YouTube now lets you disable Shorts Feed with a new setting

Sick of seeing YouTube Shorts on YouTube? Well, good news: YouTube is rolling out a long-awaited feature that allows users to effectively disable Shorts, giving more control over how they consume content on the platform. The update introduces a new setting that can completely remove Shorts from the app experience, addressing a common complaint from users who find short-form videos distracting or time-consuming.

New “Zero-Minute” Limit Removes Shorts Entirely

At the core of the update is a new option within YouTube’s time management tools. Users can now set their Shorts viewing limit to zero minutes, which effectively disables the Shorts feed altogether. Once this limit is reached, the Shorts tab stops displaying videos and instead shows a notification indicating the user has hit their limit.

Shorts content also disappears from the Home feed, reducing exposure across the app. This builds on YouTube’s earlier timer feature, which previously only allowed minimum limits such as 15 minutes.

Simple Setup Through Time Management Settings

The feature can be enabled directly within the app by navigating to the time management section in settings. From there, users can activate the Shorts limit and set it to zero minutes. Once enabled, the change takes effect across the app, limiting both intentional and accidental scrolling through Shorts. The rollout is happening across both Android and iOS devices, and is gradually becoming available to all users.

Originally Designed for Parental Controls

Interestingly, the zero-minute option was initially introduced as part of parental control tools, allowing parents to restrict how much time children spend on Shorts. YouTube has now expanded this feature to all users, reflecting growing demand from adults who want to reduce time spent on short-form content. This aligns with a broader trend of digital well-being features across platforms, where users are given more tools to manage screen time and content consumption.

A Shift Towards Healthier Viewing Habits

Short-form video has become one of the most addictive formats in modern apps, and YouTube’s decision to make Shorts optional marks a notable shift in platform strategy. By allowing users to effectively “kill” the Shorts feed, YouTube is acknowledging that not everyone wants an endless scroll experience, especially those who prefer long-form content or more intentional viewing. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.