for good, and the effect fades, so you may need to repeat them. It is best to think of them as training for the feed, not as a setting.
Turn off Shorts for a child's account
For a supervised account, a parent can set a limit on Shorts through YouTube's family tools, and the choices go down to zero minutes, which stops the Shorts feed for that account. Use Family Center or Family Link to manage it. The timer is a reminder and a boundary, not a perfect block, so talk with the young person about why it is there.
Hide Shorts on a computer
In a desktop browser, Shorts appear as a shelf on the home page and as a tab on channel pages. Some browser extensions hide those elements. If you install one, choose it from your browser's official store, read the permissions it asks for and avoid anything that wants access to all your data. A browser feature can break whenever YouTube changes its page, so do not count on it as a permanent solution.
Other ways to see fewer Shorts
- Pause or clear watch history. Shorts you watch feed the recommendations. A cleaner history changes what appears.
- Use the Subscriptions feed. It shows only channels you chose, which makes the Shorts shelf feel smaller.
- Search with a filter. On search results, you can filter by video type to leave out short videos.
- Mute the habit. Turn off autoplay or use a break reminder, so a single clip does not roll into twenty.
Which approach fits you?
Think about what you want. If you want less scrolling, use the time limit. If you want a cleaner home screen, use Show fewer Shorts and Not interested. If you manage a child's account, use the family settings. If you are on a laptop and want a distraction-free page, a browser tool might help. A combination works best: a limit for the habit and training for the feed.
Checklist: reduce Shorts in five minutes
- [ ] Update the YouTube app.
- [ ] Look in Settings for Time management and the Shorts feed limit.
- [ ] Use Show fewer Shorts on the home shelf.
- [ ] Mark a few Shorts as Not interested.
- [ ] For a child's account, set the limit in Family Center or Family Link.
- [ ] Revisit the settings in a month, since effects fade.
If you make videos, not just watch them
Many viewers who search for ways to hide Shorts are also creators who wonder whether Shorts are worth the effort. They can be a way to reach new viewers, and the numbers they earn are separate from long videos. Our page on Shorts monetization explains how Shorts earn, and subscriber thresholds for earning shows how channels qualify. For pay figures, see how much YouTube pays per view.
How it works at LikeMan
For creators who publish Shorts, LikeMan YouTube views work from the address of an open video alone, so you share no login. The price is shown before you pay, work starts automatically once payment clears, and the refill terms cover the following year. Views are a number on a video and do not guarantee subscribers or income.
See more options on the LikeMan YouTube page.
FAQ
Is there a way to disable YouTube Shorts completely?
There is no universal off switch. The time limit, fewer-Shorts options and family settings come closest.
How do I turn off Shorts in the YouTube app?
Look under Settings and Time management for the Shorts feed limit, and lower it. Use Show fewer Shorts for the home screen.
Why do Shorts keep coming back?
The recommendation system learns from what you watch, and the effect of Not interested fades. Repeat it or limit watch time.
Can I block Shorts for my child?
On a supervised account, parents can set a Shorts limit, down to zero minutes.
Conclusion
YouTube does not give everyone a one-click off switch for Shorts, but it gives several tools: the daily limit, Show fewer Shorts, Not interested and family controls. Combine them, update the app and check back now and then, since YouTube changes these menus.