You open YouTube to watch a tutorial. Maybe a product review. Something specific, something useful. Forty-five minutes later, you’re seven Shorts deep into a compilation of cats falling off counters. Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. The average YouTube user now spends over an hour per day on the platform, and Shorts are the single biggest driver of that increase. That’s 7+ hours a week you didn’t plan on losing.
The good news: you can block YouTube Shorts without deleting the YouTube app or losing access to regular videos. This guide covers three methods, ranked from easiest to most effective, so you can pick the one that works for your situation and get back up to 2 hours a day.
Why YouTube Shorts Are Designed to Be Addictive
This isn’t a willpower problem. It’s a design problem.
YouTube Shorts use every attention-capture technique in the playbook:
- Infinite scroll – There’s no natural stopping point. The next Short loads before you’ve finished processing the last one.
- Autoplay – You don’t choose to keep watching. The app chooses for you.
- Variable reward loops – Most Shorts are mediocre. But every few swipes, you hit one that’s genuinely funny or interesting. That unpredictability is the exact same mechanism that makes slot machines addictive.
- Full-screen takeover – Shorts fill your entire display, eliminating every visual cue that might remind you to stop.
- Algorithmic personalization – The feed learns what keeps you specifically watching, then serves more of it.
YouTube isn’t evil for building this. They’re an ad-supported platform optimizing for watch time. But understanding the mechanics makes one thing clear: blocking Shorts isn’t about discipline. It’s about removing a system designed to override your intentions.
That’s the smart move. Here’s how to do it.
Method 1: YouTube’s Built-In Options (Limited)
Before installing anything, you might wonder if YouTube itself offers a way to turn off Shorts. Technically, there are a few things you can try. None of them fully solve the problem.
Long-press “Not Interested”
When a Short appears, you can long-press it and tap “Not interested”. YouTube will hide that specific Short and sometimes reduce similar content.
The problem: this is a per-video action. You’d need to do it hundreds of times, and new Shorts constantly replace the ones you dismissed. The Shorts tab itself never disappears.
YouTube Premium Controls
YouTube Premium gives you some background playback and ad-free features, but it does not include a “disable Shorts” toggle. Google has tested limited Shorts controls in certain regions, but as of 2025, there’s no reliable Premium feature that removes the Shorts feed entirely.
Reducing Shorts in Your Home Feed
In YouTube Settings > “Don’t recommend Shorts on Home,” some users have found a toggle (depending on region and app version). Even when available, this only reduces Shorts on the home feed – it doesn’t remove the Shorts tab or prevent you from navigating to it.
Verdict
YouTube’s built-in tools let you nudge the algorithm. They don’t let you block Shorts. If you’re serious about eliminating the Shorts feed, you need a third-party solution.
Method 2: Shortstop – The Dedicated Shorts Blocker (Recommended)
Shortstop is a lightweight Android app designed specifically to block short-form video feeds – including YouTube Shorts – without breaking the rest of the app.
How It Works
Shortstop uses Android’s accessibility service to detect when you navigate to the YouTube Shorts feed. When it detects a Shorts screen, it automatically redirects you back to the main YouTube interface. Regular videos, search, subscriptions, comments, and playlists all work normally. Only the Shorts feed gets blocked.
No root access required. No YouTube modifications. No account changes.
Setup in 3 Steps
Step 1: Download Shortstop from Google Play
Install the Shortstop app from Google Play Store. It’s under 5 MB and requires Android 9 or later.
Step 2: Enable the accessibility service
Open Shortstop and follow the setup wizard. You’ll be asked to grant the accessibility service permission. This is what lets Shortstop detect when you open YouTube Shorts – it doesn’t read your personal data or track your browsing.
Step 3: Enable YouTube Shorts blocking
In Shortstop, create a new blocking rule and select YouTube Shorts. You can choose from three blocking modes:
- Permanent block – Shorts are always blocked. Simple and effective.
- Timer-based limits – Allow yourself a set number of minutes per day (e.g., 10 minutes of Shorts, then it’s blocked until tomorrow).
- Scheduled blocking – Block Shorts during work hours (9-5) but allow them in the evening. Great if you enjoy the occasional Short but don’t want it during focused time.
Why Shortstop Works Better Than Alternatives
- Blocks only Shorts, not YouTube – You keep full access to long-form videos, music, tutorials, and everything else.
- Works on the Android app – Not just the browser. This matters because most YouTube usage happens in the app.
- Privacy-first – Shortstop doesn’t collect personal data, doesn’t require an account, and doesn’t need internet access to function.
- Blocks more than just YouTube – You can also use Shortstop to block Instagram Reels and TikTok with the same app.
- Flexible – Timer and schedule modes let you set your own boundaries without going cold turkey.
Download Shortstop free on Google Play
Method 3: Browser-Based Workarounds
If you primarily watch YouTube on a desktop computer, browser extensions offer another option.
Chrome/Firefox Extensions
Several browser extensions can hide the Shorts section from youtube.com:
- Unhook – Removes the Shorts shelf, recommendations sidebar, and other engagement features from YouTube’s web interface.
- BlockTube – Lets you filter content by keywords, channels, or content type (including Shorts).
- SponsorBlock – Primarily for skipping sponsored segments, but some configurations can reduce Shorts visibility.
These extensions work well on desktop. Install one, configure it, and the Shorts section disappears from your browser.
The Limitation
Browser extensions only work in the browser. If you have the YouTube app on your phone – which is where most Shorts consumption happens – extensions won’t help. You can’t install Chrome extensions on Android.
You could uninstall the YouTube app and only use youtube.com in your mobile browser. But the mobile web experience is significantly worse: no background playback, frequent prompts to open the app, and limited functionality.
Verdict
Browser extensions are a solid desktop solution. For Android, where the real Shorts problem lives, you need an app-level blocker like Shortstop.
Comparison: All 3 Methods Side by Side
| Feature | YouTube Built-In | Shortstop | Browser Extensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocks Shorts feed | Partially | Yes | Yes |
| Keeps YouTube usable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works on Android app | Yes | Yes | No |
| Works on desktop | No | No (Android only) | Yes |
| Free | Yes | Free tier available | Yes |
| Timer/schedule modes | No | Yes | No |
| Blocks Reels & TikTok too | No | Yes | Varies |
Bottom line: If you watch YouTube mainly on your phone (like most people), Shortstop is the most complete solution. If you’re desktop-only, a browser extension works. YouTube’s built-in options are worth trying first, but don’t expect them to fully solve the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block YouTube Shorts without blocking YouTube?
Yes. Shortstop blocks only the Shorts feed while keeping regular YouTube fully accessible. Long-form videos, search, comments, subscriptions, playlists, and YouTube Music all work exactly as before. You’re only removing the infinite-scroll Shorts feed.
Does blocking YouTube Shorts actually reduce screen time?
Most users report saving 1-2 hours per day after blocking Shorts. The infinite scroll feed is designed to keep you watching, and removing it breaks the cycle. Without the Shorts tab pulling you in, you go to YouTube with a purpose, watch what you came for, and leave. If you’re looking for more strategies, check out our full guide on how to reduce screen time.
Is there a built-in way to disable YouTube Shorts?
YouTube does not offer a native setting to completely disable Shorts. You can tap “Not interested” on individual Shorts, but this doesn’t remove the feed – it only adjusts what appears in it. A third-party blocker like Shortstop is the most effective method for fully removing the Shorts experience from your YouTube app.
Will blocking Shorts affect my YouTube recommendations?
No. Shortstop works at the app level, blocking the Shorts interface without changing your YouTube account or recommendations. Your watch history, subscriptions, and algorithm preferences stay the same. If you ever disable Shortstop, your Shorts feed will be exactly as it was before.
Take Back Your Time
YouTube Shorts are engineered to capture your attention for as long as possible. The infinite scroll, the autoplay, the algorithmic hooks – none of that is accidental. And none of it is serving your interests.
You don’t have to accept that trade-off.
Pick the method that fits your situation. If you want the most effective, phone-level solution, download Shortstop from Google Play and set it up in under two minutes. Block the Shorts feed, keep YouTube, and get your time back.