6 Easy Ways to Block Shorts on YouTube on Mobile & Desktop

Are you tired of seeing YouTube Shorts as you scroll through the app? You're definitely not alone! But whether we like short-form videos or not, YouTube Shorts, YouTube's answer to TikTok, is here to stay. While there is a way to tell YouTube you're not interested in Shorts, it's not as effective as using a browser extension on your computer or rolling back your app version on an Android device. This wikiHow article will cover the most effective ways to turn off or hide YouTube Shorts on any device.

Is there a way to disable YouTube Shorts?

The only way to hide all Shorts is to use a browser extension like YouTube-Shorts Block or ShortsBlocker.
You can tell YouTube you're not interested in Shorts to eventually see less of them.
If you're using an Android, you can downgrade or install a modded version of the app.

Section 1 of 6:

Install a Browser Extension

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If you're using Chrome, Edge, or Safari on a computer, you're in luck. Many developers have created Chrome extensions (which also work on Edge and other Chromium-based browsers) and Firefox add-ons that disable YouTube Shorts completely. We've also found one Safari extension that works on Mac, iPhone, & iPad, although it's the only extension on our list that isn't free.
- Chrome & Edge:
- Firefox:
  - Remove YouTube Shorts
  - Hide YouTube Shorts
- Safari:
  - BlockYT by Nikita Kukushkin

Section 2 of 6:

Tell YouTube to Show Less Shorts

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Use YouTube's built-in tools to say you're not interested in Shorts. While this method is less effective, if you continually tell YouTube to show you fewer Shorts, it will show you fewer of them over time. You can do this on both the desktop and mobile versions of YouTube.
- Click or tap on the ⋮ button next to a pack of Shorts.
- Choose the option Show fewer Shorts.
  - Optionally, you can tap on the ⋮ button on each Short in the pack and choose Not interested on mobile only.
- Close and reopen the YouTube app.
- Repeat the above steps until you stop seeing as many YouTube Shorts.
  - Even though YouTube will start showing you fewer Shorts, you still may come across them from time to time. You can repeat the above steps or hide individual Shorts as you come across them.

Section 3 of 6:

Hide Specific Shorts on Mobile

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Tap the Home tab on the YouTube mobile app. If there's a specific YouTube Short you don't want to see when scrolling through your Home feed, you can mark that Short as "Not Interested."^{[1]
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- This method will also work for Shorts that appear below currently-playing videos.
- There is no way to completely block all YouTube Shorts on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
A menu will expand.
This Short will be removed from the list.^{[2]
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Section 4 of 6:

Downgrade the YouTube App (Android)

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Download an older version of the YouTube app on your Android. Since YouTube Shorts is a newer feature, you can get rid of it by reinstalling an older version of YouTube that didn't have Shorts. Just keep in mind that this isn't the best way to get rid of Shorts, as old versions of apps may have bugs and security flaws.^{[3]
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- To get an old version of the YouTube app, you'll need to install it from an APK file instead of the Play Store. You can get the last version of YouTube that didn't have Shorts, version 14.12.56.16, from APKMirror. If you're new to installing APK files, check out our helpful guide.
- You'll also need to disable Play Store updates to prevent your older version of YouTube from updating automatically.
  - In the Play Store app, tap your profile and select Manage apps & device.^{[4]
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  - Tap Manage and select YouTube.
  - Tap the three vertical dots and remove the checkmark from "Enable auto-update."

Section 5 of 6:

Uninstall YouTube Updates (Android)

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On some Androids, you can downgrade YouTube to a version without Shorts by uninstalling updates. This will only work if the version of YouTube that you've installed on (or that came with) your Android is older than the version of YouTube that introduced Shorts (14.13.54).
- First, you'll need to turn off automatic updates for the YouTube app so it doesn't update automatically.
  - In the Play Store, tap your profile and select Manage apps & device.
  - Tap Manage and select YouTube.
  - Tap the three vertical dots and remove the checkmark from "Enable auto-update."
- Then, open your Android's Settings and go to Apps.
- Tap YouTube. If you don't see it, you might have to tap See all apps first.
- Tap Uninstall Updates. If you don't see it, tap the three vertical lines in the upper-right corner first.^{[5]
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- Tap OK to confirm. You will now have a much older version of YouTube on your Android—a version without Shorts!

Section 6 of 6:

Use ReVanced (Android)

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Download and install MicroG for ReVanced. ReVanced is an app that patches YouTube to give you more control over what you see. One of its most popular features is its ability to turn off YouTube Shorts. Before you install ReVanced, you'll need MicroG, a utility that lets you sign in to your YouTube account. To use ReVanced and MicroG, you'll need to be comfortable installing APK files on your Android and have Android 8 or higher.^{[6]
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- To get MicroG, download the APK file from APK Mirror.
- Once downloaded, tap the APK file, and follow the on-screen instructions to give your browser permission to install the file (if prompted). Then, tap the file again to install it.
You can get it from Revanced's GitHub.^{[7]
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This tool allows you to patch other apps you've installed, including YouTube.
You'll see a version number here—write or copy this version number, as you'll need to download that exact version of the YouTube APK file to use it with ReVanced.
Now that you have the version number you need, go to APKMirror's YouTube page and select that version of YouTube. Download the version that says APK in gray. Make sure you don't choose the version called "bundle." Once downloaded, tap the APK file to install it.
A list of files on your Android will appear.
Now you can apply patches to this file.
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Select your preferences and tap Patch. For a quick installation, choose Recommended. However, you'll want to remove the checkmark from "debugging," as it's been known to cause some issues.^{[8]
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- The Recommended option should automatically select the option that disables YouTube Shorts. But to be sure, type shorts into the search bar at the top, and make sure the Shorts blocking option is selected.
Once you've installed the patches, you can open the ReVanced app in your app list, sign in to YouTube with your regular Google account, and browse the app with Shorts removed.^{[9]
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What are the reasons I might want to block YouTube Shorts?

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You might block YouTube Shorts if you find them to be a distraction or a waste of time.

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I am encountering a Play Protect issue that prevents an app from installing; what should I do?

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To install an app not found in the Play Store, you may need to temporarily disable Google Play Protect's scanning. Before doing so, ensure you entirely trust the app's source and developer, as this carries security risks.

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