Yes, you can disable YouTube Shorts, but the method depends on which device you use and what you're trying to do
YouTube does not offer a single "off" switch for Shorts across all devices. Instead, you have a few partial options: you can remove the Shorts tab from your navigation menu on phones, use browser extensions to hide Shorts on desktop, or adjust your YouTube settings to reduce how often they appear in your recommendations. None of these methods will erase Shorts from YouTube entirely, but they can significantly reduce how often you encounter them.
The most effective approach is usually removing the Shorts tab from your phone's YouTube app, since that's where most people watch them. On desktop, browser extensions work better than YouTube's built-in settings. If you use YouTube on a smart TV or tablet, your options are more limited.
Key Takeaways
- On Android and iPhone, you can remove the Shorts tab from the bottom navigation menu in the YouTube app, though Shorts may still appear in your Home feed.
- On desktop, browser extensions like "Return YouTube Dislike" or "Unhook" can hide the Shorts section, but YouTube's own settings cannot.
- Adjusting your YouTube history and recommendation settings can reduce how often Shorts appear in your feed, but won't eliminate them entirely.
- YouTube does not provide an official setting to disable Shorts globally, so any method requires either app customization or third-party tools.
Removing the Shorts tab on iPhone and Android
On both iPhone and Android, the YouTube app lets you customize which tabs appear at the bottom of the screen. To remove the Shorts tab, open the YouTube app and tap the "Shorts" icon at the bottom. Then tap your profile picture in the top right corner, go to Settings, and select "General." Look for an option labeled something like "Customize tabs" or "Navigation" (the exact wording varies by app version). You should see a list of tabs with toggles next to each one — turn off the toggle next to "Shorts."
After you do this, the Shorts tab disappears from your bottom navigation menu. However, Shorts can still appear in your Home feed mixed in with regular videos. If you want to reduce those as well, you can tell YouTube not to recommend them by clicking the three-dot menu on any Shorts video and selecting "Don't recommend channel" or "Not interested." Repeating this action on multiple Shorts trains YouTube's algorithm to show you fewer of them over time.
Hiding Shorts on desktop and laptop browsers
YouTube's desktop website does not have a built-in setting to hide Shorts. Your best option is to use a browser extension. "Unhook" (available for Chrome and Firefox) lets you hide the Shorts section from your YouTube homepage. "Return YouTube Dislike" (also Chrome and Firefox) includes an option to hide Shorts as part of its broader YouTube customization features. Both are free and do not require payment.
To use either extension, install it from your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store for Chrome, Firefox Add-ons for Firefox), then visit YouTube. The extension will add a settings menu where you can toggle Shorts visibility on or off. The changes take effect immediately — you may need to refresh the page to see them. If you prefer not to install extensions, you can simply avoid clicking on Shorts when they appear. YouTube's algorithm learns from what you click, so consistently ignoring Shorts may reduce how often they show up in your recommendations over time.
Adjusting your YouTube history and recommendations
YouTube uses your watch history and search history to decide what to recommend. If you watch very few Shorts, YouTube should eventually show you fewer of them. You can speed this up by going to your YouTube account settings, selecting "Privacy," and reviewing your watch history. You can delete individual Shorts from your history by clicking the three-dot menu next to them and selecting "Remove from watch history."
You can also pause your watch history entirely, though this will affect all YouTube recommendations, not just Shorts. Go to Settings, select "Privacy," and toggle off "Save your watch history." This stops YouTube from learning your preferences, so recommendations become more generic. Keep in mind that pausing your history means YouTube won't personalize anything you see — not just Shorts, but regular videos too.
Why YouTube doesn't offer a full disable option
YouTube Shorts are a core part of YouTube's business model. They compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels by keeping users on the platform longer and generating advertising revenue. Because of this, YouTube has no incentive to let users turn them off completely. The company does allow customization — removing the tab, hiding the section — but not removal.
This is similar to how YouTube handles ads: you can't turn off ads entirely unless you pay for YouTube Premium, but you can skip some ads after five seconds. The company balances user preference with its own revenue needs. Shorts generate views and watch time that YouTube can monetize, so a complete disable option conflicts with the platform's financial model.
What YouTube Premium does and doesn't do
YouTube Premium (the paid subscription service) removes ads from videos and lets you download content to watch offline. It does not disable Shorts. Shorts will still appear in your feed and recommendations even if you pay for Premium. If your main goal is to avoid Shorts, Premium is not the solution.
YouTube Premium costs around $14 per month for individual accounts, though pricing varies by country and whether you bundle it with other Google services. The subscription removes ads and adds offline viewing, but it does not change how Shorts appear or function on your account.
Limitations on smart TVs and tablets
If you watch YouTube on a smart TV or tablet, your options are very limited. The YouTube app on these devices does not let you customize which tabs appear, and browser extensions do not work on most smart TV platforms. Your only realistic option is to avoid clicking on Shorts when they appear, which trains YouTube's algorithm to show you fewer of them over time.
If you use YouTube on a tablet, you may be able to install a browser extension if you access YouTube through a web browser instead of the app — but the YouTube app is usually faster and more stable on tablets, so this is not a practical solution for most people. On smart TVs, the YouTube app is the only way to watch, so customization through extensions is not possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing the Shorts tab stop Shorts from appearing in my Home feed?
No. Removing the tab only hides the dedicated Shorts section at the bottom of your phone. Shorts can still appear mixed in with regular videos on your Home feed. To reduce them there, click the three-dot menu on individual Shorts and select "Not interested" or "Don't recommend channel."
Do browser extensions work on YouTube's mobile app?
No. Browser extensions only work in web browsers like Chrome and Firefox, not in the YouTube app on your phone. If you want to use extensions, you need to access YouTube through your phone's web browser instead of the app, though this is usually slower and less convenient.
If I delete Shorts from my watch history, will YouTube stop recommending them?
Deleting individual Shorts from your history helps, but YouTube's algorithm also learns from videos you don't click on. Consistently ignoring Shorts is more effective than deleting them after the fact. Over weeks or months, YouTube should show you fewer Shorts if you never engage with them.
Can I report Shorts to YouTube to get them removed?
You can report individual Shorts if they violate YouTube's community guidelines — for example, if they contain spam, harassment, or misinformation. But you cannot report Shorts simply because you don't want to see them. Reporting is for content that breaks YouTube's rules, not for personal preference.
Will YouTube ever add an official "disable Shorts" setting?
YouTube has not announced any plans to do so. Since Shorts are central to YouTube's strategy, a full disable option is unlikely. However, YouTube does occasionally add new customization features, so it's possible that better controls could appear in the future.