About 2 years ago I wrote an article on how to remove YouTube Shorts on your laptop and phone. The solution I wrote about back then no longer works. However I’ve since found an alternative way, which I’d like to share with you today.

Why block YouTube Shorts?

Before I get into the how, there is something I’d like to say about the why.

I have tried to quit social media many times over the past few years. Writing about YouTube Shorts 2 years ago I said “I’m not going back to YouTube Shorts”. But I did.

Even now, more often than not, it’s the short form content that I find myself watching for hours on end.

I prefer watching longer videos or movies, or reading a book. But I don’t, because watching Shorts is just so much easier. I don’t have to think about what I’m watching. I just turn off my mind and look at a screen, so I can forget about everything that’s bothering me.

So the goal is to make watching Shorts more difficult, while we make the consumption of long form content easier. I don’t know about the latter, however I do have an idea about the former.

How to remove YouTube Shorts on Google Chrome

Removing Shorts from the website is quite easy. All you have to do is download one extension, and make sure you get the settings right.

The extension you need is called “UnTrap for YouTube — Block YouTube Shorts & Remove Recommendations”. You can download it from the Chrome Webstore.

When you open the extension, you just turn on “Hide All Shorts”. And that’s all. You can now enjoy YouTube Short-free, and reclaim the time you were wasting.

How to remove YouTube Shorts from the app

I haven’t found a way to completely remove Shorts from the YouTube app on your phone.

However, there is a little trick you can use to see less Shorts.

This is how: when you see a block of Shorts on your homepage, simply tap the three dots in the top right corner. This gives you the option to press “Show fewer Shorts”, and you’re done!

The problem with this option, is that the Shorts do eventually come back. However, simply repeat the same steps and you will see less Shorts again for a while.

Another option is to uninstall the app, and download a browser (like Kiwi Browser) that accepts chrome extensions. You can than add the UnTrap for YouTube extension to the browser on your phone, if that’s the way you want to go.

Will this actually change anything?

This is a question I’ve been thinking about a lot as I’ve been writing this article. Will this really change my relationship with short form content? Or will I forget about this in a few weeks or months, and will the algorithm suck me right back in?

I’m not sure. However, I am sure that being conscious about my social media usage is beneficial for my mental health. And even though I’m far from perfect, and I’ll probably keep struggling with this for years to come, I think it’s a good thing that I keep trying. Again, and again.

Mark