How To Disable YouTube Shorts: 7 Methods 

Keynote

Disable YouTube Shorts in 7 ways:

1. Set YouTube settings to permanently disable YouTube Shorts.
2. Mark YouTube Shorts as ‘Not Interested.’
3. Downgrade the YouTube app on desktop.
4. Get an older version of the YouTube app on your mobile phone.
5. Try YouTube Vanced app.
6. Hide YouTube Shorts in your browser.
7. Remove YouTube Shorts using a desktop extension.

As a regular YouTube user, I’ve experienced firsthand the distraction caused by YouTube Shorts cluttering my feed. This prompted me to explore different methods to disable them. Personally, I found adjusting the settings in the YouTube app to be the most effective. It was a simple yet powerful change that significantly improved my browsing experience, aligning the content with my preferences for longer-form videos. This personal journey through trial and error has informed the advice I share in this article, catering to the diverse needs of YouTube users. I’ll also address common issues like errors and difficulties you may have experienced. 

There are 7 ways to disable the YouTube short videos feature so that YouTube users can choose which one they want to continue with. All the methods are safe and easy to handle. Let’s explore them one by one. 

1. Set YouTube Settings to Disable YouTube Shorts Permanently

Follow these steps to turn off YouTube shorts

• Open YouTube Settings:

To disable YouTube Shorts, you’ll need to open your YouTube settings. To do this, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the YouTube homepage and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.

• Navigate to the “Shorts” Tab:

In the YouTube Settings menu, you’ll see a variety of options for customizing your YouTube experience. To disable Shorts, navigate to the “Shorts” tab on the left-hand side of the screen.

• Disable Shorts:

Once you’re in the “Shorts” tab, you’ll see a toggle switch labeled “Enable Shorts.” Simply slide this switch to the off position to disable Shorts on your account.

• Confirm Your Changes:

After disabling Shorts, make sure to click the “Save” button at the bottom of the screen to confirm your changes. You may need to refresh your YouTube feed to see the effects of your new settings.

And that’s it! With just a few clicks, you can easily disable Shorts on your YouTube account.

2. Notify YouTube That You Are “Not Interested” Annoying YouTube Shorts

• Open the YouTube app on your device and go to the Shorts video that you want to remove from your feed.
• Then, tap on the three-dot menu icon next to the video.
• Select the “Not interested” option from the menu.
• If prompted, select a reason why you are not interested in the video. This will help YouTube better understand your preferences and tailor your feed accordingly.
• Repeat this process for any other Shorts videos that you do not want to see in your feed.

3. Downgrading the YouTube app to Have an Older Version on Desktop

• Uninstall the current version of the YouTube app from your device. You can remove it from your home screen or device’s settings by finding the applications tab.

• Download an older version of the YouTube app from a trusted source.

1. Then, Search for “YouTube APK” on your web browser to find a website that offers APK files for previous versions of the app.
2. Make sure to download the APK file for the version you want to use.

• Click on the download link for the version of the YouTube app that you want to use.
• Once the download is complete, open the APK file to start the installation process.
• If prompted to allow installation from unknown sources, you will need to enable this option in your device’s settings. To do this, go to “Settings”> “Security” or “Lock screen and security”> “Unknown sources” and toggle the switch to “On.”
• Finally, follow the prompts to install the older version of the YouTube app on your device.

4. Downloading the Old Mobile App Version of YouTube

• Uninstall updates from YouTube app settings on mobile.

1. On your Android device, go to the Google Play Store.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left corner of the screen to open the menu.
3. Next, tap on “My apps & games” from the menu.
4. Then, find the “YouTube” app from the list of installed apps and tap on it.
5. If there is an available update for the app, tap the “Uninstall” button to remove the latest version from your device.

• Download the YouTube app version without YouTube updates.
• Again, once the latest version of the app has been uninstalled, go to a third-party website that offers APK files of older versions of the YouTube app. Some reputable sources for APK files include APKMirror, APKPure, and Aptoide (Read the desktop section to enable APK files).

5. Using the YouTube Vanced App to Disable YouTube Shorts

YouTube Vanced is a third-party app that allows users to access YouTube without ads, play videos in the background, and enjoy other features not available in the official YouTube app. If you want to use YouTube Vanced to disable YouTube Shorts, you can follow these steps:

• Download and install the YouTube Vanced app on your Android device. You can download the app from the official website or a trusted third-party app store.
• Open the YouTube Vanced app and log in to your YouTube account.
• Then, tap on the three-dot menu icon at the top right corner of the screen.
• Tap on “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
• Scroll down to the “Shorts” section and toggle the switch to disable the feature.
• Lastly, you may need to restart the app for the changes to take effect.

By disabling the Shorts feature in the YouTube Vanced app, you will not see any Shorts videos in your feed or search results. However, it’s important to note that this feature may not be available in all versions of the YouTube Vanced app, and it may not be a permanent solution as the app may update in the future.

6. Hide YouTube Shorts by Using Browser 

It is possible to hide Shorts in the YouTube web version easily. As soon as you disable YouTube shorts, you cannot see them while browsing on the platform.  

• Open your browser and visit YouTube from your iOS or Android devices. 
• Click the three dots in the upper-right-hand corner. 
• Tap the Desktop Site to reload the page as a desktop version.  
• Find the Shorts section and click the cross mark to remove it.  

7. Remove YouTube Shorts by Using Extension on Desktop 

If you frequently use YouTube on your PC, you need to download an extension to disable YouTube Shorts. You can prefer Hide YouTube Shorts or YouTube Shorts Block extensions to disable this feature on YouTube. Thus, you can filter short content and enjoy the platform.   

Also, a Firefox user can download Remove YouTube Shorts or Hide YouTube Shorts extensions to hide this type of video on the platform.  

Reasons Why YouTube Users Want to Disable YouTube Shorts

While many users have embraced the Shorts feature as a way to create and consume bite-sized content, others have expressed a desire to disable or remove it from their YouTube experience.

So far, we talked about how to disable YouTube shorts. But why do people want to disable YouTube Shorts?

Whether you want to disable YouTube Shorts permanently or just remove them from your feed, there are several options available to customize your YouTube experience to your liking.

Distraction:

Some people find YouTube Shorts to be too distracting and time-consuming, leading them to disable the feature to avoid wasting their time.

Content:

Despite the fact that YouTube Shorts features short-form videos that are often created by users, they may not always align with their interests. Some people may prefer to disable YouTube Shorts to avoid being bombarded with content they do not enjoy.

Data Usage:

Watching videos on YouTube, including Shorts, can consume a lot of mobile data. Therefore, some people may choose to disable Shorts to save on their data plan.

Technical issues:

Some users may experience technical issues while using YouTube Shorts, such as app crashes or slow loading times, leading them to disable the feature to prevent such problems.

Privacy concerns:

Like any other social media platform, YouTube Shorts collects user data to improve its services. Therefore, some people may not feel comfortable with this and may choose to disable the feature to protect their privacy.

Inappropriate content:

YouTube Shorts is an open platform, which means that anyone can upload content to it. While YouTube has guidelines to prevent inappropriate content, some people may still come across videos that they find offensive or inappropriate. As a result, they may choose to disable Shorts to avoid such content.

Quality concerns:

As Shorts are short-form videos, they may not always have the same production quality as regular YouTube videos. And, some people may prefer to disable Shorts to avoid watching videos that they feel are poorly produced.

Cluttered interface:

Some people may find the Shorts interface to be cluttered and confusing, which can make it difficult for them to navigate the app. As a result, they may choose to disable the feature to simplify the app’s interface.

Advertisements:

Like regular YouTube videos, Shorts may also feature advertisements. Some people may find these ads intrusive and may choose to disable Shorts to avoid watching them.

Copyright concerns:

YouTube Shorts allows users to upload short clips of copyrighted content. While YouTube has mechanisms in place to prevent copyright infringement, some people may still choose to disable Shorts to avoid watching or sharing potentially infringing content.

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