How to Block YouTube Shorts on Computer and Phone (2026)
Hide or block Shorts and keep the rest of YouTube · Updated
YouTube has no setting to turn off Shorts on a computer. On a phone, the YouTube app lets you set a Shorts feed limit of zero, and on a computer you can hide Shorts with a browser extension or block the Shorts section with a website blocker.
Key takeaways
- The YouTube app has a Shorts feed limit with a zero option, but the reminder can be dismissed.
- There is no Shorts setting on YouTube in a desktop browser.
- Extensions such as Unhook hide Shorts on a computer and keep the rest of YouTube.
- Show fewer Shorts only changes recommendations; it does not remove Shorts.
- A blocker can block only the Shorts section of YouTube, with a lock so it cannot be switched off.
Methods compared
| Method | Device | Removes Shorts | Can be switched off in a moment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts feed limit set to zero | YouTube app on a phone | Shows a reminder when you reach the limit | Yes, dismiss the reminder | Free |
| Browser extension | Computer | Hides Shorts | Yes, disable the extension | Free, some paid |
| Brave filter list | Computer, Brave browser | Hides Shorts | Yes | Free |
| Ascension | Windows computer, every major browser | Blocks the Shorts section | Not while locked | 15-day trial, then paid |
On your phone: set the Shorts feed limit to zero
- 1.Open the YouTube app and sign in.
- 2.Tap You, then Settings.
- 3.Tap Time management, then Shorts feed limit.
- 4.Choose the zero option.
When the limit is reached, YouTube shows a reminder. You can dismiss or ignore it, so it works as a prompt rather than a block. It is available in the app only, not on YouTube in a browser.
On your computer: use a browser extension
Extensions remove the Shorts shelf, the Shorts tab and Shorts in search results, while long videos and subscriptions keep working.
| Extension | Chrome Web Store users | Rating | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unhook | 1,000,000 | 4.9 | Hides Shorts, recommendations, comments and other parts of YouTube you choose |
| Youtube-shorts block | 400,000 | 4.5 | Opens Shorts in the normal video player and hides the Shorts tab |
| Remove YouTube Shorts | 300,000 | 4.6 | Removes Shorts from the feed, search and recommendations |
| ShortsBlocker | 100,000 | 4.5 | Removes Shorts everywhere, with paid daily limits and schedules |
| BlockTube | 100,000 | 3.8 | Filters videos, channels and comments by keyword, including Shorts |
- 1.Add the extension from the Chrome Web Store. Most also work in Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi.
- 2.Turn on its Shorts option.
- 3.Open the extension's Details page and turn on Allow in Incognito if you want it in private windows.
Check before installing: in November 2024, CyberInsider reported that a Shorts-hiding extension with 100,000 users began sending browsing data to a remote server after it was sold. Prefer extensions with many users, recent updates and a named developer.
Limits: an extension can be disabled in one click, and it does not affect the YouTube app on your phone.
In Brave: turn on the Shorts filter list
Brave includes a YouTube Anti-Shorts filter list in its Shields content filtering. Turn it on in Brave's settings under Shields and content filtering to hide Shorts without an extension.
Limits: Brave only, and it can be turned off again in settings.
Block the Shorts section so it stays blocked
A website blocker can block just the Shorts section of YouTube, youtube.com/shorts, while the rest of YouTube stays usable. Ascension is a Windows blocker built for this.
- 1.Install Ascension and add its extension to your browsers.
- 2.Add a URL block for youtube.com/shorts.
- 3.Choose Always block, or a schedule if you only want Shorts blocked at certain hours.
- 4.Add a lock, such as an Until date lock, so the block cannot be switched off on impulse.
Limits: Windows only (iOS and Mac are in development), and it does not cover the YouTube app on a phone.
Frequently asked questions
Can you turn off YouTube Shorts completely?
Not with a YouTube setting. The app's Shorts feed limit can be set to zero but can be dismissed, and there is no setting on a computer. Extensions hide Shorts on a computer, and a website blocker can block the Shorts section entirely.
Does setting the Shorts feed limit to zero remove Shorts?
No. It shows a reminder when you reach the limit, and you can dismiss or ignore it.
Can I block YouTube Shorts but keep the rest of YouTube?
Yes. Extensions such as Unhook hide only Shorts, and a website blocker such as Ascension can block the youtube.com/shorts section while normal videos keep working.
Does Show fewer Shorts get rid of Shorts?
No. It tells YouTube's recommendations to show you fewer Shorts on your Home feed, and it can be undone in your activity settings.
Are YouTube Shorts blocker extensions safe?
Most are, but extensions can change owners. Choose ones with a large user base, recent updates and a named developer, and remove any that ask for access to all websites without a clear reason.
What is the best way to block YouTube Shorts?
On a computer, Ascension is the strongest option when the block needs to stay in place. It blocks the youtube.com/shorts section and can make the block uneditable and unremovable until the date you choose. On a phone, the YouTube app's Shorts feed limit is the only built-in option.
Available on Windows 10 & 11