Sick of YouTube shorts? Here’s how to make them disappear

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

YouTube really said “everyone loves TikTok-style videos” and shoved Shorts into your feed whether you asked for it or not.

The bad news? Google axed the official toggle to turn them off completely. The good news? You’ve still got options to reclaim your sanity.

Here’s how to shrink, mute, or nuke YouTube Shorts using built‑in controls and a few trusty extensions. We’ll cover a few methods, so you have options to choose from. Let’s dive in.

Alright, before we go any further, this won’t eliminate Shorts entirely, but it’ll teach YouTube you’re not interested.

On Mobile (iPhone/Android):

1. Open the YouTube app and scroll to the Shorts section on your Home feed.
2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the Shorts grid.
3. Select “Show fewer Shorts” to reduce the number of Shorts shown.
4. For individual Shorts videos, tap the three dots on the video thumbnail and select “Not Interested” to further tailor your feed.

On Desktop:

1. Navigate to YouTube in your browser
2. Find the Shorts section on your homepage
3. Mark individual Shorts as “Not Interested” using their three-dot menus
4. After a while of doing this, click the three-dot menu and YouTube willl now give you a new option under that shows a “Show Fewer Shorts” option, so click that when you do.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Shorts keep coming back: Algorithm training takes persistence. Keep marking them as “Not Interested” for several days.

Extension stopped working: Check for updates or try an alternative. Google regularly patches these workarounds.

Can’t find “Show Fewer Shorts”: Update your YouTube app—this option was added in recent versions.

Android downgrade failed: Some phones prevent app downgrades. Try enabling “Install unknown apps” in developer settings.

• Clear your YouTube watch and search history to reset algorithm preferences
• Subscribe to more long-form creators to dilute Shorts recommendations
• Use YouTube’s “Don’t recommend channel” option on Shorts-heavy creators
• Consider YouTube Premium—it doesn’t remove Shorts but gives you more control over your experience
• Create separate YouTube accounts: one for Shorts, one for regular videos

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

You won’t erase Shorts, but you can push them to the margins. Train the algorithm with “Show Fewer Shorts” and “Not Interested” on mobile and desktop.

Keep extensions as a backup. Clean house with history resets, subscribe to more long‑form, don’t recommend Shorts‑heavy channels, and split accounts if needed.

On TVs, options are limited—use “Not Interested” when available. So what’s the fastest way to take back your feed?

Take Back Your Feed

Take back your feed with a simple stack: start by training the algorithm, escalate to an Android rollback if you want zero Shorts, and keep extensions ready for when native options wobble.

Clear your history, curate your subscriptions, and separate accounts to keep things clean. If YouTube changes the rules tomorrow, you’ve still got a plan—and your attention span will thank you.

Which method worked best? Did you go full nuclear with the app downgrade, or are you playing the long game with “Not Interested” clicks? Drop a comment below and tell us your Shorts survival story.

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.