How to Block YouTube Shorts Without Deleting YouTube in 2026
Key Takeaways
- YouTube lets you reduce Shorts from your home feed by tapping the three dots on the Shorts section and selecting "Show fewer Shorts," but the Shorts tab stays.
- Logging out stops the home feed from recommending anything, including Shorts, but you lose your subscriptions and need to search for everything manually.
- ScrollGuard is the best option if you want to keep YouTube on your phone without Shorts. It blocks the Shorts feed while keeping everything else fully functional. Available as a freemium app on both iPhone and Android.
The Real Problem With YouTube Shorts
You open YouTube to watch a tutorial or catch up on a channel you follow. Simple enough. But right there on the home screen, between the videos you actually searched for, is a row of Shorts. You tap one. Just one. Twenty minutes later you're deep in an endless vertical feed of clips you never asked for.
YouTube Shorts works the same way as every other short-form video feed: an algorithm picks what to show you next, each clip is short enough that you think "just one more," and before you know it you've lost a significant chunk of time. The feed is designed to keep you scrolling, not to help you find what you came for. If Instagram is another weak spot for you, the parallel guide on blocking Instagram Reels uses the same "remove the feed, keep the app" logic.
The good news is you don't need to uninstall YouTube. Here are three ways to reduce or block Shorts while keeping the rest of the app working normally. If you want the broader behavioral context, our post on why TikTok is so addictive goes deeper.
Method 1: Hide Shorts From the Home Feed
YouTube's home feed includes a Shorts shelf between regular video recommendations. You can tell YouTube to show you fewer of them directly from that section.
How to do it
- Open YouTube and scroll your home feed until you see the Shorts section.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner of the Shorts section.
- Tap "Show fewer Shorts".
What it actually does
This tells YouTube's algorithm that you're less interested in Shorts. Over time, you should see fewer Shorts shelves on your home feed. However, it doesn't eliminate them entirely. YouTube will still show some Shorts in your feed, and the dedicated Shorts tab at the bottom of the app remains fully accessible. One tap and you're right back in the infinite scroll.
Pros
- Quick and free, takes a few seconds
- Reduces Shorts appearing on your home feed
- Doesn't affect any other YouTube functionality
Cons
- Only reduces Shorts, doesn't remove them completely
- The Shorts tab remains fully accessible at the bottom of the screen
- YouTube may gradually show more Shorts again over time
Method 2: Log Out of Your YouTube Account
YouTube's home feed is entirely powered by your watch history and account activity. When you're signed out, the app has no data to build recommendations from, so the home feed won't show you any personalized content at all, including Shorts. The trade-off is that you also lose access to your subscriptions, so you'll need to search explicitly for every video you want to watch.
How to do it
- Open YouTube and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Tap your account name.
- Select "Use YouTube signed out".
What it actually does
When you're signed out, YouTube can't use your watch history or preferences to build a personalized feed. The home screen won't recommend anything to you, which means no personalized Shorts pulling you in. You'll need to actively search for what you want to watch.
However, the Shorts tab at the bottom still works. If you tap it, you'll see a generic Shorts feed. And since you're signed out, you lose access to your subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and any other account features. Every video you want to watch requires a manual search.
Pros
- Free and immediate
- The home feed won't recommend any content, including Shorts
- No personalized algorithm trying to hook you
Cons
- You lose access to subscriptions, playlists, and watch history
- You need to manually search for every video you want to watch
- The Shorts tab still works and shows a generic feed
- You can't like, comment, or save videos while signed out
Method 3: Use ScrollGuard to Block Shorts on Your Phone
If you want to keep YouTube fully functional, stay signed in, and still block Shorts, ScrollGuard is built exactly for this.
How it works
ScrollGuard is a freemium app available on both iPhone and Android. Instead of blocking the entire YouTube app, it targets only the addictive parts. You choose exactly what to block:
- Block the Shorts feed so it's no longer accessible when you tap the Shorts tab
- Block Shorts in the home feed so they don't appear as you browse
- Keep everything else working: subscriptions, search, playlists, comments, and full-length videos
You stay signed in, you keep your subscriptions, and you remove the part that wastes your time. No trade-offs.
Check the available features per platform. If you want a broader reset beyond YouTube, how to make your phone less addictive in 15 minutes is the practical next step.
Pros
- Keep YouTube on your phone with full functionality (subscriptions, playlists, search)
- Fully blocks the Shorts feed, not just hidden but blocked
- Stay signed in to your account
- Works on both iPhone and Android
- Freemium, with core features available for free
Cons
- Some advanced features require a paid plan
- Requires installing a separate app
Which Method Is Right for You?
It depends on how much control you need and what you're willing to give up.
| Method | Removes Shorts? | Stay Signed In? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show Fewer Shorts | Partially | Yes | Free |
| Log Out | Mostly | No | Free |
| ScrollGuard | Fully | Yes | Freemium |
If you just want a quick reduction, Method 1 takes seconds and costs nothing. If you want a complete solution while keeping YouTube fully functional on your phone, ScrollGuard is the only option that blocks Shorts without sacrificing your subscriptions or account features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely remove the Shorts section from YouTube?
YouTube doesn't offer a built-in setting to fully remove Shorts. You can reduce them by using "Show fewer Shorts" or logging out, but the Shorts tab and section will still exist. ScrollGuard is the only way to fully block the Shorts feed on your phone.
Will "Show fewer Shorts" permanently remove Shorts from my feed?
No. It reduces the number of Shorts shown in your home feed, but YouTube will still show some over time. The Shorts tab at the bottom of the app also remains fully accessible.
Does logging out of YouTube remove all Shorts?
Logging out stops the home feed from recommending any content, so you won't see personalized Shorts there. However, if you tap the Shorts tab, you'll still see a generic Shorts feed. You also lose access to subscriptions, watch history, and need to search manually for everything you want to watch.
Is ScrollGuard free?
ScrollGuard offers a freemium model. Core features like blocking Shorts are available for free. Advanced customization options are available with a paid plan.
Does blocking Shorts affect my YouTube account?
None of these methods (except logging out) affect your YouTube account. You won't lose subscriptions, playlists, or any data. These methods only change what you see in the app on your device.
Sources
Keep YouTube. Lose the Shorts.
ScrollGuard blocks Shorts and other addictive feeds while keeping subscriptions, search, and full-length videos working perfectly.
